Brave Veterans, Thank You
By State Rep. Mike Sanders
Veterans Day is such an important holiday because when we pause to consider the sacrifices that are made on our behalf; we are reminded of the importance of our ideals of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
The brave men and women who have served our country are a barrier between us and the injustice and violence we see in much of the world.
In the founding of this nation, regular citizens took up arms to help liberate the United States from Great Britain. President George Washington, our Founding Father and first president, was a general who fought for independence. In every war and battle since, our military men and women have fought to preserve those freedoms and protect American lives.
When Nazi Germany and the Axis of Evil attempted to conquer Europe and even beyond, it was the American military working with Allies that helped end one of the largest scale wars of all time. Since World War II, we have been involved in various conflicts and battles around the world, attempting to ensure the survival of democracies against tyrants.
Today, the American military continues to serve us against the threats of terrorism. As radical Islam continues to threaten the safety of the world and as dangerous world leaders emerge such as Vladimir Putin, it is our troops that work to stabilize the world.
I know that the families of American military men and women also sacrifice a lot towards the effort. They go long periods away from their loved ones and sometimes lose their loved ones to battle. We can never forget the ultimate sacrifice made by some individuals.
On behalf of House District 59, I want to thank our local veterans for their service and wish them a Happy Veterans Day. Thank you for your service. Thank you for your sacrifice. Thank you for your courage.
During the interim I will be traveling the district, but will regularly check the calls I receive at the Capitol office at (405) 557-7407.
Veterans Day is such an important holiday because when we pause to consider the sacrifices that are made on our behalf; we are reminded of the importance of our ideals of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
The brave men and women who have served our country are a barrier between us and the injustice and violence we see in much of the world.
In the founding of this nation, regular citizens took up arms to help liberate the United States from Great Britain. President George Washington, our Founding Father and first president, was a general who fought for independence. In every war and battle since, our military men and women have fought to preserve those freedoms and protect American lives.
When Nazi Germany and the Axis of Evil attempted to conquer Europe and even beyond, it was the American military working with Allies that helped end one of the largest scale wars of all time. Since World War II, we have been involved in various conflicts and battles around the world, attempting to ensure the survival of democracies against tyrants.
Today, the American military continues to serve us against the threats of terrorism. As radical Islam continues to threaten the safety of the world and as dangerous world leaders emerge such as Vladimir Putin, it is our troops that work to stabilize the world.
I know that the families of American military men and women also sacrifice a lot towards the effort. They go long periods away from their loved ones and sometimes lose their loved ones to battle. We can never forget the ultimate sacrifice made by some individuals.
On behalf of House District 59, I want to thank our local veterans for their service and wish them a Happy Veterans Day. Thank you for your service. Thank you for your sacrifice. Thank you for your courage.
During the interim I will be traveling the district, but will regularly check the calls I receive at the Capitol office at (405) 557-7407.
Rep. Sanders calls Destruction of Ten Commandments statue ‘Unconscionable’
OKLAHOMA CITY – On Friday, state Rep. Mike Sanders, R-Kingfisher, released a statement on the destruction of the Ten Commandments statue on the site of the state Capitol.
“The news surrounding the destruction of the Ten Commandments statue at the Capitol is absolutely unbelievable to me. For someone to have enough hate in their heart to go to so much effort to destroy a monument that a resounding majority of Oklahomans support is just bewildering to me.
“This is an attack on Christianity and the Christian principles in which this country was founded. It is absolutely unconscionable. Whoever did this is a despicable person and an absolute coward. Even if you’re not of the Christian or Jewish faiths and don’t support the Ten Commandments, there is nothing on there that should offend a halfway decent, good person. I mean, is this person for theft? Are they in favor of murder or adultery? Do they have an axe to grind against their mom or dad? The Commandments are – even if you’re not a person of faith – a great list of things to abide by when navigating the potential pitfalls of life. There is nothing in those Commandments which is hateful, mean or vulgar.
“Let’s be honest here, this took a fair degree of planning to accomplish. To drive a vehicle up to the side of the state Capitol, drive across the lawn and ram the statue is not an easy thing to do if you know how things are laid out around this building.
“This wasn’t someone on a drunken bender – it was a person who hated the idea of good-natured, Christian principles represented on the state Capitol grounds and was on a mission to destroy a monument representing peace and goodwill. Well, mission accomplished, but the person that did this needs to take note of Isaiah 54:17, which states that ‘no weapon formed against you shall prosper.’ The perpetrator of this terrible act of hate will come to face the consequences.
