Column: Oklahoma’s Dismal Public Education Ranking

Oklahoma’s Dismal Public Education Ranking

by Byron Schlomach

Governor Stitt has made it his goal to move Oklahoma toward top ten status among the states. Exactly how he would measure this is unclear, but education is obviously targeted, given its prominence in his inaugural speech. This much is clear, though; Oklahoma will not become a top-ten state in education just by spending more money.

The truth is, rankings of state public education systems are inconsistent. WalletHub ranks Oklahoma 33rd, ahead of braggadocios Texas at 36th, and well behind our highest-ranked neighbor, Colorado, at 10th. Other rankings put Oklahoma solidly in the bottom ten of states. U.S. News ranks us 42nd; USA Today, 45th; and Education Week, 47th. These three rankings place Texas significantly above us, and our highest-ranked neighbors are variously Colorado and Kansas. The region most represented in the top ten is the northeast.

These rankings are complicated, taking account of ACT and SAT results that are not easily compared from state to state, in addition to a plethora of other arbitrary factors. WalletHub’s ranking, for example, emphasizes school safety, where Oklahoma does well. All consider higher spending the same as higher quality, but there are too many examples to list that show this not to be true.

A new ranking put together by scholars at the University of Texas at Dallas and published by CATO takes a simpler and more rational approach to state rankings, by ranking quality and efficiency separately. They use National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) results, the nation’s gold standard in academic performance measurement. They also account for demography, recognizing that for various cultural reasons, students of different ethnicities, on average, perform differently on the NAEP.

It turns out Texas actually does a better job of educating students of various ethnicities than most northeastern states with less diverse populations, so much so that Texas ranks 6th in the quality ranking. Washington, DC ranks 5th, because that district does a relatively good job educating its particular population, compared to most. Oklahoma ranks a low 41st in educational quality, outranking only Arkansas when compared to our nearby neighbors.

An efficiency ranking does not view higher spending positively. Greater efficiency comes from getting the most out of resources, so given Oklahoma’s spending level, often considered low, surely we are relatively efficient. In fact, with our higher efficiency ranking at 26th, of our nearby neighbors, only Texas (2nd) and Colorado (9th) rank higher. But, California and high-spending Washington, DC are also more efficient than us because cost of living is taken into account, and Oklahoma is not really a low spender when cost of living is considered.

Spending more on public education, and nothing else, as many in our legislature have promised, is guaranteed to make Oklahoma’s public education system even less efficient. In fact, the UT-Dallas study overstates our efficiency ranking because last year’s big spending increase is not included.

Thus far, the public education establishment has only promised the same methods with more money, making the definition of insanity – doing the same thing while expecting different results – particularly relevant. What we need are new, proven ideas that hold some hope that Oklahoma will improve educationally in both quality and efficiency, not the usual new gimmicks with big price tags. The Tulsa schools’ recent innovations using current resources, emphasizing career training and openness to nontraditional approaches, offer some hope. It is this hope for real improvement that drives so many who advocate for school choice, a proven way to improve educational outcomes. And how about this. Just expecting better work – from everybody – doesn’t cost a dime.

Stitt announces new Director of Emergency Management

GOVERNOR KEVIN STITT ANNOUNCES DIRECTOR OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT 

Oklahoma City, Okla. (January 29, 2019) – Governor Kevin Stitt announced [yesterday] the hiring of Mark Gower as the Director of the Department of Oklahoma Emergency Management (OEM).

“Mark Gower has been dedicated to the safety and security of Oklahomans his entire career,” said Gov. Stitt. “His expertise is well suited to guide the Department of Emergency Management, and I look forward to working with him as we continue to move our state forward.”

“I am deeply honored by Governor Stitt’s faith in me to serve our citizens," said Gower. "I am excited to join him and our dedicated emergency management professionals across Oklahoma. I will work tirelessly alongside our governor to build trust, efficiency, and accountability through working to provide quality, customer-focused services to our citizens, cities, towns, and counties statewide."

Mark Gower currently serves as the Chief Information Security Officer and CyberCommand Director for the State of Oklahoma. With over 20-years of experience in Information Security and Technology, Gower has a broad and varied knowledge base to draw upon. His expertise includes Cybersecurity, Business Continuity, Disaster Recovery, and Emergency Preparedness and Response. Gower holds multiple certifications, including Certified Chief Information Security Officer (C|CISO), Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), Certified Business Continuity Planner (CBCP), and Certified Information Security Manager (CISM).

"Emergency Management in Oklahoma has always been a significant part of the phrase ‘the Oklahoma Standard’ and Mr. Gower brings a very specific skill set that will help us advance and improve Emergency Management in our state. I have worked with Mark in the past and look forward to working with him again in his new position as OEM Director," said Kary D. Cox, Director at Washington County Emergency Management.

"I've known and worked in the public sector with Mark for many years, and I have the highest respect for him. He has all the skills to do a great job for Oklahoma as the Director of Oklahoma Emergency Management. Mark is a man of integrity with a servants heart, a rare quality in public service today. He is intelligent and a hard worker who believes in doing the job right the first time, and I look forward to the opportunity of serving with him,” said James Dalton, Director at Durant/Bryan County Emergency Management.

The Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management (OEM) prepares for, responds to, recovers from and mitigates against disasters and emergencies. The department maintains the State Emergency Operations Center which serves as a command center for reporting emergencies and coordinating state response activities. OEM delivers service to Oklahoma cities, towns and counties through the network of more than 400 local emergency managers.

OEM also maintains, regularly updates and exercises the State Emergency Operations Plan. The department provides funding and/or assistance to more than 400 local emergency management departments throughout the state.

OK Senate GOP issues 2019 agenda items

Government reforms, education highlight Senate GOP’s 2019 agenda

OKLAHOMA CITY – Senate Republicans will increase accountability in state government by creating a legislative budget office and will protect and honor the state’s $2.9 billion investment in education as part of their 2019 legislative session.

Senate President Pro Tempore Greg Treat and members of the GOP Caucus on Tuesday announced a four-point agenda for the upcoming legislative session.

“Our agenda is simple and precise but reflects four important areas that will have tremendous long-term impact for Oklahoma,” said Treat, R-Oklahoma City. “We’ll have more budget transparency by creating a legislative watchdog to give lawmakers more information as we write the budget and measure the success of state programs. Education investment and reform are essential elements of our agenda too because we know they are key to our state reaching its full potential. Finally, advancing criminal justice reform by supporting diversion programs will impact many areas of our state in a positive way. With this agenda, we’re working toward helping Oklahoma achieve a better and brighter future.”

Treat said the Senate GOP agenda has a lot in common with 2019 goals so far indicated by Governor Kevin Stitt and leaders in the Oklahoma House of Representatives.

“More cooperation between the Senate, the House and the governor’s office is great news for Oklahoma because we’re all collaborating around ideas that will make a difference long-term for Oklahoma,” Treat said.

Majority Floor Leader Kim David, R-Porter, who led the GOP agenda working group during the interim session, said the streamlined agenda highlights important issues critical to the success of Oklahoma.

“Our agenda reflects our commitment to making a long-lasting impact for Oklahoma,” David said. “Senate Republicans want the Legislature and the public to have more tools to hold agencies accountable. We also value students and teachers and will keep our commitment to both groups as we work on policies that support teachers and help students achieve their potential.”

Senator Roger Thompson, Senate appropriations committee chairman, said these priorities will be reflected in the Senate’s efforts during the budget negotiations.

“As we work on the budget you’ll see the priorities in this agenda reflected in what the Senate advocates for during budget negotiations,” said Thompson, R-Okemah. “Our economy is doing well, and coupled with tough choices made in the last few years, the state budget picture is better. The final revenue numbers remain to be seen, but we’re cautiously optimistic.”

