Good News: Governing Magazine Says Stitt is "Thriving"
This week, the national outlet Governing Magazine released a critique of rookie governors across the U.S. The article says that Gov. Kevin Stitt is "thriving" and that he "seems to have steadied the ship."
In particular, the article mentioned Gov. Stitt's focus on transparent and accountable government. This has long been a focus of the State Chamber and our OK2030 strategic plan.
To read the article from Governing Magazine,
click here
.
Bad News: American Tort Reform Association Names OK as a "Judicial Hellhole"
Earlier this month, the American Tort Reform Association (ATRA) named Oklahoma as a "Judicial Hellhole."
From ATRA: "Once a national leader in enacting fair and balanced civil justice reform for plaintiffs and defendants, Oklahoma, regrettably, has become a place where pervasive liability expansion threatens to destabilize the economy."
Special note: You can read our reaction to the report in Fred Morgan's column in The Journal Record next week (Monday, July 29).
State Supreme Court Overturns 2010 Bill; Opens the Door for More Lawsuits Against Employers
The Oklahoma Supreme Court recently issued a decision in the case of
Wells v. Oklahoma Roofing and Sheet Metal
where the question before the Court was whether an intentional directive from the employer to remove a safety device was substantially certain to cause an injury to the employee.
In its decision, the Court stated the employer knew the injuries were “substantially certain to occur” and, thus, rose to the level of an intentional act that could be remedied in a civil court of law. The
Wells
case overturned a law written and passed by the Legislature and signed by the Governor in 2010.
Don't Forget: LOFT Oversight Committee to Hold First Meeting Next Week
The Legislative Office of Fiscal Transparency (LOFT) oversight committee will meet for the first time next week at the Oklahoma Capitol.
LOFT is the legislative office created this year in a bill by House Speaker Charles McCall and Senate President Pro Tempore Greg Treat. LOFT will provide the public and policymakers with independent, objective research and data on state spending and program evaluation and performance.
The Speaker and President Pro Tem appointed a bipartisan group of legislators to serve on the committee that will oversee and guide the work of LOFT. The oversight committee will meet at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 30, in Room 419-C at the Oklahoma Capitol.