“We will get to the bottom of this. There are security cameras all over the outside of this building and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol has an excellent team of investigators on the scene and, when caught, the perpetrator will be prosecuted at the highest level.”
“The news surrounding the destruction of the Ten Commandments statue at the Capitol is absolutely unbelievable to me. For someone to have enough hate in their heart to go to so much effort to destroy a monument that a resounding majority of Oklahomans support is just bewildering to me.
“This is an attack on Christianity and the Christian principles in which this country was founded. It is absolutely unconscionable. Whoever did this is a despicable person and an absolute coward. Even if you’re not of the Christian or Jewish faiths and don’t support the Ten Commandments, there is nothing on there that should offend a halfway decent, good person. I mean, is this person for theft? Are they in favor of murder or adultery? Do they have an axe to grind against their mom or dad? The Commandments are – even if you’re not a person of faith – a great list of things to abide by when navigating the potential pitfalls of life. There is nothing in those Commandments which is hateful, mean or vulgar.
“Let’s be honest here, this took a fair degree of planning to accomplish. To drive a vehicle up to the side of the state Capitol, drive across the lawn and ram the statue is not an easy thing to do if you know how things are laid out around this building.
“This wasn’t someone on a drunken bender – it was a person who hated the idea of good-natured, Christian principles represented on the state Capitol grounds and was on a mission to destroy a monument representing peace and goodwill. Well, mission accomplished, but the person that did this needs to take note of Isaiah 54:17, which states that ‘no weapon formed against you shall prosper.’ The perpetrator of this terrible act of hate will come to face the consequences.
“We will get to the bottom of this. There are security cameras all over the outside of this building and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol has an excellent team of investigators on the scene and, when caught, the perpetrator will be prosecuted at the highest level.”
Importance of Transportation in Budget
By State Rep. Mike Sanders
State budget priorities are a never-ending discussion in Oklahoma. Advocates exist for every current spending item. That is why I find it extremely important every year to bring everyone’s attention back to the infrastructure needs in Oklahoma.
For 20 years, from 1985 until 2005, the only source of annual state funding directed to the Oklahoma Department of Transportation originated from fuel tax proceeds. This funding stream stayed virtually flat during that period at around $200 million annually. Meanwhile, the cost of building and maintaining roads and bridges continued to increase and needs went unmet.
Beginning in 2006, with the creation of the Rebuilding Oklahoma Access and Driver Safety (ROADS) fund, state funding levels for highways have incrementally risen to more than $608 million annually. In the decade since 2006, the state has sustained transportation infrastructure investment as a priority and invested more than $4 billion to begin to address the backlog of critical highway system and bridge needs. This investment includes both the proceeds from the fuel tax revenue combined with resources provided by the ROADS fund.
In a more than $7 billion budget, transportation only has a small slice of the pie. Education funding, for example, comprises nearly half of the state budget and rightly so. The Oklahoma Department of Human Services has a comparable slice of the pie to ODOT, but receives so much federal funding, that it is much larger in comparison. All these pressures combine to make it hard to continue to fund our roads and bridges properly unless we continuously make the case for the public safety and economic benefits of an up-to-date infrastructure.
Safety problems abound when you allow your infrastructure to become outdated. Inadequate shoulders and roads that don’t to support volume increases lead to accidents. In 2013, Canadian County had a whopping 12 fatality crashes. A large number of fatality crashes indicates that there is a safety problem. Kingfisher County had three, Blaine County had four, Dewey County had three and Woodward County had six. In terms of individual towns, Woodward, Yukon and Watonga all had one of those fatality crashes.
This month, the state Transportation Commission approved a $15 million contract for a stretch of roadway where several deadly accidents have occurred. The project will improve the interchange at U.S. 277 and U.S. 62 north of Lawton and Fort Sill in Comanche County. One of the commissioners mentioned the cause of one of those deadly accidents as being poor sight lines. There have been hundreds of accidents around the interchange in the past 15 years, including two fatality accidents and more than 100 resulting in injuries.
In the district, there have been numerous wrecks and deaths on State Highway 51 and 51A over the years. We are making this crossroads four-way stop with blinking lights to alert drivers of this intersection. This should take place by the end of this year or right after the new year.
As we continue to update roads and bridges in the district, the research shows we will improve the safety of the district. It will also have an effect on commerce. Businesses look for convenience and efficiency when they relocate or work with current businesses in the district. The better our infrastructure, the more opportunities we have for economic success.
Lastly, I would like to commend Transportation Secretary Gary Ridley, Director Mike Patterson and all the wonderful employees at ODOT for their day to day work on making Oklahomans safer. I think we are in a good place today, but as things improve, we must remember how far we have come in our infrastructure and continue to make the same smart choices as we have over this past decade.
