Travyx

People have asked why I won’t vote McCall; he’s a good guy from all reports and has experience. Just being successful and wealthy shouldn’t be held against him, right? Oh, there’s a reason. During the 2017 session McCall buried a rule change deep inside Rule 9.1 in the “rules resolution” that gets voted on at the beginning of each legislative session. It was a change presented to House members and characterized as more of an error correction just merely about “timing.” One little word change … from “shall” to “may.” Before the change, even if a bill failed to make it out of committee legislators could move it back onto the floor and the speaker had to hear the motion, aka “shall.” The change to ”may” now gave the Majority Floor Leader discretion to NEVER schedule a motion rather than requiring them to be scheduled. Now any bill can be left in committee to die with no way for legislators to force a vote or hearing, even if every other legislator in the building wants it heard. It was the most significant power shift in the Oklahoma legislature in the last fifty years. It passed because members didn’t fully grasp what they were voting for.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ They were misled, by McCall and O’Donnell. This consolidated all real legislative power in committee chairs and the speaker. Now this small few completely control what bills are heard. Lobbyists and special interests only have to pay off a few, rather than convincing the many. It hurt Oklahomans, it neutered any truly independent Republican voices who didn’t tow the party line, and it made it easier and cheaper for the Tysons, oil and gas lobby, banking lobby, ANY lobby with funds and influence to kill any bill they wanted with no more than two phone calls and a big check to the next campaign. Aside from the speaker and committee chairs, suddenly, no other opinion mattered. Today, no other opinion matters still. It’s not that he skimmed or used the position for personal gain… what he did was worse. He intentionally hurt democracy to consolidate power. He made sure your bill won’t be heard on the legislative floor unless those in power approve it. So no, I won’t be voting for McCall.