The agenda is as follows:

• Oklahoma Senate Republicans will establish a legislative budget office to provide greater accountability and transparency of taxpayer dollars.
• Oklahoma Senate Republicans will add more accountability to state government by giving the governor authority to put into place the right leaders at state agencies to turn Oklahoma around.
• Oklahoma Senate Republicans will honor and protect the $2.9 billion investment in our students and teachers, and we will restore 5-day school weeks, providing for reasonable exemptions, to enhance student outcomes and repair Oklahoma’s national reputation.
• Oklahoma Senate Republicans will improve access to and provide funding for diversion programs to further criminal justice reform.

OCPA column: short-term health insurance brings more choice, savings

More choices, more savings: Short-term health insurance

By Kaitlyn Finley, policy research fellow at the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs

Faced with ever-rising health insurance premiums, more Americans are searching for alternatives that won’t break their budget.

Thanks to regulatory action by the Trump administration last August, people in certain states may now take full advantage of a more affordable category of health insurance—short-term, limited-duration medical insurance (also called short-term insurance).

Unlike traditional health insurance plans, these flexible short-term plans are not subject to restrictive Obamacare regulations under federal law. As a result, short-term plans’ premiums can be up to 70 to 80 percent cheaper than certain silver and bronze plans on Obamacare Exchanges.

In addition to cost-savings, consumers may enroll in these plans any time during the year, which may help those who missed the Obamacare enrollment deadline. A recent survey of 1,000 short-term insurance beneficiaries by eHealth found that 51 percent of people would have been uninsured if they did not have access to short-term plans. Overall, recipients of these plans are generally satisfied with their coverage under these plans. eHealth’s survey found 78 percent of people who accessed medical services stated they were happy with the coverage under their short-term plan.

Under current federal regulation, these plans can offer initial coverage for up to 364 days and may be renewable for up to 36 months. In an effort to force more people to purchase Obamacare plans, the Obama administration limited their coverage to three months without the option to renew. The three-month coverage period hindered people who needed flexible health insurance coverage for interim periods, for possibly up to four to twelve months.  For instance, individuals that were still job searching or waiting for open enrollment after their initial three-month period ended were left uninsured with no options.

Although the Trump administration greatly reduced federal regulations for this category of insurance, many states still impose stronger restrictions on short-term plans. For example, state regulations in Maryland, Oregon, and Hawaii limit coverage to 90 days. As of January 1 this year, California has prohibited the sale of short-term plans entirely. Currently, Oklahoma law limits short-term plans to six months with no option to renew.

States should not ban these plans or arbitrarily suppress coverage duration. Consumers should have the ability to review all options and choose the best available insurance plan that fits their coverage needs on their schedule.

Kaitlyn Finley serves as a policy research fellow focusing on health care and welfare policy for the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs.

Oklahoma student enrollment grows by nearly 4,000

Funding needed to support increasing number of students, Hofmeister says

OKLAHOMA CITY (Jan. 28, 2019) — The number of students in public schools in Oklahoma continues to rise steadily, as indicated by the newest enrollment numbers released by the Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE).

Collected Oct. 1, the annual student count shows that 698,586 students were enrolled in Pre-K through 12th grade for the 2018-19 school year, a half-percent increase over the previous school year. This year’s enrollment shows an 8 percent increase over the last 11 years.

“As our student population grows year after year, Oklahoma must be prepared to meet a greater set of education challenges than ever before,”said Joy Hofmeister, State Superintendent of Public Instruction. “We must continue to focus on such priorities as a robust pipeline of trained educators in our classrooms, adequate funding to reduce class sizes and a counselor corps to address the trauma our children bring into the schoolhouse and the individual career planning that will ensure they have the opportunity for a successful future.”

The ranking of the 10 largest public school districts remained unchanged from 2017-18, with Oklahoma City, Tulsa and Edmond topping the list, respectively. Other districts by descending order of size are Moore, Putnam City, Broken Arrow, Norman, Union, Midwest City-Del City and Lawton. Currently, Oklahoma has 512 traditional public school districts, 1,802 traditional school sites, 26 charter schools and four virtual charter schools.

Demographic polling showed a slight shift in the racial makeup of Oklahoma’s schoolchildren. The number of those claiming two or more races, Hispanic or Asian/Pacific Islander ethnicities rose, while the Caucasian, black and American Indian populations dropped. All differences were fewer than 1 percent. The largest race identified in polling was Caucasian at 48.47 percent.

To view the spreadsheets with state, district and site totals, click here.

OCPA column: The Speech Police

The speech police

by Jonathan Small, president of the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs (OCPA)

Before Christmas, I cautioned Oklahomans about a proposed regulation by the Oklahoma Ethics Commission that would label almost anyone sharing an opinion about the Legislature as a lobbyist and subject them to state regulations.

On January 11, the commission released a new version of its so-called “indirect lobbying” regulation. The changes are mostly window dressing. It would still massively expand the state’s regulatory power, require warning labels on opinions, and make some people’s private information public.

After citizens and reporters packed the commission’s last meeting, they refused to vote on either version and instead called a special meeting for January 25. Possibly, a third version will be introduced in the meantime.

Whatever the commission finally votes on, the whole idea of regulating so-called “indirect lobbying” is silly and illegal.

Let’s be clear: So-called “indirect lobbying” is not lobbying. Instead, it is one private person talking to another private person, sharing an opinion about what is happening in the Legislature.

Why do we need warning labels on opinions? Why should a state agency waste resources regulating the speech of private people sharing their thoughts about public policy? The whole idea is frightening.

To avoid just this kind of mission creep, the Ethics Commission’s power is limited in the Oklahoma Constitution. Its job is to make and enforce rules related to the ethics of government officials and employees. This is why the commission makes rules about giving money to legislators’ campaigns and giving gifts to state employees.

But the Ethics Commission has no power to regulate private people who are voicing their opinions on the thousands of bills and rules considered by lawmakers and bureaucrats. This is not a complicated legal question. What the commission is trying to do is illegal not just because it violates the freedoms of speech and assembly, and our right to petition our government, but because it reaches far beyond the agency’s legitimate power.

Every year, some Oklahomans band together, often in small groups focused on single pieces of legislation, to make their voices heard. These are not professional lobbyists. Wrapping them in red tape will only serve to stifle them. But maybe that’s the idea?

Make no mistake: transparency is for government; privacy is for people. More than 3,700 citizens have signed a petition opposing this proposal. The Oklahoma Ethics Commission should refocus on its real mission: the ethics of those who work in government. And it should leave the rest of us alone.

Hopefully, the commission will vote this proposal down on January 25.

Jonathan Small serves as president of the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs.

State Election Board Encourages New Voter Registration

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Make a Resolution to Vote: Election Board Encourages New Voter Registration

(Oklahoma City) – With the start of a new year, the State Election Board is encouraging Oklahomans everywhere to make a resolution to get registered and vote.

“Whether you just turned 18 or have been eligible to vote for years, now is the time to take an active role in electing our government representatives,” said Paul Ziriax, Secretary of the State Election Board. “2020 is an important election year, but there are also many important local elections in 2019. It has never been easier to register to vote, so why wait? Just download an application from the State Election Board website and drop it in the mail, or register in person at your county election board or local tag agency.”

To qualify as a voter, a person must be a U.S. citizen, a resident of Oklahoma, at least 18 years or older and must complete a voter registration application.

Registered voters can go to the State Election Board website to sign up to receive a text message or e-mail when an election is scheduled in their county. Voters can also go online and apply to receive absentee ballots for one election or for the entire year – no excuse is needed. Applying for an absentee ballot ensures a voter never misses a chance to exercise the right to vote.

To get a voter registration application or learn more about voter registration in Oklahoma, visit the State Election Board website at http://elections.ok.gov.

 “We saw much improved voter turnout in 2018, and I want to see this increased enthusiasm continue through 2019 and into 2020. Let’s get registered and go vote Oklahoma!” Ziriax said.

