Opinion

Page 4A Wednesday, March 6, 2013

Ban on texting while driving stalled by politics

The first live bear I ever saw was on Main Street in Kinta, Oklahoma. The year was about 1962 and the Ursus Americanus had not wandered into town from the mountains south of town. Nor was it an escapee from the zoo in Tulsa. Technically, it was not even a part of a circus. This black bear was chained to a tree in front of a tent and was the property of a promoter of one of those rural American holdovers of the 1800's. The event being promoted was bear wrestling and the barker was looking for both spectators and contestants. I was not old enough to qualify as either, but tickets were selling like hotcakes. I don't remember if my older brothers were allowed to go, but I am pretty certain that they did not wrestle the bear. We lived seven miles from town and they would not have had transportation at the time. The tent that was set up was not large enough to keep the crowd very far from the ring, but by the looks of the tired old bear, vicious animal bites were not likely. Apparently the sport of bear wrestling first became popular in France and came to the United States in December 1877. Rural America provided circuits of communities where there was just not a lot of constant commotion. To say that times were slow is an understatement and for decades, into the 1960's any type of entertainment was welcomed. However, before you get too uppity, please realize that once in a while we did get to attend some really special events. For instance, in my home town of around 350 residents in the 1960's , we actually got to meet Meadowlark Lemon when the Harlem Globetrotters came to our old WPA gym. My point is that until 1996 bear wrestling was legal in Oklahoma. The statute that prohibits bear wrestling also prohibits horse tripping. I don't know how bear wrestling

Rep. David Perryman

and horse tripping were addressed in the same statute. In fact horse tripping doesn't sound fun at all. Historically, Oklahoma has taken the lead and enacted statutes that are needed for the safety of Oklahomans. One of the hottest topics that I have been contacted about over the past ten days is the proposal to ban texting while driving. Unfortunately the majority leadership of the Oklahoma House of Representatives has its head in the proverbial sand and is playing politics with lives concerning this extremely dangerous issue. House Bill 1503 by Rep. Curtis McDaniel (D-Smithville) is a proposal to make texting while driving illegal. Over 80% of Oklahomans support a ban on texting while driving. According to AT&T,

a Virginia Tech study an Oklahoma Highway ous. What is your opinion? showed that persons who Patrolman cannot stop a Do you want HB 1503 to text while driving are 23 driver who is texting and die without a vote or do times more likely to be driving at the very instant you want it to be heard on involved in a crash than that the highway patrolman the House Floor? It is your persons who are not tex- passes the driver. Thirty- civic duty to let your voice ting while driving. Rep. nine other states prohibit be heard. Take action McDaniels' Bill passed out texting while driving. for the Common Good. of committee, but is being Should Oklahoma? Call or eMail a member blocked from being heard According to the of the House Calendar on the house floor. Associated Press, House Committee or the Speaker AT&T reported that a Speaker T.W. Shannon of the House and let them Texas Traffic Institute study (R-Lawton) stated last know your opinion about showed that When drivers week that he is among HB1503. Their phone read or send a text mes- those who have opposed a numbers and eMail adsage, their reaction time is ban on texting while driv- dresses can be found at doubled and when asked to ing in the past because he www.okhouse.gov. respond to a flashing light believes that there is a slipIf the House Calendar while texting behind the pery slope argument to be Committee will allow the wheel, drivers were more made about what people bill to be heard, I will vote than 11 times more likely are doing inside their cars. in favor of it. It is my opinto miss the light altogether. At this time, the bill is ion that the need for a ban The telephone giant has being blocked from being on bear wrestling has taken dedicated millions of dol- voted on by the full House a back seat to the need for a lars to its "It Can Wait" of Representatives and ban on texting while drivcampaign and says that Oklahoma law does not ing. "No text is worth dying allow local control by mu for. And that is why AT&T nicipalities across the state. is committed to putting an The Cities and Towns that E-mail State Rep. David end to texting and driving." could otherwise adopt tex- Perryman, D-Chickasha AT&T says that, "Our goal ting and tobacco laws are at davidperryman@okis to save lives and to make being stopped by the state house.gov, write him at PO texting and driving as un- legislature. Box 1567, Chickasha, OK acceptable as drinking and Ninety-Seven percent 73023 or visit www.daviddriving." (97%) of teens say that tex- perryman.com Under current law, ting and driving is danger-