As always, I can be contacted at (405) 557-7407 or Mike.Sanders@okhouse.gov.
State budget priorities are a never-ending discussion in Oklahoma. Advocates exist for every current spending item. That is why I find it extremely important every year to bring everyone’s attention back to the infrastructure needs in Oklahoma.
For 20 years, from 1985 until 2005, the only source of annual state funding directed to the Oklahoma Department of Transportation originated from fuel tax proceeds. This funding stream stayed virtually flat during that period at around $200 million annually. Meanwhile, the cost of building and maintaining roads and bridges continued to increase and needs went unmet.
Beginning in 2006, with the creation of the Rebuilding Oklahoma Access and Driver Safety (ROADS) fund, state funding levels for highways have incrementally risen to more than $608 million annually. In the decade since 2006, the state has sustained transportation infrastructure investment as a priority and invested more than $4 billion to begin to address the backlog of critical highway system and bridge needs. This investment includes both the proceeds from the fuel tax revenue combined with resources provided by the ROADS fund.
In a more than $7 billion budget, transportation only has a small slice of the pie. Education funding, for example, comprises nearly half of the state budget and rightly so. The Oklahoma Department of Human Services has a comparable slice of the pie to ODOT, but receives so much federal funding, that it is much larger in comparison. All these pressures combine to make it hard to continue to fund our roads and bridges properly unless we continuously make the case for the public safety and economic benefits of an up-to-date infrastructure.
Safety problems abound when you allow your infrastructure to become outdated. Inadequate shoulders and roads that don’t to support volume increases lead to accidents. In 2013, Canadian County had a whopping 12 fatality crashes. A large number of fatality crashes indicates that there is a safety problem. Kingfisher County had three, Blaine County had four, Dewey County had three and Woodward County had six. In terms of individual towns, Woodward, Yukon and Watonga all had one of those fatality crashes.
This month, the state Transportation Commission approved a $15 million contract for a stretch of roadway where several deadly accidents have occurred. The project will improve the interchange at U.S. 277 and U.S. 62 north of Lawton and Fort Sill in Comanche County. One of the commissioners mentioned the cause of one of those deadly accidents as being poor sight lines. There have been hundreds of accidents around the interchange in the past 15 years, including two fatality accidents and more than 100 resulting in injuries.
In the district, there have been numerous wrecks and deaths on State Highway 51 and 51A over the years. We are making this crossroads four-way stop with blinking lights to alert drivers of this intersection. This should take place by the end of this year or right after the new year.
As we continue to update roads and bridges in the district, the research shows we will improve the safety of the district. It will also have an effect on commerce. Businesses look for convenience and efficiency when they relocate or work with current businesses in the district. The better our infrastructure, the more opportunities we have for economic success.
Lastly, I would like to commend Transportation Secretary Gary Ridley, Director Mike Patterson and all the wonderful employees at ODOT for their day to day work on making Oklahomans safer. I think we are in a good place today, but as things improve, we must remember how far we have come in our infrastructure and continue to make the same smart choices as we have over this past decade.
As always, I can be contacted at (405) 557-7407 or Mike.Sanders@okhouse.gov.
Bridge and Road Improvements in HD59
Note: This is the second column in a three-part series on road and bridge infrastructure. The third column will be sent next week..
By State Rep. Mike Sanders
The investment in roads and bridges in Oklahoma since 2005 has led to a lot of improvements in my legislative district, House District 59. Recently, the Oklahoma Department of Transportation released its newest eight-year plan. Although it is a large and complex plan, I want to give you a sample of the projects and investment planned for the district.
The plan includes more than $50 million of infrastructure investment in Kingfisher County alone. In fact, a project has just begun along State Highway 33. It is scheduled to last 280 calendar days and will encompass a little over a half mile. The project description is to grade, drain, surface and bridge the highway starting from a half mile east of US-81 and continuing east over Uncle John’s Overflow and an unnamed creek.
A $500,000 resurfacing project is scheduled along a 9.8-mile section of US-81 that runs between Kingfisher and Okarche. A $1.2 million resurfacing project along 9 miles of State Highway 3 is scheduled for 2015. Further along in the plan are two bridge projects on US-81. The first bridge is over Kingfisher Creek, just north of State Highway 33. The second bridge project includes both northbound and southbound bridges over the Union Pacific Railroad. The two projects will cost just under $10 million.
An $11.2 million future project is scheduled for State Highway 51, from US-81 just east of Hennessey for 7.53 miles that will add shoulders to that stretch of highway.