Stitt issues four executive orders, including sale of private plane for Governor

GOVERNOR KEVIN STITT ANNOUNCES FIRST EXECUTIVE ORDERS

Oklahoma City, Okla. (January 24, 2019) – Governor Kevin Stitt announced today four new executive orders that focus on increasing transparency, accountability, and efficiency in state government.

“My commitment is to get to the bottom of every dollar spent by state government and ensure every hard-earned tax dollar matches the mission and values of Oklahomans,” said Gov. Stitt. “These executive orders will help us achieve my administration’s mission through the restructuring of the governor’s cabinet, enforcing transparency on the use of contract lobbyists by state agencies, and giving agency leaders more flexibility to restructure staff within the confines of their budgets.”

The executive orders issued by Gov. Stitt are as follows:

Cabinet Executive Order: Gov. Stitt’s first executive order creates his administration’s official cabinet and assigns various agencies, commissions and boards to each cabinet secretary. The cabinet will consist of 15 positions, with a few operating in a volunteer capacity.

Changes made to the cabinet structure include:

• The Secretary of Finance is now divided into three positions focused on agency accountability, transparency, and modernization. The responsibilities of this role will now be spread across the following titles: Secretary of Agency Accountability, Secretary of Budget, and Secretary of Digital Transformation and Administration.
• The Secretary of Health and Human Services is now divided into two positions. The Stitt administration will have a Secretary of Health and Mental Health and a Secretary of Human Services and Early Childhood Initiatives.
• The Secretary of Education will be rolled into the Secretary of State’s title so that this cabinet position can focus on the holistic picture of education while pursuing a collaborative relationship with the elected State Superintendent.
• The Secretary of Tourism and Commerce position is now divided into two secretaries, with Lt. Gov. Matt Pinnell serving on the cabinet as Secretary of Tourism and Branding and with a second cabinet position created that couples workforce development with job recruitment under the Secretary of Commerce and Workforce Development.

Agency Transparency on Contract Lobbyists Executive Order: After learning that information is not readily available or accessible around contracts state agencies are entering into with outside lobbyists, Gov. Stitt formed this executive order to require all agencies, boards and commissions to submit a list of every contract lobbyist hired and the amount of each contract. He has requested this information for any contracts from 2015 to the present day. While documents are being produced, this executive order places a freeze on agencies, board, and commissions from entering into new contracts with outside lobbyists or extending current contract agreements.

Agency Employee Reform Executive Order: This executive order maintains the hiring freeze on state employees as it pertains to classified positions. However, the executive order lifts the hiring freeze on unclassified positions in agencies so long as agencies remain within their budgets.

This order reduces excessive paperwork and gives agency leaders flexibility to reform and modernize their workforce to meet the current mission of agencies to deliver core services and to anticipate future needs.

The order on classified employees remains in effect due to the difficulty to dissolve these positions no matter how outdated the practice or how unnecessary the function the position services. While some classified positions may be necessary in the future, Gov. Stitt is first asking his cabinet secretaries to focus on a full review of their agency, boards, and commissions to help identify needs for each entity to deliver services effectively and efficiently.

Selling the State’s Private Plane Servicing the Governor Executive Order: Under this executive order, Gov. Stitt instructs the Commissioner of Public Safety to sell the King Air, a private plane servicing the governor. The governor will continue to travel the state and will be reviewing more cost-efficient ways to get out to communities in all 77 counties.

Boles, Perryman File Bill to Simplify Salary Process for County Officials

Boles and Perryman File Bipartisan Bill to Simplify Salary Process for County Officials

OKLAHOMA CITY –State Rep. Brad Boles, R-Marlow, and Rep. David Perryman, D-Chickasha, today filed legislation to simplify the salary decision process of county commissioners.

House Bill 1939 follows an audit released by the Office of the State Auditor and Inspector earlier this month, which found that elected county officials in Grady County had been overpaid by approximately $700,000 over the past decade. Both Boles and Perryman represent portions of Grady County.

“After many meetings with the State Auditor’s office, we discovered that Oklahoma’s county commissioners are paid on a very complex formula model and that the current state statutes have some conflicting language. Representative Perryman and I have filed this legislation to simplify this process and resolve these issues,” Boles said.

The audit, which was requested by District Attorney Jason M. Hicks, found that the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) did not set and approve the salaries for the elected county officials of Grady County, which resulted in the officials receiving a salary exceeding the amount allowed by law.

Boles said this legislation and additional measures by the State Auditor’s office will create an annual system of checks and balances to ensure each county remains within state statute on the county salaries they are allowed to pay.

“My hope is that this bill, when passed, will prevent situations like we’ve seen in Grady County from happening again in other Oklahoma counties by giving our county government officials a more flexible, transparent and accountable state law to follow moving forward,” Boles said.

Boles, a Republican, is the chair of the County & Municipal Government Committee for the upcoming session. Perryman is co-authoring HB1939 and serves as the Democrat Minority Floor Leader.

"This legislation is an attempt to clarify an archaic and confusing formula by which the salaries of elected county officials is computed,” Perryman said. “Representative Boles and I are committed to working together to accomplish a goal of removing ambiguities in the law to avoid situations across the state where the salaries of county officials may have been inadvertently miscalculated."

Thursday marked the final day to file bills for the upcoming session. The first session of the 57th Legislature begins Monday, Feb. 4 at noon.

Stitt picks Secretaries of Transportation, Digital Transformation & Administration

GOVERNOR KEVIN STITT ANNOUNCES SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION, SECRETARY OF DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION & ADMINISTRATION

Oklahoma City, Okla. (January 18, 2019) – Governor Kevin Stitt announced today the appointment of Tim Gatz as Secretary of Transportation and the appointment of David Ostrowe as Secretary of Digital Transformation and Administration, two cabinet positions that require Senate confirmation.

“This cabinet is about developing a team of Oklahomans who are ready to do things differently in state government and pursue bold ideas that can make Oklahoma a Top Ten state,” said Gov. Stitt. “I asked Tim Gatz to serve as Secretary of Transportation because he is the right leader for us to take a fresh approach to developing our state’s infrastructure, one that is fiscally responsible and continues to attract job creators to Oklahoma. David Ostrowe has a history of bringing new life to stagnant companies, and I welcome his thought leadership in bringing state government in to the 21st century with how we are delivering services effectively and efficiently.”

Tim Gatz has served as the Executive Director of the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority (OTA) since June of 2016. He previously served as Deputy Director of the Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) from 2013 to 2016. He has more than two decades of service with ODOT, beginning his career with the agency as a Drafting Technician in 1990. Gatz was instrumental in the development of ODOT’s project management methodologies and Eight-year Construction Work Plan. Gatz earned a bachelor's degree in Landscape Architecture from Oklahoma State University in 1989 and is a registered professional landscape architect.

“I am humbled, honored and excited to serve Governor Stitt as he leads our great State towards real and measurable improvement," said Gatz. "Safe and efficient transportation infrastructure of all types supports our families, communities, and commerce and his vision will contribute directly to our near term success and to the prosperity of generations to come. I look forward to a collaborative and innovative role working with the excellent team he has assembled."

David Ostrowe will serve on the governor’s cabinet in an unpaid capacity, placing a strategic emphasis on digital transformation in the delivery of services across all agencies. Ostrowe will also provide oversight of state financial institutions, similarly executed by the cabinet title “Secretary of Finance” seen in previous administration.

Ostrowe will continue in his role as the President and CEO of O&M Restaurant Group. In 1999, Ostrowe launched his first business in Oklahoma City. That business grew from a one-man shop to what it is now, a $65 million, multi-unit and multi-state operation with 1,000 employees. Ostrowe currently serves as the Western Regional Chair Emeritus for Young Presidents Organization and was the Oklahoma City Chair Emeritus. He has also been a Board member of Allied Arts for 14 years. Previously, Ostrowe was a member of Burger King Corporation’s Restaurant Counsel for eight years and Chair Emeritus for “The Growth Group,” a Burger King franchisee association made up of large quick service restaurant developers throughout the United States. Ostrowe is also a past Professor of Business, teaching two to three classes per semester at OU’s Price Business School.