About 430 bills out of committee

Of the more than 1,150 Senate bills that were filed this year only around 430 ended up making it out of committee to be considered by the full Senate. While we've mainly been focusing on our committeeSB 954 would create the County Government Modernization Revolving Fund. SB 996 creates the Emergency Drought Protection Special Fund to help farmers and ranchers when the Governor declares a state of emergency because of drought conditions. Two more of my bills that I haven't discussed previously have already made their way to the House for consideration. SB 919 would remove big game commercial hunting licenses as a requirement for the issuance of a permit to engage in the management of and the sellers have information of the maker, to have a commercial a list of the ingredients Sen. license. This would allow in the product and a Ron people to make products disclosure that is was Justice that don't have to be prepared in a home. In closing, I'd like to heated or refrigerated like jams, jellies, salsas, thank my pages from depredating animals etc in their home and the last two weeks. by use of aircraft. It then sell them at these Am-Po senior Denton would also remove the types of events by simply Lowe served during the requirement that such getting a cottage food third week of session; actions could only take production operation and this past week, we place on land listed in permit. The application had Chickasha seniors the commercial hunting fee for the permit would Baylee Williams and area license; and would Kate Singleton helping modify the definition of be $175 with a renewal fee of $125. around the Senate. I aircraft for such hunting The bill pertains to hope they enjoyed their to include fixed wing non-time/temperature time at the Capitol, and I aircraft. control for safety food wish them all the best as SB 920 would create products including baked they prepare to graduate the Oklahoma Cottage goods, jams and jellies, and take the next big step Food Law to allow people in their lives. more flexibility in selling candies, dried mixes, spices, some sauces certain products made and liquids, pickles and in the home directly to consumers. Currently, in acidified foods. These products could not be You can write Sen. Ron order to sell homemade sold at retail or grocery Justice, R-Chickasha, products at certain events or places like farmers stores, restaurants, at State Capitol, 2300 bed and breakfasts, N. Lincoln Blvd. Room markets, church festivals or wholesalers. The 423, Oklahoma City, or roadside stands, those products would have to OK, 73105; email him at products have to be made in a commercial kitchen have labels that included justice@oksenate.gov, or the address and contact call (405) 521-5537.

LETTERS WELCOME
The Chickasha Leader welcomes your comments. We reserve the right to edit material for length and/or deemed to be objectionable, inflammatory or libelous. Letters should be mailed or brought to our office: Chickasha Leader P.O. Box 2370 428 W. Kansas Ave Chickasha, OK 73023 Email letters to jpittman@chickashaleader.com. Letters sent by e-mail must include the writer's full name and a phone number where the author can be reached for verification.

GOVERNMENT CONTACTS
U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe, R-OK 205 Russell Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510 -3603 Main: (202) 224-4721 Fax: (202) 228-0380 U.S. Sen. Tom Coburn, R-OK 172 Russell Senate Office Bldg. Washington, DC 20510 Main: 202-224-5754 Fax: 202-224-6008 U.S. Rep Tom Cole, R-OK U. S. House of Representatives 2458 Rayburn HOB Washington, D. C. 20515 202-225-6165 Fax: 202-225-3512 Sen. Ron Justice, D-23, R-Chickasha, 405-521-5537 e-mail: justice@oksenate.gov Sen. Don Barrington, D-31, R-Lawton 405-521-5563 e-mail: barrington@oksenate. gov Sen. Corey Brooks, D-43, R-Washington, email: brooks@ oksenate.gov Rep. Joe Dorman, D-65, D-Rush Springs P. O. Box 559 Rush Springs, OK 73082 405-557-7305 e-mail: joedorman@okhouse. gov Rep. Leslie Osborn, D-47, R-Mustang 405-557-7333 e-mail: leslie.osborn@ okhouse.gov Rep. Scott Biggs, D-51, R-Chickasha, 405-557-7405 email: scott.biggs@okhouse. gov Rep David Perryman, D-56, D-Chickasha, 405-557-7401, e-mail: david.perryman@ okhouse.gov