More than $100 million will be spent on investments in other parts of my district.
In Canadian County, the state will invest $1.8 million in a bridge rehabilitation project where US-81 meets Northwest Expressway. Another project is an interchange at the junction of I-40 and Frisco Road that will cost $16 million.
In Dewey County, a $6.7 million bridge project is scheduled along US-183 over the South Canadian River north of Taloga in 2016. Farther out are two projects along US-270 – both just south of State Highway 51, at a combined price of $23.5 million.
In Blaine County, there are two projects scheduled to widen and resurface State Highway 3 just east of the US-270 junction in Watonga, at a combined cost of more than $14 million. A $2.2 million bridge and approaches project is scheduled over an unnamed creek located 10.8 miles east of the US-270 junction in Watonga.
In Woodward County, an $11.5 million project will take place along US-183/US-270, southeast of the junction with State Highway 50. A $6.2 million surfacing project begins where the first project ends. A $7.4 million bridge project is scheduled over the North Canadian River and overflow, less than a mile north of the junction with State Highway 15.
All of these projects and future projects are good signs for Oklahoma transportation needs. These particular projects have been neglected for too long and we are finally getting to work on them. These projects will enhance economic prosperity but more importantly will enhance public safety on these roads and bridges.
I will continue to discuss road and bridge infrastructure in my next column. I will include more discussion of the cost of proper road and bridge maintenance and how it affects the overall Oklahoma state budget.
By State Rep. Mike Sanders
The investment in roads and bridges in Oklahoma since 2005 has led to a lot of improvements in my legislative district, House District 59. Recently, the Oklahoma Department of Transportation released its newest eight-year plan. Although it is a large and complex plan, I want to give you a sample of the projects and investment planned for the district.
The plan includes more than $50 million of infrastructure investment in Kingfisher County alone. In fact, a project has just begun along State Highway 33. It is scheduled to last 280 calendar days and will encompass a little over a half mile. The project description is to grade, drain, surface and bridge the highway starting from a half mile east of US-81 and continuing east over Uncle John’s Overflow and an unnamed creek.
A $500,000 resurfacing project is scheduled along a 9.8-mile section of US-81 that runs between Kingfisher and Okarche. A $1.2 million resurfacing project along 9 miles of State Highway 3 is scheduled for 2015. Further along in the plan are two bridge projects on US-81. The first bridge is over Kingfisher Creek, just north of State Highway 33. The second bridge project includes both northbound and southbound bridges over the Union Pacific Railroad. The two projects will cost just under $10 million.
An $11.2 million future project is scheduled for State Highway 51, from US-81 just east of Hennessey for 7.53 miles that will add shoulders to that stretch of highway.
More than $100 million will be spent on investments in other parts of my district.
In Canadian County, the state will invest $1.8 million in a bridge rehabilitation project where US-81 meets Northwest Expressway. Another project is an interchange at the junction of I-40 and Frisco Road that will cost $16 million.
In Dewey County, a $6.7 million bridge project is scheduled along US-183 over the South Canadian River north of Taloga in 2016. Farther out are two projects along US-270 – both just south of State Highway 51, at a combined price of $23.5 million.
In Blaine County, there are two projects scheduled to widen and resurface State Highway 3 just east of the US-270 junction in Watonga, at a combined cost of more than $14 million. A $2.2 million bridge and approaches project is scheduled over an unnamed creek located 10.8 miles east of the US-270 junction in Watonga.
In Woodward County, an $11.5 million project will take place along US-183/US-270, southeast of the junction with State Highway 50. A $6.2 million surfacing project begins where the first project ends. A $7.4 million bridge project is scheduled over the North Canadian River and overflow, less than a mile north of the junction with State Highway 15.
All of these projects and future projects are good signs for Oklahoma transportation needs. These particular projects have been neglected for too long and we are finally getting to work on them. These projects will enhance economic prosperity but more importantly will enhance public safety on these roads and bridges.
I will continue to discuss road and bridge infrastructure in my next column. I will include more discussion of the cost of proper road and bridge maintenance and how it affects the overall Oklahoma state budget.
Oklahoma Bridges Continue to Improve
By State Rep. Mike Sanders
As Chair of the Oklahoma House Appropriations and Budget Subcommittee on Transportation, I continue to track our state’s progress on replacing or fixing deficient, dilapidated and dangerous bridges. We will get an annual report in December of this year, but as of last December, we are looking at 468 bridges that still need to be made safe.
In total, there are about 6,800 bridges along our state highway system. The Oklahoma Department of Transportation inspects those every year. With each passing year, bridges are added to the list, so our progress is set against a moving number.