“As Secretary of Digital Transformation and Administration, I look forward to working alongside the Stitt administration in order to bring efficiency and effectiveness to government operations and give back to a State that has given me so much,” said Ostrowe.

Endorsements for Tim Gatz as Secretary of Transportation:

“I have known director Gatz for the better part of three decades. We have worked together rather closely over the last two decades. And I would not hesitate to say that his reputation is beyond reproach as far as his ethics and loyalty to the people of Oklahoma. He is the one who has helped so much in the innovation of moving transportation forward both at ODOT and at the turnpike authority. And he has done a great job recently at the TPA leading that agency to one of the biggest expansion programs in the state of Oklahoma. He will make a great addition to the governor’s cabinet and I know that he will make us all proud.”
-Gary Ridley, Former Oklahoma Secretary of Transportation

“I think Tim will make an outstanding Secretary of Transportation. I watched him rise through the ranks in the Department of Transportation because of his cool head and ability to execute plans well. I also observed him as he took over the turnpike authority and launched one of the largest construction programs in Oklahoma. He understands the transportation business and he will make an excellent secretary and advisor to the governor.”
-Neal McCaleb, Ambassador for the Chickasaw Nation and Former Oklahoma Secretary of Transportation

Endorsements for David Ostrowe as Secretary of Digital Transformation and Administration:

“Oklahoma will see swift benefits from the broad vision and deep business sensibilities David Ostrowe displays when tackling big issues and maximizing opportunities to advance. Beyond his impressive private sector track record as an entrepreneur and business builder, I’ve witnessed first-hand the innovation David brings to education in OU’s Price College of Business.  For years, David has taught aspiring business students to leverage the power of markets and technology to become the dynamic leaders necessary for Oklahoma’s best future. David has the enviable combination of being both a thinker and a doer who brings hard work and fresh perspectives to everything in which he invests. Today, the citizens of Oklahoma are fortunate to have David investing his time and talent in such an important role for us all.”
– Daniel Pullin, dean, Michael F. Price College of Business, University of Oklahoma

“It’s been my great honor to get to know David Ostrowe very well over the past 10 years and my privilege to consider him a close personal friend and admired businessman. David operates his personal and professional matters with the highest degree of integrity and is a great visionary and leader. When he takes something on, he gives it 110% all in effort and I could not be more excited for Oklahoma and The Stitt Administration to have David serving in his new capacity as Secretary of Digital Transformation and Administration. It is just one more example of how Governor Stitt is surrounding himself with capable, experienced and very accomplished individuals to help him move Oklahoma towards becoming a top 10 State in all important, measurable aspects. David does not need another ‘job’, but his willingness to serve his State at this time and in this capacity makes me very hopeful that we can accomplish great progress for the benefit of all citizens of Oklahoma!”
– Chad Dillingham, CEO of Dillingham Insurance

"David Ostrowe will be a fantastic Secretary of Digital Transformation and Administration. His experience in turning around businesses is unmatched. Culture, systems, protocols, outcomes and accountability will be the cornerstones of his reforms. Oklahoma has no chance of becoming a top 10 state without serious attention being paid to all of these critical fundamentals."
– Rick Nagel, Managing Partner of Acorn Growth Companies

“It is exciting to me to think about what digital technologies have done for the private sector and how lessons learned can be applied to state government.  Accountability, efficiency and communication are just a few of the areas impacted with successful digital deployments.  However, a digital strategy requires exhaustive planning and implementation.  Governor Stitt has wisely tapped Mr. David Ostrowe to lead this digital transformation in Oklahoma.  Mr. Ostrowe’s experience as an entrepreneur is invaluable when considering how we can make government more efficient via technology.  Digital technologies are reshaping the world.  Oklahoma has an excellent opportunity under the new Stitt administration to create value and long term positive results.  It starts now.”
– Mims Talton, CEO of Flogistix’s

“David gets things done. His creativity is matched only by his focus on details. His leadership results in major transformations of organizations of all kinds. David turns ‘we can’t’ into ‘we will’.”
– Renzi Stone, CEO of Saxon

David Ostrowe is an excellent choice for leading the digital transformation that our state needs. As an experienced and successful businessman, he will help drive the efficiency and effectiveness that is so needed in state government.”
–       Chip Fudge, Chairman of Claims Management Resources

State House completes bill filing; most bills ever?

House completes bill filing process for 2019 session

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma House of Representatives finished filing bills Thursday for the first session of the 57th Legislature. A total of 1,733 House Bills and 21 House Joint Resolutions were filed.

The full text of the bills, along with additional information including authors and coauthors, can be found online at www.okhouse.gov.

Last year, the Clerk of the House reported 1,193 House bills and 32 House Joint Resolutions were filed for the 2018 session.

There are currently 24 Democrats and 77 Republicans in the House. The first session of the 57th Legislature will begin Monday, Feb. 4 at noon with the state of the state address from Gov. Kevin Stitt in the House Chamber.

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Blogger's note: according to a January 20, 2017 press release from House media, 1,340 bills and 24 joint resolutions were filed by 2017's regular session bill-filing deadline, and 921 bills and 31 joint resolutions were filed by 2016's deadline. That makes the 2019 bill-filing total by far the largest in the past four years, and an increase of 43.2% over last year's total.

UPDATE: it's the most bills filed by the House since at least 1992, pre-dating Republican control of the House. Judging by the rate at which legislation was being introduced going back further in years, this may well be a House record for bills filed.

UPDATE 2: using the search feature at OKLegislature.gov, I went back through House bill-filings dating back to the 1993 regular session - the farthest back that is online. No other year comes close to the 2019 House bill-filing total. There are a handful of years with a little over 1,300 bills, but none are higher than 1,400 except for this year. The 2019 House bill-filing is far and away the most filed, very likely to be a House record.

Echols and Dunnington Coauthor Bill to Make SQ 780 Retroactive

Echols and Dunnington Coauthor Bill to Make SQ 780 Retroactive

OKLAHOMA CITY – Majority Leader Jon Echols, R-Oklahoma City, and State. Rep. Jason Dunnington, D-Oklahoma City, filed legislation today that would make State Question 780 retroactive.

House Bill 1269 would provide post-conviction relief to Oklahomans whose convictions took place prior to State Question 780 passing but would have been affected had SQ780 been in place.

“It is time for Oklahoma to get out of the business of arresting and prosecuting individuals afflicted by drug addiction,” Dunnington said. “We have Oklahomans that are labeled as felons, and their crimes would be legal or a much lesser crime today. These folks are disenfranchised, and their families are suffering. This legislation seeks to heal these wounds and continue Oklahoma down the road of responsible criminal justice reform.”

Dunnington and Echols, who have worked together on bipartisan legislation in the past, see this bill as a chance for lawmakers to come together and do what is best for Oklahoma.

“The people of Oklahoma have spoken loud and clear on the issue of criminal justice reform,” Echols said. “I look forward to working with members of both parties to find not Democratic or Republican solutions, but Oklahoma solutions to the issues facing this state. This bill will be a great step in that direction.”

Minority Leader Issues Statement in Support of HB1269

OKLAHOMA CITY – House Minority Leader Emily Virgin, D-Norman, released the following statement today in support of House Bill 1269 – legislation that would make State Question 780 retroactive:

“I commend and applaud Majority Leader Jon Echols and Representative Jason Dunnington for their leadership on this important issue,” Virgin said. “Our criminal justice system should reform lives not ruin them. This legislation gives new hope to Oklahomans whose lives have been destroyed for crimes that would be a misdemeanor today.

“I am proud to support this legislation, and I encourage the Speaker, leadership in the Senate and the Governor to stand with the hundreds of thousands of Oklahomans demanding we act on criminal justice reform. Passing this bipartisan legislation at the beginning of session would be a great signal to all of Oklahoma that this government is ready to come together to meet Oklahoma’s problems.”

