The workers’ compensation reform bill limits an injured worker’s right to full compensation for their injuries. Tort reform makes it harder for the average citizen to seek redress in court and limits corporate liability. The reform to the state’s public employee pension system, by privatizing the future pension system, destabilizes the existing program and is a boon to private fund managers. The failure to expand Medicaid will cost the state billions of dollars in Federal funds, that we pay as taxes, and has left 144,000 Oklahomans without adequate healthcare. The hastily passed changes and extensions to corporate oil and gas subsidies, demanded by Oklahoma’s three largest oil and gas companies,  were unnecessary and will make the state’s budget problems worse in future  – and were likely unconstitutional.

Mary Fallin, Oklahoma’s Governor, was once ALEC’s Woman of the Year. Her claim to fame is torpedoing Medicaid Expansion.  Next to the Governor, Mr. Bingman is the highest ranking member of ALEC in our state, and his achievements are high on the list of ALEC’s model legislation. Many of those “accomplishments” benefit  ALEC’s corporate members, but in the end they will hurt Oklahoma and its citizens.  The Governor and 70 of our 149 legislators are members of ALEC, so what chance does an average citizen have?

If you would like to end the influence of ALEC/ on politics in Oklahoma, please go to http://okcitizensfirst.org/2014/04/24/alec/ and ask your candidates for office to pledge that they will put the needs of Oklahoma citizens first. Let’s vote out anyone who won’t.

Note: The related Credo Petition to Governor Fallin about Medicaid expansion is at:  https://www.credomobilize.com/petitions/governor-fallin-release-the-31-e-mails-about-medicaid-expansion