In 2004, there were 1,168 bridges on our list – an all-time high. For decades, transportation had been stagnant. In 2005, Republican candidates came into office in a wave and began to prioritize infrastructure spending. State lawmakers joined Secretary of Transportation Gary Ridley in taking politics out of the decision of how projects were prioritized. They instead set them along a schedule that took into account each project’s effect on public safety.
More recently, state lawmakers and Gov. Mary Fallin have worked to accelerate the schedule of these projects. We enacted legislation and appropriated money to eliminate all structurally deficient bridges by 2020. Last year, a proposal was made to slow down the plan in order to provide funding to other areas of state government. We soundly rejected that plan.
This fall, ODOT revealed a new eight-year plan of projects. I want to let everyone know that this schedule is fluid. As projects are accomplished ahead of schedule, projects can be moved up on their timetable. Many of the current projects that are scheduled for 2019 or 2020, for example, may take place much sooner.
The proposed 2015-2020 work summary includes 935 bridges. The total cost of these projects is more than $2 billion. To increase the safety of a number of Oklahoma roads, we are looking to make shoulder and roadway improvements to inadequate two-lane highways. This will cost us just under $2 billion.
I believe transportation funding is a priority in the state because of its effects on our economy and public safety. Old, unsafe roads are a hazard just waiting to rear its ugly head and they are also an eyesore that keeps business away from the state, especially in rural areas. They benefit every taxpayer they serve and are therefore a core state government service.
I will continue to discuss road and bridge infrastructure in my next two columns. I will include more discussion of the cost of proper road and bridge maintenance and how it affects the overall Oklahoma state budget. I also want to talk about how my district will fit into the eight-year plan.
As always, I can be contacted at (405) 557-7407 or Mike.Sanders@okhouse.gov.
As Chair of the Oklahoma House Appropriations and Budget Subcommittee on Transportation, I continue to track our state’s progress on replacing or fixing deficient, dilapidated and dangerous bridges. We will get an annual report in December of this year, but as of last December, we are looking at 468 bridges that still need to be made safe.
In total, there are about 6,800 bridges along our state highway system. The Oklahoma Department of Transportation inspects those every year. With each passing year, bridges are added to the list, so our progress is set against a moving number.
In 2004, there were 1,168 bridges on our list – an all-time high. For decades, transportation had been stagnant. In 2005, Republican candidates came into office in a wave and began to prioritize infrastructure spending. State lawmakers joined Secretary of Transportation Gary Ridley in taking politics out of the decision of how projects were prioritized. They instead set them along a schedule that took into account each project’s effect on public safety.
More recently, state lawmakers and Gov. Mary Fallin have worked to accelerate the schedule of these projects. We enacted legislation and appropriated money to eliminate all structurally deficient bridges by 2020. Last year, a proposal was made to slow down the plan in order to provide funding to other areas of state government. We soundly rejected that plan.
This fall, ODOT revealed a new eight-year plan of projects. I want to let everyone know that this schedule is fluid. As projects are accomplished ahead of schedule, projects can be moved up on their timetable. Many of the current projects that are scheduled for 2019 or 2020, for example, may take place much sooner.
The proposed 2015-2020 work summary includes 935 bridges. The total cost of these projects is more than $2 billion. To increase the safety of a number of Oklahoma roads, we are looking to make shoulder and roadway improvements to inadequate two-lane highways. This will cost us just under $2 billion.
I believe transportation funding is a priority in the state because of its effects on our economy and public safety. Old, unsafe roads are a hazard just waiting to rear its ugly head and they are also an eyesore that keeps business away from the state, especially in rural areas. They benefit every taxpayer they serve and are therefore a core state government service.
I will continue to discuss road and bridge infrastructure in my next two columns. I will include more discussion of the cost of proper road and bridge maintenance and how it affects the overall Oklahoma state budget. I also want to talk about how my district will fit into the eight-year plan.
As always, I can be contacted at (405) 557-7407 or Mike.Sanders@okhouse.gov.
Taking Care of Business
By State Rep. Mike Sanders
Oklahoma’s workers’ compensation system was for the longest time one of the primary complaints I received when I talked to business owners in Northwest Oklahoma. As I am preparing for this year’s tour of businesses, I have some good news to share with you.
The National Council on Compensation Insurance has announced a projected 7.8 percent decrease in workers’ compensation costs for next year. Last year, the NCCI reported business owners would see a projected average of 14.6 percent decrease for 2014. The organization credited the decrease to workers’ compensation reform passed by the Oklahoma Legislature.
