Tulsa World
By SEAN MURPHY Associated Press Writer
Published: 11/4/201011:51 AM
Last Modified: 11/4/20105:20 PM
OKLAHOMA CITY — Members of the new 70-strong Republican majority in the Oklahoma House formally picked a minister from Shawnee on Thursday as their new speaker-elect.
The House Republican caucus voted for state Rep. Kris Steele for the top post in the House. Steele already had been elected the speaker-designate, but Thursday's meeting was the first with freshly elected lawmakers.
Steele said his top priorities for the upcoming session will be creating a pro-business environment, improving common education, redrawing legislative districts and reducing the state's prison population.
Steele said he's also interested in studying ways to overhaul the state's pension system and consolidate state agencies.
"As we face the significant challenges of the coming session, I am committed to a process that utilizes the talents of all 101 members of this chamber to develop and advance pro-growth, conservative policies that will move Oklahoma forward," Steele said... FULL ARTICLE
Posted on
Thu, November 4, 2010
by Crystal Drwenski