Tulsa Metro Chamber, regional partners join to promote OneVoice legislative agenda

4.26.2012
With a little more than four weeks left in the legislative session, the Tulsa Metro Chamber and its OneVoice partners met at the State Capitol yesterday for the annual Tulsa Regional Day at the Capitol to advocate the top issues for the Tulsa region.
 
More than 200 civic, community and business leaders advocated on six particular issues outlined in the OneVoice legislative agenda, including:
• Increased funding for public PK-12, career tech and higher education;
• Funding the Oklahoma Quick Action Closing Fund;
• Protecting effective tax credits and incentives, including the Historic Rehabilitation and Investment credit and New Jobs Tax Credits;
• Supporting transportation funding for the Oklahoma Department of Transportation’s (ODOT) eight-year plan;
• Increasing Oklahoma’s physician residency slots;
• And supporting a state bond issue for capital investment in the Oklahoma Historical Society’s planned Oklahoma Museum of Popular Culture (OKPOP).

“There is only a month left for the Oklahoma legislature to act, so we’re doing a full-court press on these six items. Each must be addressed if we are to continue moving the Tulsa region forward,” said Mike Neal, Tulsa Metro Chamber president and CEO. “There is power in having 200 people – representing 55 OneVoice partner organizations – at the Capitol speaking with one united voice. That is why so many of us come together year after year to advocate on behalf of the entire region.”

Tulsa Regional Day at the Capitol included group lobbying as well as briefings from several legislators, including Gov. Mary Fallin, Speaker of the House Kris Steele, Senate President Pro Tempore Brian Bingman, Treasurer Ken Miller and numerous state senators and representatives.

Gov. Fallin cited several recent announcements and positive signs Oklahoma’s economy is experiencing growth.

“Oklahoma is No. 2 in job creation right now; we are No. 1 in manufacturing…. We have a lot of in-migration with people moving from other states to Oklahoma,” Fallin said. “If you look at Tulsa and surrounding areas, you see a lot of growth and development – infrastructure, small business and many other things. It’s exciting to see.”

The Chamber hosts Tulsa Regional Day at the Capitol annually as part of its commitment to legislative success for Northeast Oklahoma.

“We hear over and over again how effective the OneVoice coalition is at the Capitol,” said Chris Benge, senior vice president of government affairs for the Tulsa Metro Chamber. “As a former legislator, I can speak first-hand about listening to the OneVoice coalition and knowing the OneVoice agenda represents all of Northeast Oklahoma.”


« back to archive