Furthermore, the State Chamber of Oklahoma estimates that since workers’ comp reform was passed in the state, Oklahoma businesses have saved more than $220 million. The implementation of our reform continues, but we are already seeing great results.
This year’s tour of businesses and major employers of the district includes Canton Lake, Northwestern Electric Cooperative in Woodward, the Woodward Conference Center, Northwestern Oklahoma State University’s Woodward campus, Watonga Mercy Hospital and Roman Nose State Park in Watonga.
During last year’s tour, I visited with Kingfisher Public Schools, Chisholm Trail Technology Center, Cimarron Electric Co-Op, Pioneer Telephone Cooperative, Mountain Country Foods, the US Gypsum Company, OEM Systems and Temtrol.
At that time, the employers of the district were concerned about rising insurance rates, maintaining an adequate labor force, the availability of affordable housing for their workers, and overburdensome government regulation. We did pass legislation to incentivize the construction of more affordable housing in 2014.
I invite you to contact me regarding my business tour and provide input on any other topic you wish to discuss. As always, I can be contacted at (405) 557-7407 or mike.sanders@okhouse.gov.
Oklahoma’s workers’ compensation system was for the longest time one of the primary complaints I received when I talked to business owners in Northwest Oklahoma. As I am preparing for this year’s tour of businesses, I have some good news to share with you.
The National Council on Compensation Insurance has announced a projected 7.8 percent decrease in workers’ compensation costs for next year. Last year, the NCCI reported business owners would see a projected average of 14.6 percent decrease for 2014. The organization credited the decrease to workers’ compensation reform passed by the Oklahoma Legislature.
Furthermore, the State Chamber of Oklahoma estimates that since workers’ comp reform was passed in the state, Oklahoma businesses have saved more than $220 million. The implementation of our reform continues, but we are already seeing great results.
This year’s tour of businesses and major employers of the district includes Canton Lake, Northwestern Electric Cooperative in Woodward, the Woodward Conference Center, Northwestern Oklahoma State University’s Woodward campus, Watonga Mercy Hospital and Roman Nose State Park in Watonga.
During last year’s tour, I visited with Kingfisher Public Schools, Chisholm Trail Technology Center, Cimarron Electric Co-Op, Pioneer Telephone Cooperative, Mountain Country Foods, the US Gypsum Company, OEM Systems and Temtrol.
At that time, the employers of the district were concerned about rising insurance rates, maintaining an adequate labor force, the availability of affordable housing for their workers, and overburdensome government regulation. We did pass legislation to incentivize the construction of more affordable housing in 2014.
I invite you to contact me regarding my business tour and provide input on any other topic you wish to discuss. As always, I can be contacted at (405) 557-7407 or mike.sanders@okhouse.gov.
Urban Newspaper Attacks Rural Funding
By state Rep. Mike Sanders
In an Aug. 7 editorial by The Oklahoman, the newspaper’s staff criticized the Rural Economic Action Plan funding for local rural projects.
The editorial correctly notes that the program provides millions of dollars each year for infrastructure improvements in unincorporated areas and communities with fewer than 7,000 citizens. The program receives about $11 million each year. Most of the primary beneficiaries of the program are volunteer fire departments, law enforcement agencies or city water and street projects.
The Oklahoman asserts that local projects are the responsibility of local governments. This is a strong sounding argument, but ultimately nonsense. REAP projects are just as local as each individual school, but no one would argue that schools should be funded only locally. Small towns strive hard to cover all their needs, but sometimes fall short. These holes are filled with state support. It is a highly necessary arrangement.
I would also point out that rural lawmakers lent their votes to a large Oklahoma City project, the courting of our NBA team, the Oklahoma City Thunder. Like many local projects, it had a large benefit to all Oklahomans through its contributions to the state economy and tax base.
The Oklahoman also asserts that REAP is less worthy than the state’s broader public safety goals. On the topic of public safety, let me briefly list a sampling of REAP projects submitted in 2014 – police vehicle, Jaws of Life, storm sirens and installation, a brush pumper in the town of Colony, a fire truck for Washita County, expansion of the fire station in Dill City and an addition to the fire department in Sweetwater. These projects have a direct public safety benefit. Kingfisher, Okarche, Hennessey, Dover, Loyal, Camargo, Seiling and Watonga are just a few of the communities in my House district that have benefitted from REAP funding over the years.
Let me take a moment to paint you a picture. Many Oklahoma families enjoy taking a ski trip over spring break and travel through rural western Oklahoma and a car accident occurs. The first on the scene are the rural volunteer firefighters and EMS personnel. They administer life-saving practices and lives are saved. More than likely the equipment used, which saved those lives, were obtained from a REAP grant. Now, please tell me again how REAP is not a priority?