Stitt appoints Pinnell to Cabinet as Sec'y of Tourism & Branding

GOVERNOR KEVIN STITT APPOINTS LT. GOV. PINNELL TO CABINET AS SECRTARY OF TOURISM AND BRANDING

Oklahoma City, Okla. (January 17, 2019) – Governor Kevin Stitt announced today the appointment of Lieutenant Governor Matt Pinnell as the Secretary of Tourism and Branding, a cabinet position that requires Senate confirmation.

 “Lt. Gov. Matt Pinnell is an exceptional businessman and he has an evident passion for our state and the people of Oklahoma,” said Gov. Stitt. “As our state’s Lieutenant Governor, he will be an active and effective salesman for all of Oklahoma. I am excited to see the work we will accomplish together as a unified team aggressively pursuing ways to grow the state and diversify Oklahoma’s economy.”

"I want to thank Gov. Stitt for appointing me to his cabinet as Secretary of Tourism and Branding,” said Lt. Gov. Pinnell. “Tourism and effectively branding and marketing our state are vitally important to achieving our goal of making Oklahoma a top ten state. Together with my role with Commerce and in leading our efforts in Oklahoma's Opportunity Zones, economic development will be the focus of our office."

In addition to serving as Secretary of Tourism and Branding, Lt. Gov. Pinnell will sit on the Department of Commerce executive committee and lead the department’s effort to maximize Oklahoma’s Opportunity Zones, of which 117 have been designated in Oklahoma by the Trump administration.

“Lt. Gov. Pinnell is a critical member of our Commerce executive team because of his knowledge of Oklahoma business and passion to help them succeed,” said Sean Kouplen, Secretary of Commerce and Workforce Development.

Matt Pinnell was sworn in as the 17th Lieutenant Governor of the State of Oklahoma on January 14. Pinnell also runs a small business with his wife, Lisa, an entrepreneur and inventor. Prior to his election as Lieutenant Governor, Pinnell served as Director of State Parties for the Republican National Committee from 2013 to 2017.

Pinnell served as a member of Gov. Kevin Stitt’s transition team with a focus on economic development and tourism as Chairman of the economic growth committee. Pinnell currently serves as an Advisory Board Member on the Oklahoma Department of Commerce. Pinnell is a graduate of Oral Roberts University with a degree in Advertising and lives in Tulsa with his wife, Lisa, and their four children who attend Jenks Public Schools.

Senate Pro Tem Treat files bills giving Gov more appointment power of agency heads

Senate Pro Tem Greg Treat files bills giving governor more appointment power of agency heads

OKLAHOMA CITY – Senate President Pro Tempore Greg Treat on Wednesday filed bills granting the Oklahoma governor more appointment power of five top agency directors. Treat said the bills will provide more accountability and give the governor the ability to truly lead the state.

“Our current system of government disperses power too widely so that most agencies aren’t accountable to the governor and in turn aren’t accountable to the voter. The system hasn’t worked. The system has bred dysfunction and allowed the ‘status quo’ to hold sway for far too long. It’s time we change this broken system,” said Treat, R-Oklahoma City.

“Regardless of the governor’s political party affiliation, they are elected to serve as the chief executive of the state and to lead the state. The governor should be able to select the men and women he or she wants to run these top state agencies to help fully enact the governor’s vision and agenda,” Treat said.

“We heard in Governor Kevin Stitt’s inaugural address that he seeks to provide more accountability. I am encouraged by his commitment to that principle and excited to work with him to bring it about. These bills are a great step toward providing more accountability and returning more power to the people of Oklahoma,” Treat said.

The five bills address five of the top 10 agencies according to state appropriated dollars. The bills filed Wednesday include:

• Senate Bill 456 would grant the governor authority to appoint the administrator of the Oklahoma Health Care Authority. The bill calls for the administrator to be confirmed by the Senate and to serve at the pleasure of the governor.
• Senate Bill 457 would grant the governor authority to appoint the director of the Oklahoma Department of Transportation. The bill calls for the director to be confirmed by the Senate and to serve at the pleasure of the governor.
• Senate Bill 458 would grant the governor authority to appoint the director of the Oklahoma Department of Corrections. The bill calls for the director to serve at the pleasure of the governor. The DOC director already is confirmed by the Senate.
• Senate Bill 459 would grant the governor authority to appoint the commissioner of the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services. The bill calls for the commissioner to be confirmed by the Senate and to serve at the pleasure of the governor.
• Senate Bill 460 would grant the governor authority to appoint the executive director of the Office of Juvenile Affairs. The bill calls for the executive director to be confirmed by the Senate and to serve at the pleasure of the governor.

Gann files agency spending accountability measure

Gann Says HB1198 Will Bring Accountability to State Agencies

OKLAHOMA CITY – State Rep. Tom Gann has filed legislation to help bring accountability to state agency spending of taxpayer dollars.

House Bill 1198 requires a chief executive officer of any state agency, board, commission, and department or programs to attest to the accuracy of the financial statements released by the agency and to personally sign the statements.

Failure to sign the documents or making any false or fraudulent claim for payment of public funds will be considered a felony and punishable by a $10,000 fine or imprisonment.

“The purpose of this bill is to ensure that those in charge of state agencies, boards and commissions take a proactive role in the organization’s internal control environment over financial disclosures and to give the public more transparency in the use of taxpayer money,” said Gann, R-Inola.

Gann said the legislation was sparked by financial mismanagement at the State Department of Health (OSDH) that came to light during the last legislative session.

In 2018, a state audit of the health department, and a subsequent investigation of a House Special Investigation Committee, revealed $30 million in public funds had been diverted to what constituted an agency slush fund. The diversion resulted in an emergency appropriation by the Legislature and the layoff of more than 200 positions within the department. These actions later proved unnecessary when the funds were discovered.

A key recommendation by the state auditor on how to remedy the situation was to make every effort to improve the control environment and the tone at the top of the agency.

Holding the agency chief executive officer personally responsible for the accuracy and integrity of the financial statements is the first step in that control environment improvement, Gann said.

Voter registration at all time post-gubernatorial election high

Voter Registration Marks All-Time High Following a Gubernatorial Election

(Oklahoma City) – Official voter registration statistics released today by the Oklahoma State Election Board show the highest number of registered voters following a gubernatorial election since the board began recording voter registration statistics in 1960. This year’s count reveals 2,126,897 people registered to vote, an increase of nearly 111,000 voters from the same time last year.

Republican Party voter registration continues to grow, along with the Libertarian Party and Independent voters. Current numbers show Republicans make up 47.4% of the electorate, while Democrats constitute 36.6% of voter registration. Libertarians consist of 0.4% of the voter population and registered Independents account for nearly 15.6%.

“As Oklahoma’s chief election official, I am very encouraged by today’s voter registration statistics. Our state saw a big increase in voter engagement in 2018, and I am hopeful that this trend will continue through 2019 and into the 2020 elections,” said Paul Ziriax, Secretary of the State Election Board. “For eligible citizens who are not currently registered to vote, there is no time like the present.”

Voter registration usually peaks following a general election, but it’s important to remember that the numbers are constantly changing. The Oklahoma State Election Board releases a comprehensive annual voter registration count each January 15. Statistics from the 2019 report can be found at: https://www.ok.gov/elections/Voter_Info/Voter_Registration_Statistics/index.html.

OKLAHOMA REGISTERED VOTERS (as of January 15, 2019)

REPUBLICANS                    1,008,775        47.4%
DEMOCRATS                          777,770        36.6%
INDEPENDENTS                    331,078         15.6%
LIBERTARIANS                         9,274           0.4%
TOTAL:                                  2,126,897

For a complete history of voter registration statistics or to download a voter registration application, visit http://elections.ok.gov.

OCPA column: Collective bargaining not worth it for teachers

Collective bargaining not worth it for teachers

by Greg Forster, contributor for the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs (OCPA)

Oklahoma should follow the example of other states that are moving away from collective bargaining in K-12 education. It’s not just bad for kids, it’s bad for teachers.

