The Washington Examiner
By: SEAN MURPHY 05/24/11 1:47 PM
Associated press
Gov. Mary Fallin signed eight bills on Tuesday ranging from an overhaul of workers' compensation law to state government consolidation, which she says help fulfill her campaign promise to make Oklahoma more business friendly and reduce the size and cost of state government.
Flanked by GOP legislative leaders, Fallin signed bills to consolidate state agencies and information technology services, establish a "one-stop shop" for businesses to obtain licenses and create a fund the governor can access to help lure businesses to the state.
"Today's bill signing really puts an exclamation point on what has been an incredibly productive legislative session," Fallin said. "Conservatives came into office this year promising to pursue reforms that would create a better business environment, encourage private sector job growth, and make government smaller, smarter and more efficient.
"The legislation I am signing into law today helps us to make good on those promises," she said.
But Democrats contend the GOP agenda benefited business and industry and other powerful special-interest groups at the expense of working men and women.
"They think it's the best legislative session ever because they didn't have to compromise on anything," said Senate Democratic leader Sen. Andrew Rice, D-Oklahoma City. "Workers, state employees, teachers, students, people who don't make a high income — the legislative accomplishments that Republicans have pushed through aren't oriented to benefiting those types of people, and that's who makes up the majority of the state." FULL ARTICLE
Posted on
Tue, May 24, 2011
by John Cox