As always, I would love to hear from you. I can be contacted at (405) 557-7407.
In an Aug. 7 editorial by The Oklahoman, the newspaper’s staff criticized the Rural Economic Action Plan funding for local rural projects.
The editorial correctly notes that the program provides millions of dollars each year for infrastructure improvements in unincorporated areas and communities with fewer than 7,000 citizens. The program receives about $11 million each year. Most of the primary beneficiaries of the program are volunteer fire departments, law enforcement agencies or city water and street projects.
The Oklahoman asserts that local projects are the responsibility of local governments. This is a strong sounding argument, but ultimately nonsense. REAP projects are just as local as each individual school, but no one would argue that schools should be funded only locally. Small towns strive hard to cover all their needs, but sometimes fall short. These holes are filled with state support. It is a highly necessary arrangement.
I would also point out that rural lawmakers lent their votes to a large Oklahoma City project, the courting of our NBA team, the Oklahoma City Thunder. Like many local projects, it had a large benefit to all Oklahomans through its contributions to the state economy and tax base.
The Oklahoman also asserts that REAP is less worthy than the state’s broader public safety goals. On the topic of public safety, let me briefly list a sampling of REAP projects submitted in 2014 – police vehicle, Jaws of Life, storm sirens and installation, a brush pumper in the town of Colony, a fire truck for Washita County, expansion of the fire station in Dill City and an addition to the fire department in Sweetwater. These projects have a direct public safety benefit. Kingfisher, Okarche, Hennessey, Dover, Loyal, Camargo, Seiling and Watonga are just a few of the communities in my House district that have benefitted from REAP funding over the years.
Let me take a moment to paint you a picture. Many Oklahoma families enjoy taking a ski trip over spring break and travel through rural western Oklahoma and a car accident occurs. The first on the scene are the rural volunteer firefighters and EMS personnel. They administer life-saving practices and lives are saved. More than likely the equipment used, which saved those lives, were obtained from a REAP grant. Now, please tell me again how REAP is not a priority?
As always, I would love to hear from you. I can be contacted at (405) 557-7407.
Sanders Praises Permanent Restoration of Program for Firefighters
OKLAHOMA CITY – State Rep. Mike Sanders today an announcement from the Department of Defense’s Defense Logistics Agency to fully and permanently restore the surplus equipment programs that benefit Oklahoma counties, school districts and rural fire departments.
“This is great news for our rural firefighters who do so much to protect our communities from wildfires and severe weather,” said Sanders, R-Kingfisher. “I knew that when the idea of ending the programs was thrown out, it would be disastrous for our volunteer fire departments. Now that Sen. Inhofe and others have brought the Department of Defense to its senses, fire departments will no longer be in such a bind.”
On July 2, the DOD announced that it would suspend the programs that allowed for the transfer of federal surplus equipment to state and local agencies because the equipment did not meet current emissions regulations set by the EPA. On July 9, the DOD and EPA reached an agreement that would allow local fire and law enforcement agencies to continue receiving the equipment but would require the DOD to retain title of the equipment.
On Wednesday, the DOD announced that it would fully and permanently restore the programs and allow for the state and local agencies to obtain and maintain the titles for the equipment.
Each year, Oklahoma fire departments receive and rely on $13 million to $15 million worth of surplus equipment from the DOD. The cost of the new vehicles falls between $150,000 and $200,000, but the departments are able to take these surplus vehicles and equip them for as low as $30,000.
“This is great news for our rural firefighters who do so much to protect our communities from wildfires and severe weather,” said Sanders, R-Kingfisher. “I knew that when the idea of ending the programs was thrown out, it would be disastrous for our volunteer fire departments. Now that Sen. Inhofe and others have brought the Department of Defense to its senses, fire departments will no longer be in such a bind.”
On July 2, the DOD announced that it would suspend the programs that allowed for the transfer of federal surplus equipment to state and local agencies because the equipment did not meet current emissions regulations set by the EPA. On July 9, the DOD and EPA reached an agreement that would allow local fire and law enforcement agencies to continue receiving the equipment but would require the DOD to retain title of the equipment.
On Wednesday, the DOD announced that it would fully and permanently restore the programs and allow for the state and local agencies to obtain and maintain the titles for the equipment.
Each year, Oklahoma fire departments receive and rely on $13 million to $15 million worth of surplus equipment from the DOD. The cost of the new vehicles falls between $150,000 and $200,000, but the departments are able to take these surplus vehicles and equip them for as low as $30,000.