I’m not against unions. My wife worked for a union for years, volunteering long hours as an employee advocate in company dispute resolution. The union was the only protection in her workplace from corporate mistreatment and contract violations.

But collective bargaining and representation simply isn’t a good fit for K-12 teachers. Doctors and lawyers don’t unionize. The nature of the work they do just doesn’t permit the standardization, controlled processes, and highly specified work outputs that are necessary for collective bargaining to be effective.

Teachers are like doctors and lawyers. Standardizing the work they do into a one-size-fits-all mold creates major headaches. But collective bargaining demands standardization, so processes and outputs can be negotiated.

The standardization demanded by collective bargaining is a major factor in all the complaints we’re accustomed to hearing from public-school teachers—useless paperwork, unreasonable rules, rigid systems, dysfunctional bureaucracy. In a 2009 study of national data from the U.S. Department of Education, I compared public and private school teachers. The difference in teacher working conditions was dramatic.

Private school teachers, unhindered by the standardization of collective bargaining, were much more likely to have a great deal of control over selection of textbooks and instructional materials (53% v. 32%); content, topics, and skills to be taught (60% v. 36%); performance standards for students (40% v. 18%), curriculum (47% v. 22%) and discipline policy (25% v. 13%). Private school teachers were also less likely to report that various categories of student misbehavior disrupted their classes, and four times less likely to say student violence is a problem on at least a monthly basis (12% v. 48%).

It’s true that collective bargaining brings a moderate increase in pay. The Oklahoma State Department of Education reports that in 2016-17, the average high school teacher made $39,319 and the average elementary school teacher made $37,851. (This was before the $6,100 average pay raise teachers got this year.) In the same year, according to the Oklahoma Private School Accreditation Commission, the average private school teacher salary across all grades was $36,947. Public school teachers also get better benefits and have job security protections.

But teachers don’t live by bread alone. In my study, I found that private school teachers are more satisfied with their jobs, even at somewhat lower pay.

They were much more likely than public school teachers to agree that they planned to remain teaching as long as they could (62% v. 44%). They were less likely to agree that they only planned to teach until retirement (12% v. 33%), that they would leave teaching immediately if a job with a higher salary were available (12% v. 20%), that teaching “isn’t really worth it” because of the stress and disappointments (6% v. 13%) and that they sometimes feel like teaching is a waste of time (9% v. 17%). They were even slightly more likely to be satisfied with their salaries (51% v. 46%).

We should rethink whether teachers are well served by collective bargaining. Teachers don’t like our one-size-fits-all schools any more than parents do.

Greg Forster (Ph.D., Yale University) is a Friedman Fellow with EdChoice, the author of seven books, and a regular contributor for the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs.

Oklahoma turns a new page with new leaders

With the inauguration of Governor Kevin Stitt and a mostly-new slate of statewide elected officials, the state of Oklahoma is turning the page and closing a chapter.

Stitt looks to be a bold contrast to the [largely disappointing and frustrating] past eight years of Mary Fallin, but time will tell whether he will be able to get the Legislature to work with him in order to accomplish his goals. There are promising signs already.

New Lieutenant Governor Matt Pinnell was also sworn in on Monday, as well as Corporation Commissioner Bob Anthony (his final term), State Auditor Cindy Byrd (her first term), Attorney General Mike Hunter (his first full term), State Treasurer Randy McDaniel (his first term), State Superintendent of Public Instruction Joy Hofmeister (her final term), Labor Commissioner Leslie Osborn (her first term), and Insurance Commissioner Glen Mulready (his first term).

You can read Gov. Stitt's inauguration speech here, or watch the full ceremony below, courtesy of Tulsa's NBC affiliate, KJRH:

OCPA statement on Kevin Stitt inauguration

OCPA statement on Kevin Stitt inauguration

After Kevin Stitt was inaugurated as the 28th Governor of the State of Oklahoma, Jonathan Small, president of the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs (OCPA), released the following statement:

“Congratulations to Governor Stitt, his family, and his staff. OCPA looks forward to working with the new governor and his team to build a more prosperous Oklahoma.

“A strong majority of Oklahomans elected Governor Stitt because they want a state government that works. Today, Oklahoma’s executive branch is fractured and fragmented. Often, the buck stops nowhere.

“OCPA looks forward to working with the Legislature and Governor Stitt to give the governor the power to hire and fire agency leadership in order to create clear lines of authority and responsibility. We should reduce the number of independently elected executive branch officials, reduce the number of executive branch officials who are appointed by someone other than the governor, and eliminate unnecessary boards and commissions. These changes would make state agencies not just more efficient, but also more effective.”

Stitt Inauguration: details for public attendees

DETAILS FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC ATTENDING THE INAUGURATION OF THE 28TH GOVERNOR OF OKLAHOMA, J. KEVIN STITT

Oklahoma City, Okla. (Jan. 11, 2019) – Oklahomans are invited to attend the inauguration of the 28th Governor of Oklahoma, J. Kevin Stitt. The inauguration will take place on Monday, January 14 at 11:30AM on the south side of the Oklahoma Capitol. The general public is encouraged to RSVP for the event at https://www.oklahomaturnaround.com/inauguration-swearingin-ceremonyoklahoma-city/.

Important details for the general public to note are listed below:

ARRIVAL TIME: The general public is encouraged to be seated by 11AM. Seating is first come, first served. The official ceremony begins at 11:30AM.

PARKING: Parking is limited around the capitol. There will be specific parking areas that will be available for the public to access. These lots include: the south side guest parking lot and the Will Rogers Memorial Office Building parking lot. After 10:15AM the northwest parking lot and Harn Homestead parking lot will be open to the general public as well (see attached map). Attendees are encouraged to arrive early as parking is first come, first served.

ACCESIBILITY: Interpreters for the hearing impaired will be located on the west side of the platform.

RULES: You may not bring gifts for the Governor or any other state officials. No large bags. No drones of any kind are allowed.

CEREMONY: Weather on the day of the ceremony can vary. We ask that the public come prepared, as the event is held outdoors. The public is also encouraged to take pictures during the ceremony and to use #OKTurnaround on all inauguration related social media posts.

RECEPTION: Following the inauguration ceremony, there will be a free reception inside the capitol where attendees of the inauguration may meet the new governor, first lady, and state-wide elected officials. Cookies and punch will be provided.

OCPA column: Three resolutions for Oklahoma

Three resolutions for Oklahoma

by Jonathan Small, president of the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs (OCPA)

The new year is a time for resolutions. Here are three for state government, things the Legislature can do in the upcoming session that would make Oklahoma government more effective and accountable.

The first resolution will be familiar to a lot of us: slim down. Take a look at a list of Oklahoma state agencies and compare it to other states. Or look at the 150-page directory necessary to list all the agencies, boards, and commissions. We’re not a big state, but we have a sprawling state government bureaucracy.

This slimming down needs to start at the top, with management. Instead of having a bunch of unaccountable boards and commissions running major agencies, the ultimate authority should rest with the governor. After all, that is the governor’s job.

Imagine as CEO and president of a company you have multiple divisions. Each division has a manager. But the managers don’t report to you and aren’t even selected by you. The managers are selected by separate boards in each division, and your competition or those interested in a hostile takeover select the board members who pick the managers of the divisions. This debacle is how Oklahoma state government is structured.

So, our first resolution is to make agency posts appointed, give the governor power to hire and fire agency heads, and trim the number of agencies. By slimming down government, we can make it more efficient and more effective, getting better results for all Oklahomans.

While our first resolution deals with the executive branch, our second deals with the Legislature. We all know from civics class that it holds “the power of the purse,” but the truth is that our Legislature is understaffed. It lacks the structure to conduct a thorough budget process and oversight. Current talk of creating an accountability and oversight office within the Legislature is heading in the right direction.

