Pulling Back from Partisanship
School has started, 2018 campaigns are kicking off, and interim studies are being conducted - it's a typical fall at the Oklahoma State Capitol. This is the time of year is typically when the thrashing tide of partisan pressure recedes and we begin to see calmer heads prevail as the rhetoric on both sides of the aisle attempt to take on a more collaborative, almost hopeful tone through the winter. But this year is different.
School has started, 2018 campaigns are kicking off, and interim studies are being conducted - it's a typical fall at the Oklahoma State Capitol. This is the time of year is typically when the thrashing tide of partisan pressure recedes and we begin to see calmer heads prevail as the rhetoric on both sides of the aisle attempt to take on a more collaborative, almost hopeful tone through the winter. But this year is different. This year, the legislative leadership pushed through a revenue bill that, as expected, the state's Supreme Court struck down as unconstitutional. This year, we've had a steady stream of legislators and other Capitol employees resign from their positions, many due to scandals involving ethics violations and criminal sexual misconduct. This year, the legislature has to go back into special session in order to fix the $215 million budget hole created by the aforementioned unconstitutional revenue bill.
As we stand on the cusp of that special legislative session, the familiar frustrations and stress from the spring begin to re-emerge. The finger-pointing, snark, and dueling press conferences at the Capitol are rekindling the feelings of helplessness, hopelessness, and apathy among voters throughout the state.
Back in the spring, I heard the phrase "This year was so much worse than usual" from dozens of legislators, lobbyists, and advocates this summer. But why was it so bad? Was it due to carryover from the presidential election (and the ongoing political discord at the federal level)? Was it was the dominance of one party in the Oklahoma legislature? Was it was the reprehensible actions of a few individual legislators? Was it was just because there was so much focus on one high-stakes issue (i.e. yet another enormous budget shortfall)? Regardless of cause, one thing is clear: a whole lot of voters were a whole lot more frustrated with our state government at the end of May than they were when session began. I don't know anyone inside or outside the Capitol who walked away from session feeling good about how things went down.
This summer I've also heard another phrase being tossed around: "post-partisan." The term refers to an environment where legislators from both parties work together for the causes and bills that are best for the state as a whole, where they do that work without blaming, grandstanding, playing political games, or otherwise disrespecting one another, and where party affiliation is an association but not a definition. Sounds nice, right? Post-partisanship isn't a new idea in American politics - The Atlantic wrote about it during the 2008 presidential campaign, and The Washington Times penned a piece shortly after that election as well.
My hunch is that many of the people who feel like the legislative session was terrible are the same ones who desperately long for members of our various political factions to come together in some sort of post-partisan, let's-find-a-way-to-work-together way. Honestly, I've never heard anyone say they want our political system to be more partisan and divisive. Even hard-core members of each "party base" have expressed concern that the level of vitriol being spewed isn't helping fix anything - they, too, recognize that it's making things worse.
Voters feel like the guy in the middle - perplexed and disappointed at the kill-or-be-killed showdown between political parties.
A couple of months ago I attended a "Public Budget Hearing" hosted by the Oklahoma House Democratic caucus in the House chambers at the State Capitol, and although the invitation was extended to all Oklahomans - explicitly including the opposing caucus - there was nary a Republican official to be found. Nor did we see any state senators from either party. Likewise, the "working groups" formed by Republican leadership in the House lacked much in the way of Democratic involvement. Now, this lack of cooperation and teamwork isn't surprising, but it is still disappointing.
What if things were different? What if, in the case of the budget hearing, members of both parties and both chambers had come into the room, some sitting on the House floor and some up in the gallery, sitting there with the rest of us, listening to regular, everyday Oklahomans find the courage to get up and articulate exactly how the state budget affects them on a personal and professional level. I hear from voters - from both parties - complain that the legislature "either doesn't listen or doesn't care."
It doesn't have to be this way. There are a large number of legislators and other statewide elected officials who long for a post-partisan world just as much as many of you do. I mean, we're not just talking about far-off Washington, D.C. here - we're talking about right here in our home state, where our legislators live near us and work and eat and shop in the same places we do. You can meet them, shake their hand, and sit down to get to know them. Ask what matters most to them, ask why they vote the way they do, ask what their ideas are for improving our state. Find out where they want to see our state in five, ten, or twenty years. What do they envision? Tell them your side of things, too. Help them understand what matters to you, as a constituent. Look for common ground and build a relationship from there.
Regardless of party affiliation, we're all Oklahomans. C'mon Oklahoma, let's fix this!
Capitol Restoration Project, vol 1.
If you've driven by or seen photos of the Oklahoma State Capitol recently, you probably noticed that about half of the building is surrounded by scaffolding and shrouded in white tarps. A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to go behind the curtain with the project manager, Trait Thompson, to tour the capitol restoration efforts. It was an impressive, down-right fascinating look at how we maintain one of Oklahoma's top tourist destinations. It's a lot of work and a lot of attention to detail. Mike Holmes would be proud.
If you've driven by or seen photos of the Oklahoma State Capitol recently, you probably noticed that about half of the building is surrounded by scaffolding and shrouded in white tarps. A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to go behind the curtain with the project manager, Trait Thompson, to tour the capitol restoration efforts. It was an impressive, down-right fascinating look at how we maintain one of Oklahoma's top tourist destinations. It's a lot of work and a lot of attention to detail. Mike Holmes would be proud.