Government Must Serve Veterans Better
By state Rep. Mike Sanders
Our returning heroes are facing a disgraceful bureaucracy nationally and even locally when they try to get the treatment they have earned through their service.
Long waits and subpar care have plagued the centers that provide health care for our veterans. Meanwhile, the federal agency in charge of their care has been deliberately misleading the public about how bad things have become over time.
Locally, I receive regular calls from veterans who are facing the same problems we are seeing nationally. Not only is the Oklahoma branch among those federally-run outfits seeing problems, but we have also seen negligence at the state’s long-term treatment centers.
Despite the efforts of the officials involved in veteran care to hide their failures, the word has gotten out. Congress, which cannot often be counted on to work together, is even taking action. A $16.3 billion measure would allow Veterans Affairs to hire thousands of doctors and nurses while allowing veterans who cannot get prompt care to go outside the system. It will also make it easier to fire negligent executives in the bureaucracy. The U.S. House has voted 420-5 in favor of the measure and the U.S. Senate passed it 91-3. It now goes to the President for his signature.
Former Procter & Gamble CEO Robert McDonald has also been sworn in to take over the agency that serves millions of veterans. McDonald replaces Sloan Gibson, who took over as acting secretary after Eric Shinseki resigned amid controversy.
At the state level, we passed legislation in past years to pay for better staff and training. We also made leadership changes and created greater oversight. This fall, we will be conducting several studies on veteran issues to continue that work.
One study will examine the needs of the Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs facilities. We will be looking to make sure we know what is needed to provide high-quality care to the brave men and women who have sacrificed so much on our behalf.
A second study will focus on the incidence of suicide and homelessness among veterans. I know from talking to those who work with veterans that often some of the recurring pain and anxiety that veterans experience can be crippling, especially when inadequately treated. We want to know what can be done to prevent such cases.
Many state lawmakers are quickly becoming fed up with the status quo when it comes to veterans’ care. We will be looking to make our mark next year by addressing some of the problems we see in our state. Hopefully, the same will be true at the national level.
These brave men and women deserve this. They have earned it! We here in Oklahoma need to take the lead on veteran care. The veterans and their families have endured so much. We must correct this failed system and protect and care for those who have sacrificed so much to protect us.
As always, I would love to hear from you. I can be contacted at (405) 557-7407.
Our returning heroes are facing a disgraceful bureaucracy nationally and even locally when they try to get the treatment they have earned through their service.
Long waits and subpar care have plagued the centers that provide health care for our veterans. Meanwhile, the federal agency in charge of their care has been deliberately misleading the public about how bad things have become over time.
Locally, I receive regular calls from veterans who are facing the same problems we are seeing nationally. Not only is the Oklahoma branch among those federally-run outfits seeing problems, but we have also seen negligence at the state’s long-term treatment centers.
Despite the efforts of the officials involved in veteran care to hide their failures, the word has gotten out. Congress, which cannot often be counted on to work together, is even taking action. A $16.3 billion measure would allow Veterans Affairs to hire thousands of doctors and nurses while allowing veterans who cannot get prompt care to go outside the system. It will also make it easier to fire negligent executives in the bureaucracy. The U.S. House has voted 420-5 in favor of the measure and the U.S. Senate passed it 91-3. It now goes to the President for his signature.
Former Procter & Gamble CEO Robert McDonald has also been sworn in to take over the agency that serves millions of veterans. McDonald replaces Sloan Gibson, who took over as acting secretary after Eric Shinseki resigned amid controversy.
At the state level, we passed legislation in past years to pay for better staff and training. We also made leadership changes and created greater oversight. This fall, we will be conducting several studies on veteran issues to continue that work.
One study will examine the needs of the Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs facilities. We will be looking to make sure we know what is needed to provide high-quality care to the brave men and women who have sacrificed so much on our behalf.
A second study will focus on the incidence of suicide and homelessness among veterans. I know from talking to those who work with veterans that often some of the recurring pain and anxiety that veterans experience can be crippling, especially when inadequately treated. We want to know what can be done to prevent such cases.
Many state lawmakers are quickly becoming fed up with the status quo when it comes to veterans’ care. We will be looking to make our mark next year by addressing some of the problems we see in our state. Hopefully, the same will be true at the national level.
These brave men and women deserve this. They have earned it! We here in Oklahoma need to take the lead on veteran care. The veterans and their families have endured so much. We must correct this failed system and protect and care for those who have sacrificed so much to protect us.
As always, I would love to hear from you. I can be contacted at (405) 557-7407.