Author: Steve Lewis

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...]

Despite warnings, little has been done to ease prison and jail overcrowding (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. As has now become ritual, the Department of Corrections (DOC) is sounding the alarm about the overcrowding… Read more [More...]

Auto tax ruling has newly defined course of Oklahoma history (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. The Supreme Court ruled last week on the constitutionality of HB 2433 that, last session, removed the… Read more [More...]

What it will take for Oklahoma to avoid becoming a third world state (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. Twenty-eight years ago, amidst a crisis in the Oklahoma economy, parents, teachers, business leaders and others told… Read more [More...]

Multiple options for how special session might play out (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. It’s a reasonable and prudent thing for legislative leaders and the governor to be attempting to develop… Read more [More...]

Lawmakers get a Mulligan to fix 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. Those who are golfers, which I’m not, are familiar with a Mulligan. But you don’t have to… Read more [More...]