State Chamber urges "Supply Side Revival", major tax reforms in special session

State Chamber Research Foundation Urges “Supply Side Revival”

Business Think Tank Urges Lawmakers to Adopt Flat Tax and Eliminate Anti-Business Taxes in Special Session 

OKLAHOMA CITY -- The State Chamber Research Foundation (SCRF) is sharing a series of tax proposals for policymakers to consider as they work on tax policy and budget issues in future legislative sessions. The policies, which include both tax cuts for individuals and the elimination of business taxes that discourage growth and investment, are aimed at tackling inflation while promoting long term economic growth and tax relief. 

House Judiciary Chair Kannady working with State Chamber on compromise tort reform legislation

House Judiciary Chair to Explore Non-Economic Damage Caps with Guidance from State Chamber

OKLAHOMA CITY – After the Oklahoma Supreme Court issued its ruling in Beason v. I.E. Miller Services, Inc., striking down non-economic damage caps, House Judiciary Chair Christopher L. Kannady (R-Oklahoma City) sought input from all stakeholders to work on compromise legislation to move Oklahoma forward.

Chairman Kannady reached out to the State Chamber of Oklahoma, Oklahoma State Medical Association, and Oklahoma Association for Justice, amongst others. 

 “The State Chamber of Oklahoma worked closely with Chairman Kannady last year on workers’ compensation and other legal reform measures,” said President and CEO of the State Chamber of Oklahoma Fred Morgan. “We look forward to continuing that work during the upcoming session in order to achieve long-term solutions for the business community.”

“It appears that certain stakeholders have no interest in working on a compromise,” Kannady said. “Thus, I will move forward exploring options with stakeholders who are interested in advancing Oklahoma.

State Chamber hires new communications director

State Chamber Welcomes New Communications Director

David Autry to Lead State Chamber’s Public Relations Efforts 

OKLAHOMA CITY (April 16, 2019) – The State Chamber of Oklahoma is proud to welcome David Autry to its Communications team as Director of Communications.

“David’s public relations expertise and his prior work in advocacy and government make him ideally suited for this position,” said State Chamber president and CEO Fred Morgan. “We’re excited to have David on the team and know he’ll be an effective messenger for Oklahoma’s business community.”

“I look forward to building on the State Chamber’s legacy as the leading statewide advocate for business in Oklahoma,” said Autry. “As key policies are being decided at the State Capitol, it’s essential that the perspective of Oklahoma’s job creators—their unique challenges and opportunities—are properly conveyed and understood.”

David received his B.A. in Journalism from the University of Oklahoma. Previously, Autry worked at the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs and at the Office of the Mayor for the City of Tulsa.


About the State Chamber of Oklahoma
Representing more than 1,500 Oklahoma businesses and 350,000 employees, the State Chamber of Oklahoma has been the state’s leading advocate for business since 1926. For more information, visit www.okstatechamber.com.

Chamber: Oklahomans strongly oppose new municipal taxes/fees on paper and plastic

Oklahomans Strongly Oppose New Municipal Taxes, Fees

Taxes, Fees on Paper and Plastic Products Strongly Opposed

OKLAHOMA CITY (April 3, 2019) – A statewide survey conducted by 1892 LLC on behalf of the State Chamber of Oklahoma reveals a supermajority (76%) of registered Oklahoma voters oppose allowing cities and towns to impose new taxes and fees for paper and plastic products. The survey was conducted March 31 and April 1. Legislation (SB 1001) to prevent municipalities from arbitrarily enacting new taxes and/or fees on a variety of consumer products is pending before the Oklahoma House of Representatives.

The survey found that Oklahoma voters are far less likely to vote for candidates who support enacting or increasing taxes and fees on paper or plastic products. Seventy-one (71%) percent of respondents said they are less likely to vote for a candidate who supports increasing taxes on paper or plastic products. When examined by political party affiliation, Republicans are net less likely to vote for that candidate by -76% (Independents net less likely by -43% and Democrats net less likely by -22%).

Voters in all five Oklahoma congressional districts, including the Oklahoma City and Tulsa media markets, are net less likely to vote for a candidate in support of new municipal taxes and or fees.

