Edmond Sun - 02/14/2018

OPINION
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THE FIRST AMENDMENT: Congress shall make no law respecting an establ
religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, o
press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Governme
redress of grievances.

THE EDMOND SUN

Page : A04
WEDNESDAY, FEBRU

Back to
basics
O
n Feb. 5, Gov. Mary Fallin deliv-
ered her final State of the State
address to open the 2018 legisla-
tive session.
For the governor in her final year in
office, and for the Legislature in the sec-
ond year of session, there’s plenty of
unfinished business.
Gov. Fallin won her current office in
2010 on a wave of voter angst about
overreach and overspending. As a mem-
ber of Congress, she called for spending
LETTER
YOUR VIEW
restraint and opposed
Obamacare because it The Death of Freedom of Speech Constitution reigned. Now, even in Oklaho
increased the power of Later, the United States appears that the First
Washington, D.C., over To the Editor: Supreme Court, which has no Amendment to the Un

the lives and finances
of Oklahomans.
By 2010 outgoing
Gov. Brad Henry had
signed two large
income tax cuts.
Candidate Fallin
Jonathan promised more: to
Small phase out the state
income tax to make
Oklahoma competitive
OCPA President
with Texas and “right-
size state government.”
Tax and spending
reforms turned out to
be tough. Gov. Henry
had cut taxes, but he increased spend-
ing thanks to high oil and natural gas
prices, federal stimulus funds, and an
T
his letter responds to “UCO legislative authority, made a deci- Constitution will be tra
student group rescinds invi- sion which society errantly People are not allowed
tation to Christian speaker” believes nullified this law and beliefs counter to voca
in The Oklahoman Feb. 8 and in made “gay marriage” legal in ties unless they promis
The Edmond Sun Feb. 10. Oklahoma. In a seeming non- those beliefs to themse
The people of the Great State of sequitur, Ken Ham, a Creation Unless there is a resu
Oklahoma voted for a speaker, is given an ultimatum, genuine freedom in th
Constitutional Amendment apparently by UCO’s Student States of America, it wi
which prohibited any marriage Association president, that he criminal to speak on ce
except as between one man and may not speak on Creation ics, even though the ot
one woman. During the follow- unless he first promises that he was free to speak on th
ing years anyone was free to will not exercise his freedom of the winds of legal thou
speak against the amendment speech, but rather refuse to against them.
which was legally effectuated. answer a question on the subject
Free speech and the First of “gay marriage” if such a ques-
Amendment to the United States tion were posed to him.

Speaker’s role shou

artificially inflated economy as a result
of the housing bubble. Government
growth tends to be a one-way ratchet
since it creates new dependents and
special interests.
Gov. Fallin turned to other issues and
won some victories, including workers’
compensation and tort reforms and
state employee pension reforms. But
with natural gas prices low, federal stim-
ulus gone, and then crashing oil prices,
be one of support perceived enemies. This results ble status quo and the

I
the budget has come to dominate the have enjoyed the opportunity
governor’s final years in office. to observe the leadership of
With unreformed government struc- six different Speakers of the
tures and the state Health Department House. It's said to be the most
scandal, Gov. Fallin has an opportunity powerful position in all of
to recover one of her campaign themes: Oklahoma government; stronger
right-sizing state government. Medicaid in influence than even the
enrollment audits, Tobacco Settlement Governor. Based on careful
Endowment Trust (TSET) reforms, end- observation over the years, I have
ing Oklahoma’s Hollywood and film attempted to learn all I can about
production boondoggle that paid mil- the strengths and weaknesses of
lions to Harvey Weinstein, and initiation the different leadership styles
of performance and process improve- and apply the lessons that I have
ment audits at every state agency would learned to my life.
be a lasting legacy. She can also work to I have noticed that at the high-
end crony capitalism for out-of-state est and most simplistic level of
wind energy companies and tribes sell- analysis, there are two primary
ing tobacco. Pursuing these reforms will types of House Speaker arche-
generate the savings and revenue need- types. The first, a distinct minori-
ed to give every classroom teacher a ty of the whole, creates an envi-
$5,000 a year raise and protect ronment conducive to produc-
Oklahomans. tivity and resists the temptation
Gov. Fallin brought together thought- to use the Speaker’s office to cre-
ful people from across the political spec- ate fear.
trum to create a package of criminal jus- These Speakers are remem-
tice reform measures. But the hard work bered in a more positive light
is getting the bills passed, and they des- and may maintain the loyalty of
perately need the governor’s thoughtful their former colleagues even
support. The alternative is building new after they leave office. We feel a
prisons over the next decade. bit of regard for these individuals,
Finally, the Trump administration has not because we agreed with all
invited states to be more innovative and their policies, but because they
accountable in managing their treated fellow House members
Medicaid programs. Here again is a with respect and didn't use their
chance for Gov. Fallin to deliver on a great power to inflict harm;
campaign theme by bringing more hopefully he worked for us,
power back to Oklahoma while also rather than us working for him!
restraining one of the fastest-growing The second type of House
parts of the state budget. Speaker deliberately uses fear as
a tool to maintain discipline. He
JONATHAN SMALL serves as president of the reminds members of his power
Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs (www.ocpathink.org). by making examples of real and
in a toxic environment of fear groupthink into which
and trepidation which hides been forced. Worse, be
under a fragile free flow of ideas has s
facade of parti- trickle, the politician o
san unity. in the way of actual po
This poison- solution and simply re
ous atmos- traditional governmen
phere has a ing: "We just need to s
chilling effect money!"
on policy. No There is a tremendo
one wants to of power vested within
be next on the Speaker’s office, and th
Rep. Jason enemies’ list, fear to stay in power is
Murphey so even the
Speaker’s
effective in the short ru
long run, however, nea
friends are House member is hap
House hesitant to relieved when this Spe
District 31 speak out too moves on from his sea
much. It should be the goa
Eventually Speaker to govern in a
the free flow of environment. As custo
ideas begins to dry up, thus sig- the role of Speaker, he
nificantly compromising the view it as a personal fa
mission given to us by the tax- caucus member expre
payer. The Speaker's inner circle because of his actions
becomes an echo chamber into be his primary goal to
which honest and truthful advice vant to the members a
is not produced. House leader- them succeed in their
ship subsequently loses touch endeavors.
with the people and reality, and Unfortunately, most
House members sense this but short of meeting this s
are trapped between a rock and And ironically, though
a hard place, i.e., reality and the great power, they are n
state's most powerful politician. remembered and few,
They become demoralized ever surpass the zenit
and the more attentive con- power.
stituents quickly notice the It should be our goa
change of quality in their repre- bers of the House to re
sentation. The perceptive will power and disperse it
see the dead look in their politi- the members of the H
cian's eyes as their legislator this way, we ensure th
attempts to justify an indefensi- abuse will never occu

Copyright (c)2018 Edmond Sun, Edition 02/14/2018

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