Author: Steve Lewis

Oklahomans don’t want to pay what it costs to keep incarcerating so many (Capitol Update)

Steve Lewis served as Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives from 1989-1991. He currently practices law in Tulsa and represents clients at the Capitol. In preparation for the upcoming session, Corrections Director Joe Allbaugh appeared before the House and Senate appropriations… Read more [More...]

‘Step Up’ Coalition adds to the conversation, but plenty of work left to do (Capitol Update)

Steve Lewis served as Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives from 1989-1991. He currently practices law in Tulsa and represents clients at the Capitol. There were significant developments this past week regarding the budget crisis. A group of about 70 business… Read more [More...]

Keeping all school taxes local would break our obligation to rural kids (Capitol Update)

Steve Lewis served as Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives from 1989-1991. He currently practices law in Tulsa and represents clients at the Capitol. An idea has surfaced again recently that, since the state will not or cannot properly fund public… Read more [More...]

What will it take to force action on passing recurring revenue? (Capitol Update)

Steve Lewis served as Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives from 1989-1991. He currently practices law in Tulsa and represents clients at the Capitol. Chinese water torture is a process in which water is slowly dripped onto a person’s forehead allegedly… Read more [More...]

The 2018 legislative process has begun (Capitol Update)

Steve Lewis served as Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives from 1989-1991. He currently practices law in Tulsa and represents clients at the Capitol. Today is the deadline to make a request for drafting of a bill to be introduced in… Read more [More...]

Oklahomans left guessing by actions in special session (Capitol Update)

Steve Lewis served as Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives from 1989-1991. He currently practices law in Tulsa and represents clients at the Capitol. I can’t imagine that any Oklahoma citizen not participating in or observing full time the actions in… Read more [More...]

Secret votes and unwillingness to lead are prolonging Oklahoma’s budget stalemate (Capitol Update)

Steve Lewis served as Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives from 1989-1991. He currently practices law in Tulsa and represents clients at the Capitol. What’s going on with the special session? I’m reliably informed that Republican House members, in their caucus… Read more [More...]

What happens ‘when push comes to shove’ on the budget (Capitol Update)

Steve Lewis served as Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives from 1989-1991. He currently practices law in Tulsa and represents clients at the Capitol. There’s a phrase that most people have heard or used: “when push comes to shove.” Generally, this… Read more [More...]

Reasons for optimism about special session (Capitol Update)

Steve Lewis served as Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives from 1989-1991. He currently practices law in Tulsa and represents clients at the Capitol. With special session underway, it’s rational to be cautiously optimistic that schools and state agencies will make… Read more [More...]

The best vote a legislator can cast in special session (Capitol Update)

Steve Lewis served as Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives from 1989-1991. He currently practices law in Tulsa and represents clients at the Capitol. I recently heard a well-regarded Republican legislator say that he was not sure he would vote to… Read more [More...]