“We wanted a clearer understanding of how Oklahomans feel about this issue, and the survey reveals that most Oklahomans—from all political parties and in all areas of the state—are strongly opposed to allowing municipalities to enact new taxes and fees on consumer items such as paper and plastic products,” said Mike Jackson, Executive Vice President of Government & Political Affairs for the State Chamber. “Data also confirms that these policies harm local economies and employment, without significant environmental benefit.”

Surprise (not): State Chamber endorses Step Up plan

State Chamber of Oklahoma Announces Support for Step Up Oklahoma

Oklahoma City (February 2, 2018) – The State Chamber of Oklahoma has announced its support for the Step Up Oklahoma plan after a board of directors vote on Friday. The plan includes measures to shore up our state’s budget hole, provide a teacher pay raise and implement much-needed reforms to our state government.

“We are excited to join the Step Up movement,” said State Chamber President and CEO, Fred Morgan. “Until we resolve long-standing issues like teacher pay, the budget shortfall and funding for health care and other core government services, Oklahoma will remain in a state of gridlock. We must come together to solve our state’s crisis.”

“The State Chamber Research Foundation called for many of these same reforms through our OK2030 vision plan released in December 2017,” said Executive Director, Dr. Jennifer Lepard. “We’re pleased to see many of our policy reform recommendations included in the Step Up plan and look forward to working with the group to ensure these important reforms are implemented.”

“It’s time for our state to come together around a workable solution,” said State Chamber Board Chairman Sean Trauschke. “The Step Up Oklahoma plan will allow our state to refocus its energies on growing our economy and providing the quality of life, health and education that Oklahomans deserve.”

Richardson blasts tax hikes in "Step Up Oklahoma" plan

GARY RICHARDSON BLASTS TAX HIKES IN "STEP UP OKLAHOMA" PLAN

    Conservative GOP Candidate for Governor, Gary Richardson, is blasting the Chamber of Commerce scheme to fix Oklahoma's budget problems with its "Step Up Oklahoma" plan.

    “A much more appropriate title for this absurd plan would be 'Pay Up Oklahoma'," Gary Richardson says.  "I don't see how lawmakers can morally justify raising taxes when it is glaringly obvious they are mismanaging the money we already gave them.  I'm shocked to see people calling themselves Republicans while advocating for the largest tax increase in the history of Oklahoma.  True conservatives need to rally together, reject the tax hikes that fund corporate welfare, and elect a Republican Governor who is truly dedicated to the principles of the party."

    Richardson believes blindly throwing more tax money toward state agencies will do nothing to solve the systemic problems that led to Oklahoma's current budget crisis.

    "While everyone should be outraged by the corruption at the State Capitol, no one should be terribly surprised by it," says Richardson.  "State agencies are spending our tax money with virtually no oversight or accountability so today's crisis was just a matter of time.  We can't change the past but we can certainly change the future.  We must demand forensic audits of every state agency, expose the waste, and end the corruption. That is the only lasting solution that will allow us to fund the pay raises our teachers and public employees deserve.  Tax hikes will not solve our problems, they will only mask the problems until the next crisis arises."

    Richardson has also released an ad running on both social media and radio (link provided below) exposing the flaws of the Step Up plan.

    Gary Richardson is a native Oklahoman, a former US Attorney appointed by President Reagan and founder of a nationally-renowned law firm in Tulsa.

State Chamber endorses Chambers in HD46 special election

STATE CHAMBER ENDORSES DARIN CHAMBERS IN HD-46 RACE

July 6, 2017 -- The Oklahoma State Chamber of Commerce is encouraging voters to elect conservative Republican Darin Chambers in next week's special election primary for House District 46.

"Darin Chambers will be a champion for Oklahoma businesses," says State Chamber spokesman, Jonathan Buxton.  "We know he will be a pro-business legislator focused on making Oklahoma a better place to live and do business.  He will support meaningful reforms that help create quality jobs and opportunities for hardworking Oklahomans.  Darin Chambers understands the issues facing Oklahoma businesses and has the experience needed to lead on these issues."

Darin Chambers believes voters will take this endorsement seriously because, in light of our current budget crisis, the legislature desperately needs the insight of an experienced and successful businessman.

