Category: Capitol Updates

‘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...]

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...]