Category: Capitol Updates

How well the Legislature can function for the people depends on new and returning leaders (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. Senator Greg Treat, R-OKC, the upcoming Senate President Pro Tempore, announced last week the appointment of Sen.… Read more [More...]

Would problems at Health Department have come to light sooner if Oklahoma whistleblower law was stronger? (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 multi-county grand jury issued a scathing report this week on the Oklahoma State Health Department (OSHD)… Read more [More...]

A wild ride for first-term legislators (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 a postscript to this year’s legislative session, I’ve been thinking about what it would be like… Read more [More...]

It shouldn’t be this hard to get something done to fund basic services (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 a non-voting participant in the process, from a distance and only on the issues in which… Read more [More...]

New budget marks a return of line-item appropriations (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. When Republicans took full control of the legislature, both House and Senate, they began a process of… Read more [More...]

Will the history of SQ 640 repeat itself? (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. For those who remember, history in some respects is poised to repeat itself. The events unfolding now… Read more [More...]

Next year’s Legislature will look different (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. No matter what happens in the elections — which promises to be plenty — the legislature next… Read more [More...]

Despite all the complaining about SQ 640, legislators avoid votes to reform it (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. This past week was important in determining what legislators will be able to accomplish this session. It… Read more [More...]

The race is on for next year’s House and Senate leaders (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 is a sign of the times that there is a leadership race going on in both… Read more [More...]

Try, fail, repeat, success? (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 what was termed the last hope for raising revenue this session, HB 1033XX, failed… Read more [More...]