Category: Capitol Updates

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...]

Pros and cons of House GOP’s “policy working groups” replacing serious interim studies (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. On balance, it’s a good thing that House Majority Floor Leader Jon Echols, with Speaker Charles McCall’s… Read more [More...]

The table is set to expand Medicaid in Oklahoma (Capitol Updates)

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. Years ago, when I was in the legislature, I was accused by an editor of one of… Read more [More...]

Internal politics at work in ouster of Rep. Leslie Osborn (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. Internal legislative politics is one of the most fascinating but obscure phenomena in our representative government. It… Read more [More...]

Do lawmakers have a Plan B if the court throws out their 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. I’m hoping — wondering without knowing — if anyone is doing some serious planning for what will… Read more [More...]

Will interim studies create stronger momentum for justice reform? (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 House legislative interim studies for this summer and fall have been approved, assigned to committees, and… Read more [More...]