Posted 10:51 AM by Creditwrench

By PAUL ENGLISH AND BARBARA HOBEROCK World Capitol Bureau
2/3/2004

Other key issues stressed in State of State speech

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Urging lawmakers to "resist the stale ideas and stagnant thinking of the past," Gov. Brad Henry on Monday endorsed ideas ranging from electronic gaming machines at racetracks to sweeping tort reform.

"Let us commit ourselves to excellence for an Oklahoma of now and tomorrow," Henry said in a 45-minute State of the State message to the Legislature.

"Education, health care, tax relief and economic development, these are the key issues we must face this year."

Henry said Oklahomans "deserve meaningful and genuine tort reform, and we will provide it."

"We will incorporate the best provisions of tort reforms recently enacted by our neighbor to the south, but we will not limit ourselves to a carbon copy of the Texas plan," he said.

"Once again, we will beat Texas."

Henry said Oklahoma needs to eliminate frivolous lawsuits and enact more reforms to protect doctors and health providers from unreasonable increases in malpractice premiums.

He urged lawmakers who might be "tempted to politicize" the issue to "resist that temptation.

"Oklahomans deserve better," he said.

The horse industry provides 50,000 jobs and has an economic impact of more than $1 billion, but the industry is in serious jeopardy, he said.

"We must provide parity and allow our racetracks to have electronic gaming machines -- just like those in the 82 tribal casinos throughout our state," Henry said.

Education funding: Speaking of education, he said the average teacher's salary in Oklahoma is nearly $4,000 less than the regional average.

"We must provide professional salaries and encourage professional development," Henry said. "We place great responsibility on the shoulders of our educators and it is time we act with equal responsibility."

He proposed a five-year plan to raise the average teacher salary in Oklahoma above the regional average.

He called for a summer program to enhance teacher development in math that would give graduates a $1,000 stipend.

More early childhood education is needed in Oklahoma, he said.

"The prekindergarten program in Tulsa, alone, was recognized by a recent Georgetown University study as the premier model to the nation," he said.

"It's time to build upon that success. I propose a $2 million appropriation for the Oklahoma Partnership for School Readiness to expand its program to rural Oklahoma," Henry said.

The governor also proposed full funding for the Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program which ensures college scholarships for eligible students.

He said his proposed budget also provides funding to eliminate the "sizable backlog of endowed chairs."

Oklahoma's CareerTech system is world-renowned but it is "time to flood the financial affairs of CareerTech with the same sunlight that helps ensure accountability for all state agencies," he said.

"Proper scrutiny is the prescription for healthy government."

Cigarette taxes: Henry said his proposal to raise the cigarette tax by 52 cents a pack would produce $130 million to fund vital health programs and reduce the number of teenagers who smoke.

"Under my budget, $100 million of the cigarette fee revenues will leverage three times that in federal dollars," he said.

"That, in turn will make health insurance available for as many as 200,000 currently uninsured Oklahomans."

He said Oklahoma is the only state where Medicaid does not provide screenings for breast cancer or cervical cancer, but his budget would provide Medicaid funding for the screening and treatment.

Prisons: The state is shackled by its dependence on prisons and must build upon options such as drug courts, mental health courts and community sentencing for nonviolent offenders, he said.

"Lock up the violent and dangerous, but find alternative ways to punish and correct the rest," Henry said.

Response: Republican legislative leaders said they were disappointed Henry didn't discuss workers compensation reform or same-sex marriages during his speech.

Rep. Todd Hiett, R-Kellyville, House Minority Floor Leader, said workers compensation reform is an issue which has held Oklahoma back for years.

Sen. James Williamson, R-Tulsa, said Henry should have used the speech as an opportunity to address the gay marriage issue.

Hiett was also critical of Henry's gaming plan, saying it will not bring parity to the ailing horse racing industry.

"It simply allows the horseracing tracks in Oklahoma to enact limited gaming, at limited times, on limited games, the Class II games," Hiett said. "At the same time, it would enable tribes in Oklahoma to participate in full fledged Class III casino style gaming."

House Speaker Larry Adair, D-Stilwell, said the Legislature can fund Henry's proposal for health insurance for educators with existing revenue.

But some other Henry proposals will require additional revenues.

"I don't think we need to kid Oklahoma citizens," Adair said. "I don't think we need to mislead them and give them some false hope that we can do these things without revenues. We are now down to the point it is show time."

Adair said Speaker-designate Jari Askins, D-Duncan, will champion workers compensation reform in the House.

Senate President Pro Tem Cal Hobson, D-Lexington, called the speech the "most upbeat positive, uplifting and challenging message" from any governor in his 26 years in the Legislature.

He said he preferred raising the tobacco tax by $1, not the 52-cent proposal from Henry. The steeper increase would discourage more children from smoking, he said.

"But to get things done out here -- it is the art of the possible, not the pathway to my way or the highway . . . it is a good start," Hobson said.

Henry endorses tort reform