The third resolution involves education. Lawmakers should work to increase teacher salaries so that they are the highest in the region and empower public schools, teachers, and students with programs that expand their educational options and expand innovative programs in public schools.

All of these reforms require legislation. In every case, they would bring some common sense to state government, making it more efficient and accountable. We will have at the state Capitol soon a new governor and many new legislators. It’s an exciting time as both Governor-elect Stitt and lawmakers have said they will prioritize efficiency and accountability in state government to safeguard taxpayers and the most vulnerable.

What better way to start 2019?

Jonathan Small serves as president of the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs.

OKGOP removes House Pro Tem from State Committee for supporting Democrat

Some reporting over the weekend from SoonerPolitics.org:

Representative Harold Wright (R-Weatherford) was expelled by the Oklahoma Republican Party's ruling State Committee, today. The action took place at the State Committee meeting, in Edmond, OK.

OKGOP's national committeeman, Steve Curry, presented a letter of the OKGOP Executive Committee, advising action for Wright's actions, funding the campaign of a Democrat nominee(Jeff Berrong) for a state senate seat. Wright, who took money from the OKGOP for his own election, funneled at least $1000 to the Democrat effort, according to campaign reporting documents with the state Ethics Commission. Meanwhile, the OKGOP was funding the campaign of the Republican nominee(Brent Howard).

Republican legislators are granted inclusion in the ruling body of the OKGOP, by being in elective office. Wright has been a State Committee member for several years.

Canadian County Chairman, Andrew Lopez made the motion on Harold Wright's immediate removal. Former National Committeeman, Steve Fair seconded the motion. The final vote was nearly unanimous with one lone voice voting 'nay'.

Last year, Rep. Wright (Conservative Performance Index score of -10.7) filed legislation that would gut SQ640's taxpayer protection against easy tax increases. Read more comments from the SoonerPolitics story at this link.

Wright was removed from the OKGOP State Committee under State Party Rule 19(g), which lists "Publicly supporting or endorsing an opponent of candidates of the Republican Party." as grounds for removal from official party committees. I've since been told that Wright sent fundraising letters on the Democrat candidate's behalf and allowed his name and photo to be used in supportive mailers.

Of note, Representative Carol Bush ("R"-Tulsa, CPI score of -24.3) has not yet been removed for her role in assisting the campaign of Democrat Kendra Horn, who unseated 5th District Republican Congressman Steve Russell in the 2018 election. Horn, whose first vote was to elect Nancy Pelosi as U.S. House Speaker, touted Bush's endorsement throughout the campaign.

Rep. Carol Bush (R) speaking at the campaign kickoff rally for Kendra Horn (D)

While Wright's donation to a Democratic candidate ultimately had no lasting consequence due to the Republican candidate's victory, Bush's very early support for a Democratic candidate who ultimately knocked off an incumbent GOP congressman had greater and more lasting effect.

Stitt hires Sonic exec as State's COO, Agency Accountability Secretary

GOVERNOR-ELECT KEVIN STITT ANNOUNCES CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER HIRE

Oklahoma City, Okla. (Jan. 7, 2019) – Governor-elect Kevin Stitt announced today the hiring of John Budd as Chief Operating Officer (COO), a new role in the governor’s office that Stitt campaigned on as a position tasked with diagnosing and helping state agencies deliver efficient, customer-focused services. Stitt will also appoint Budd as the Secretary of Agency Accountability, a cabinet title that will require Senate confirmation.

“In my conversation with governors from across the nation, I heard many credit their success to the hiring of a Chief Operating Officer in their administrations, a model not currently implemented in Oklahoma. This new COO role will be key to fulfilling my campaign commitment of delivering efficient, customer-centered government throughout our 120 agencies,” said Stitt. “I am excited to welcome John Budd, a businessman who has a proven record in helping companies successfully pursue operational transformation and deliver better services. Budd will be tasked with taking a holistic look at ways to more efficiently and effectively implement services and meet today’s modern demands on state government. I appreciate his willingness to join us in serving Oklahoma as we work to build a Top Ten future.” 

John Budd was most recently the executive vice president, chief strategy and business development officer for the Oklahoma City-based national headquarters of Sonic, America’s Drive-In®. He was responsible for Sonic’s strategic near-term and long-term technology path and was a driving force behind the development of enterprise wide strategy, the franchise development function (sales, real estate and construction), supply chain, enterprise program management, and the implementation of key technology initiatives and technology support.

Budd joined Sonic in 2013 after 16 years with the Boston Consulting Group, where he served as a partner and managing director. In that role, he worked with leading companies in the energy, industrial goods, consumer goods, retail, restaurant, and education sectors to help them grow, become more efficient, and provide better customer service. Prior to his work with Boston Consulting Group, he held various domestic and international roles of increasing accountability with General Electric.

Budd earned his bachelor’s degree in economics from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. He also received his M.B.A. from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. He serves on the Board for the Oklahoma City National Memorial Foundation and is the incoming Chair of the Oklahoma Academy for State Goals. Budd and his wife Rebecca live in Oklahoma City with their sons Jackie and Marcus.


The following are quotes of support for the hiring of John Budd:

“We are fortunate to have John’s talent in our state. John’s extensive business experience with Sonic and Boston Consulting Group driving strategic vision and change, and his understanding of the elements of long-term sustainable progress will be valuable in moving Oklahoma forward.”
– Kathy Taylor, former Sonic board member and former Tulsa mayor

“Our new governor and his administration are fortunate to have John Budd join their team.  I have known John for roughly a decade and have enjoyed my association with him during his time with the Boston Consulting Group and, for the last five years, as a senior officer of Sonic. 

“John Budd is a very bright, very hard-working and committed professional who is able to constructively question the status quo and develop alternative paths for more effective delivery of services.  He does this in the most functional and collaborative manner.  Many companies throughout our country, including Sonic, have benefited from his skills. As a matter of fact, he had a very significant and positive impact on our company!

“John’s willingness to move to the public sector to apply his exceptional skills is a testament to his having the heart of a servant leader and will be to the benefit of this administration and our state, generally. I look forward to observing and appreciating his impact in this new arena and expect it to be considerable!”
– Cliff Hudson, former CEO of Sonic

“Governor-elect Stitt has made a great choice in appointing John Budd as chief operating officer. Working side by side with John for the past five years, I saw and experienced his strategic thinking and ability to build processes to streamline business practices. As former director of finance for the state, I wholeheartedly believe John’s knowledge and skills will benefit state government and our citizens.”
– Claudia San Pedro, President of SONIC

“John will be a great asset to Governor Stitt’s administration. He brings the right balance of big picture strategy and real-life business acumen to the table. John has served on the Memorial’s Finance Committee and our Board of Trustees for several years and he provides great oversight and strategy. Our state will now benefit from his caliber of experience and expertise, which will in the long run will help prioritize our efficiency of state government.”
– Kari Watkins, Executive Director of the OKC National Memorial & Museum

Music Monday: Loch Lomond

This week's Music Monday is the old Scottish folk song Loch Lomond, performed here by Peter Hollens.

Enjoy!

See below for all previous Music Monday posts. Do you have a song you'd like to suggest for a future Music Monday? Email me at JamisonFaught@MuskogeePolitico.com.