"I have spent my post-military career teaching businesses how to increase efficiency and eliminate wasteful spending," Darin Chambers says.  "I want to bring my business experience to the State Capitol  because we need it now more than ever.  The Oklahoma legislature already has plenty of former State employees voting on how to spend our tax money and we have seen the results.  I will demand strict fiscal accountability for every dollar just as I do for my business and my home."

Darin Chambers is a Navy veteran, graduated from OU with an Electrical Engineering Degree in 1991, and earned his MBA from UCLA in 1999.  Chambers now teaches upper-level engineering classes at OU, drawing on his experiences as a general manager for a global services firm working with top executives to improve efficiency, reduce costs and increase productivity.  He and his wife, Dianne, live in Norman with their two daughters and two foster children.

The House District 46 special primary election is July 11th and the general election will be September 12th.

For more information on Darin Chambers visit his Facebook page at Darin Chambers for State Representative District 46 or www.ChambersforStateRep.com.

State Chamber rates judges on the ballot

Know your judges before you vote

 by Fred Morgan, President and CEO of the State Chamber

Are you going to vote on Nov. 8? Good.

Do you consider yourself an educated voter? Even better. You know who you’re going to vote for president, senator, congressman and probably even who you’re going to vote for in your state representative and Senate race. Excellent. You may have even made up your mind on the seven state questions that will be on the ballot.

One last question: Have you decided how you’re going to vote when it comes to the retention of any of the appellate judges on the ballot? Are you going to look at the ballot and just vote “no” for all of them, or maybe “yes” for all of them? Do you know how they have voted on decisions that affect you, your business and your family?

Unfortunately, most voters go into the voting booth with little or no knowledge of who these judges are or how they have voted on decisions important to Oklahomans.

Four years ago, the State Chamber of Oklahoma, in partnership with other chambers and trade organizations, created the Oklahoma Civil Justice Council to serve as an educational tool for the public to learn more about our courts and judges. To that end, the OCJC has published its 2016 evaluation of the Oklahoma Supreme Court and the Court of Civil Appeals. We published similar evaluations in 2012 and 2014. These evaluations, conducted by independent reviewers, analyze cases where the judges have disagreed, reviewing the exact same law and the exact same facts, and which have an effect on civil liability.

So, how do our appellate court judges do when it comes to restricting civil liability that increases the cost of your insurance and the prices you pay for everything? Remember, the higher the rating, the more inclined the judge is to follow the laws passed by the Legislature. The lower the score, the more inclined the judge is to make up their own laws expanding liability.

• Supreme Court Justice James R. Winchester, 74 percent.
• Supreme Court Justice Douglas L. Combs, 36 percent.
• Court of Civil Appeals Judge Tom Thornbrugh, 39 percent.
• Court of Civil Appeals Judge John F. Fischer, 37 percent.
• Court of Civil Appeals Judge Larry Joplin, 82 percent.

When you vote to retain (or not to retain) appellate judges on Nov. 8, you might want to remember these numbers. Check out the full ratings at www.okciviljustice.com.

Peter Rudy ends Capitol reporting, joins State Chamber

A fixture at the State Capitol for the past few years, Peter J. Rudy has ended his state government reporting, and has joined the State Chamber of Oklahoma as Vice President of Communications.

In a farewell post on OklahomaCapitolSource.com, Rudy said "Unfortunately, I’m a better reporter than I am a businessman so while it was professionally rewarding, the financial side didn’t quite match. So today, Sunday October 6, 2013, is the last day for Oklahoma Capitol Source. I have found employment elsewhere (more details when that becomes official on Monday) and it’s not something that can coexist with sitting at the Capitol for hours on end."

On Monday, the State Chamber announced that they had hired Rudy. "Rudy will replace Jennifer Monies. Monies left earlier this fall when she accepted a role with Senate President Pro Tempore as press secretary and senior advisor."

Rudy's exit leaves a hole in reporting at the State Capitol. In his time with both Oklahoma Watchdog and Oklahoma Capitol Source, Rudy covered practically every major government meeting and House session that took place, posting and tweeting extensive notes.

For anyone interested in the tough job of replacing him, Rudy says, "if there's an intrepid reporter out there who wants to take over the website, email okcapitolsource@gmail.com and we'll talk!"

I hope someone does, because his work will be missed.