Bills advance to be considered by entire body of origin

We are in the fifth week of the legislature, which means the committee process has ended and the bills to be considered further must now pass the entire body of origin. House bills must pass the House of Representatives by next Thursday to move on if they will become laws, just like the Senate bills in the State Senate. I have detailed my bills so far in my columns, so I want to update you on some of the more interesting bills which have been authored by other legislators and where they stand in the system. These three were authored by Republican colleagues. HB 1706 by Rep. Ann Coody failed in committee last week, but the bill would have created a $500 million bond through the State Department of Education to administer grants for local schools to upgrade facilities to make them safer. Many members had different reasons based on the debate and the vote came down to 7 yes votes and 18 no votes. My concerns with this bill were the amount of the bond, the discretion of the Superintendent Janet Barresi to give the grants to schools based on very little oversight in the bill, and what I feel is the need for the local school districts to have the ability to decide on if and what should go into a bond package for school security, so I voted against this bill. There are also bills by other authors which could be heard to allow teachers and school personnel to carry firearms in schools; HB 1721 by Rep. Leslie Osborn passed the House of Representatives on Monday. This bill
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Rep. Joe Dorman

would reduce the next income level for qualification for the Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program (OHLAP), or Oklahoma's Promise scholarship, which would have increased next year. OHLAP replaced grant programs in the past and provides tuition assistance for low-income college-age students from Oklahoma families to offset the cost of rising cost of tuition. I voted against this bill as this changes the income cap for many families who were about to qualify for the program and makes it harder for those kids to get a college degree. The income levels would have increased to $100,000

to take in double earning middle income families, but if this bill should become law, that level will instead be lowered to $60,000 based on family income rates. Parents who are school teachers with no other income would not qualify, to use an example; HB 1917 By Speaker TW Shannon also passed the House of Representatives on Monday, requiring state agencies to prepare for the possibility of a 25% reduction in federal funds. I supported this bill as we are entering a time when budgets are questionable due to the inaction of our federal government and their inability to prepare a budget. The effectiveness on this will depend on how serious state agencies will take this mandate and if the federal government will cut state funding to

that level. The Oklahoma Department of Health relies on 56% of their budget to come from federal matching dollars, along with the State Department of Education likely facing tens of millions of dollars being cut from It It will be a busy weekend coming up! On Friday, I look forward to visiting with the Lawton Chamber at their legislative luncheon about work at the Capitol so far this year. This Saturday evening is the Starlight Ball in Lawton which will benefit the children's programs at Comanche County Memorial Hospital. Sunday afternoon, I will lead a workshop teaching 7th and 8th grade students the legislative process for their participation in the YMCA Youth in Government program at the Grady County Extension office, so contact

me if you have a student who might be interested in attending the one-day conference on Friday, March 29th at the Capitol. On Saturday, March 16, there will be a bean supper to raise funds for the Apache Fire Department starting at 5pm at the high school. I also want to congratulate the teams in our area who competed in the various basketball playoffs and especially the Chickasha and Fort-Cobb/Broxton men and both Sterling teams for making it to State!

You can call Rep. Joe Dorman, D-Rush Springs, at 1-800-522-8502 or 405557-7305; email him at joedorman@okhouse.gov at work; write him at PO Box 559, Rush Springs, OK 73082 or visit wwwjoedorman.com.