December 31st, 2018: Auld Lang Syne
December 24th, 2018: Remember O, thou Man
December 17th, 2018: O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
December 10th, 2018: Carol of the Bells (medley)
December 3rd, 2018: God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen
November 26th, 2018: Happy Birthday
November 19th, 2018: My Heart is Filled with Thankfulness
November 12th, 2018: Hymn to the Fallen
October 29th, 2018: A Mighty Fortress is Our God
October 22nd, 2018: Hymn to Red October
October 15th, 2018:  Indian Reservation ("Cherokee People")
October 8th, 2018: Wagner's 'Columbus Overture'
October 1st, 2018: Danny Boy
September 24th, 2018: Dvorak's 'From The New World' Symphony, 4th Movement
September 17th, 2018: Deep River
September 10th, 2018: Muleskinner Blues
September 3rd, 2018: Boomer Sooner
August 20th, 2018: Psalm 23
August 13th, 2018: Ashokan Farewell
August 6, 2018: How the West Was Won
July 23rd, 2018: I Just Can't Wait to Be King
July 16th, 2018: 'Jupiter' from 'The Planets'
July 9th, 2018: Hail to the Spirit of Liberty
July 2nd, 2018: Turn The Tide
June 25th, 2018: Good Guys Win
June 18th, 2018: Watching You
June 11th, 2018: Adoration
June 4th, 2018: March from 'A Moorside Suite'
May 28th, 2018: Taps
May 21st, 2018: Listz's La Campanella
May 14th, 2018: Handful of Weeds
May 7th, 2018: Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing
April 30th, 2018: Polonaise in A-flat major, Op. 53 ("Heroic")
April 23rd, 2018: Blow Ye The Trumpet
April 16th, 2018: Asturias (Leyenda)
April 9th, 2018: Old Mountain Dew
April 2nd, 2018: His Life For Mine
March 19th, 2018: See, the Conqu'ring Hero Comes!
March 12th, 2018: Choctaw Nation
March 5th, 2018: Hark, I Hear The Harps Eternal
February 19th, 2018: The Olympic Spirit
February 12th, 2018: Olympic Fanfare and Theme
January 29th, 2018: Hail to the Chief
January 23rd, 2018: Waltz in A-Flat Major, Op. 39 No. 15
January 15th, 2018: Bleed The Same
January 8th, 2018: Saint-Saëns' Symphony No.3 'Organ' (Maestoso)
December 25th, 2017: God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen
December 18th, 2017: I Saw Three Ships (The Piano Guys)
December 11th, 2017:Who Is He In Yonder Stall
December 4th, 2017: Carol of the Bells (Mannheim Steamroller)
November 27th, 2017: Joy to the World!
November 20th, 2017: We Gather Together
November 13th, 2017: Mansions of the Lord
November 6th, 2017: Träumerei
October 30th: A Mighty Fortress Is Our God
October 23rd, 2017: In Christ Alone
October 16th, 2017: When I'm Knee Deep In Bluegrass
October 9th, 2017: I Pledge Allegiance to the Lamb
October 2nd, 2017: Piano Concerto No. 2 in B-flat major (Brahms)
September 25th, 2017: Beethoven's Sonata No. 8 in C minor ('Pathétique')
September 11th, 2017: Have You Forgotten?
September 4th, 2017: Bach's Double Violin Concerto
August 28th, 2017: Noah Found Grace In The Eyes Of The Lord
August 21st, 2017: The Heavens Are Telling The Glory of God
August 14th, 2017: Beethoven's 5th Symphony
August 7th, 2017: 'Lift High The Name Of Jesus' medley
July 31st, 2017: Fanfare for the Common Man
July 24th, 2017: Variations on 'Happy Birthday'
July 10th, 2017: Summer (Presto) from Vivaldi's Four Seasons
July 3rd, 2017: Freelance Fireworks Hall of Fame
June 26th, 2017: Praise to the Lord, the Almighty
June 19th, 2017: A Christian Home
June 12th, 2017: Ol' Man River
June 5th, 2017: Choctaw Cowboy
May 29th, 2017: Armed Forces Salute
May 22nd, 2017: Double Bass Concerto No.2 in B minor
May 15th, 2017: Pomp and Circumstance March No. 1 in D major
May 8th, 2017: The Army Goes Rolling Along
April 17th, 2017: He Is Alive
April 10th, 2017: Surely He Hath Borne/And With His Stripes/All We Like Sheep
April 3rd, 2017: Here Comes Carolina
March 27th, 2017: 'Spring' from Vivaldi's 'Four Seasons'
March 20th, 2017: Symphony No. 5 ("Reformation") Finale
March 13th, 2017: The Pigeon on the Gate
March 6th, 2017: Finlandia
February 27th, 2017: When I Can Read My Title Clear
February 20th, 2017: William Tell Overture - Finale
February 13th, 2017: 'Romance' from 'The Gadfly'
February 6th, 2017: White Winter Hymnal
January 30th, 2017: Hail, Columbia
January 23rd, 2017: Hail to the Chief
January 16th, 2017: Come, Ye Sinners, Poor and Needy
January 2nd, 2017: Auld Lang Syne
December 26th, 2016: Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
December 19th, 2016: I Wonder as I Wander
December 12th, 2016: O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
December 5th, 2016: A Christmas Festival
November 28th, 2016: God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen
November 21st: Beethoven's 'Hymn of Thanksgiving'
November 14th: Hymn to the Fallen
November 7th: This World Is Not My Home
October 31st, 2016: A Mighty Fortress Is Our God
October 24th, 2016: 'Mars', from 'The Planets'
October 17th, 2016: My Shepherd Will Supply My Need
October 10th, 2016: Spain
October 3rd, 2016: International Harvester
September 26th, 2016: 'The Imperial March' from Star Wars
September 19th, 2016: Awake the Trumpet's Lofty Sound
September 12th, 2016: Before the Throne of God Above
September 5th, 2016: The Hunt
August 29th, 2016: Liberty
August 22nd, 2016: Summon the Heroes
August 15th, 2016: Bugler's Dream
August 8th, 2016: Olympic Fanfare and Theme
August 1st, 2016: 'Prelude' and 'Parade of the Charioteers' from Ben-Hur
July 25th, 2016: How The West Was Won
July 18th, 2016: Six Studies in English Folk Song
July 11th, 2016: From Everlasting To Everlasting
July 4th, 2016: The Stars and Stripes Forever
June 27th, 2016: Rule, Britannia!
June 20st, 2016: Bugler's Holiday
June 13th, 2016: Ride of the Valkyries
June 6th, 2016: Piano Concerto in A Minor, Op. 54, Allegro Vivace
May 30th, 2016: Armed Forces Salute
May 23rd, 2016: Paid in Full (Through Jesus, Amen)
May 16th, 2016: Overture from 'Carmen'
May 9th, 2016: L'Arlesienne Suite No. 1 - Prelude
May 2nd, 2016: My God Is a Rock
April 25th, 2016: Toccata and Fugue in D Minor
April 18th, 2016: Paganini's Caprice No. 24 in A Minor
April 11th, 2016: Fantasia on a 17th Century Tune
April 4th, 2016: Hark The Sound/I'm a Tarheel Born
March 28th, 2016: Rustle of Spring
March 21st, 2016: 'Ode to Joy' sung by a 10,000-voice choir
March 14th, 2016: Hard Times Come Again No More
March 7th, 2016: 'The Suite' from Downton Abbey
February 29th, 2016: Moonlight Sonata
February 22nd, 2016: Liebestraum No. 3
February 15th, 2016: Help Is On The Way
February 8th, 2016: God of Grace and God of Glory
February 1st, 2016: 'My Story'
January 25th, 2016: Israeli Concertino
January 18th, 2016: What Grace is Mine
January 11th, 2016: "Meditation" from Thaïs
January 4th, 2016: Praeludium and Allegro
December 28th, 2015: Appalachian Carol
December 21st, 2015: God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen
December 14th, 2015: O Holy Night
December 7th, 2015: Christmas Fantasy
November 23rd, 2015: Simple Gifts
November 16th, 2015: Preacher Tell Me Like It Is
November 9th, 2015: Armed Forces Salute
November 2nd, 2015: Amazing Grace
October 26th, 2015: The Harmonious Blacksmith
October 19th, 2015: Liberty Fanfare
October 12th, 2015: The Majesty and Glory of Your Name
October 5th, 2015: Elgar's 'Enigma' Finale
September 28th, 2015: Stayed on Jesus
September 21st, 2015: Great Gate of Kiev
September 14th, 2015: Nearer, My God, To Thee