Construction on the Oklahoma Capitol Restoration project began in 2015, with the exterior repairs slated to wrap-up in 2019 and interior work ending in 2022. The scope and scale of the project are almost difficult to imagine: 21.5 miles of mortar joints, 477 cast-iron custom windows, hundreds of doors, thousands of miles of cabling and plumbing.
View of what's currently in the basement ceiling. All of this has be re-routed.
This area of ceiling has already been completed. See how clean that looks?
It's never an easy task repair a 100-year-old building and make it functional for the 21st century, especially when that building has six floors and is made of stone. To make matters worse, many parts of the building have been largely neglected for most of that time, with quick-fixes and temporary repairs now straining to hold things together. In fact, the main visitor entrance on the south side of the building has required scaffolding over the sidewalk to protect visitors from pieces of falling stone that crumble off the exterior walls. (For an in-depth explanation of the condition of the Capitol prior to restoration efforts, check out this lengthy document.)
The restoration project will affect every floor of the building, but the basement is getting some special attention, as it houses many of the key infrastructure components (such as plumbing and electrical) that keep the building running.
Miles of wire and cable has to be re-routed into...
...these shiny new electrical panels down the hall.
These pipes carry steam from geothermal wells near the Attorney General's building up to the Capitol to heat the building. (Yes, my fellow "The West Wing" fans - this is our very own "steam pipe trunk distribution venue." I can hear Ainsley's voice already...)
The basement will also become the new entry point for visitors, with a beautiful new, fully-accessible entrance similar to the one at the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, D.C.
Source: OMES
While the basement is about gutting and repurposing, the exterior work is more about cleaning and repairing. The building was originally constructed of limestone from Indiana and granite from Tishomingo, and the restoration team was able to source new stone from those same areas to use for repairs. Trait showed me how the stonemasons perform "Dutchman repairs" on damaged stone. It's pretty amazing to see but hard to explain, so just look at these photos if you're curious. Also here's some photos of the beautiful sculptural elements of our state Capitol:
Wouldn't be a government building without some bald eagles. This one is about 3 ft tall.
This is all one piece of stone. The original stonemasons carved in and around that block across the middle.
I'd be amiss if I didn't introduce you to Burt, one of the eight winged lion chimeras that adorn the state capitol building. (This one has a mustache, so the restoration team named him after Burt Reynolds.) Burt sits on the top, northeast corner of the building and was carved from a single 60,000-pound block of limestone. He's one huge, solid piece of stone.
Not bad looking for a 100-year old, weather-beaten, mustachioed lion with wings.
Below you can see a side-by-side comparison of what the exterior restoration looks like. The image on the left is yet to be restored, while the image on the right is of columns that have been cleaned and repaired & repainted windows.
Old & moldy vs new clean & shiny. (And watertight, which is a new feature.)
Speaking of windows, Trait said they have been the most difficult part of the exterior restoration. There are 477 windows, all made of cast iron, and nearly all needing to be repair. The windows are unique to this building and are unlike anything else in the world. As you can imagine, when rainwater sits on the iron window frames for, oh, 100 years or so, it begins to rust. Ironworkers craft custom replacement pieces and weld them into place. The cost of repairing is far less than replacing them - only $8 million rather than $20 million. (If you think that sounds like a lot of money, go get an estimate to replace all the windows in your home - you'll be surprised by how expensive even "regular" windows can be!)
Big thanks to Trait and the rest of the Oklahoma Capitol Restoration team for giving us a deeper understanding and appreciation of the project. We look forward to visiting again as the work progresses.
This post barely scratches the surface on what they're doing; I strongly encourage you to follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for more of the story. If you're really interested in all the details (including the research, proposal, and finances) of the project, visit their website: http://capitolrestore.ok.gov.
Leadership, Vision and Legacy
A lot of folks, myself included, have commented on the lack of leadership among our state legislature and other statewide elected officials. That deficiency has been highlighted repeatedly this year by the legislature's fledgling attempts to fix the budget. From the Governor's highly unpopular plan to tax services to the recent communication break down among legislative leaders, the people responsible for guiding our state's financial well-being have left the public feeling, well...honestly, pretty scared about the future.
A lot of folks, myself included, have commented on the lack of leadership among our state legislature and other statewide elected officials. That deficiency has been highlighted repeatedly this year by the legislature's fledgling attempts to fix the budget. From the Governor's highly unpopular plan to tax services to the recent communication break down among legislative leaders, the people responsible for guiding our state's financial well-being have left the public feeling, well...honestly, pretty scared about the future.
That's not leadership
Leaders shouldn't make you feel scared about the future. Real leadership is making others feel confident and inspired. Leadership is being able to clearly articulate a vision for the future, identify the objectives necessary to make that vision come to life, and encouraging others to join you in the pursuit. True leaders pursue that vision relentlessly, and their legacy is defined by their achievement.
Be thou my vision
Oklahoma needs a new vision. We need something to believe in - something bigger than ourselves, bigger than this perpetual budget hole, and bigger than our reliance on the oil and gas industry. We need to believe that we're better than being 49th, that we're not just some flat, one-party, "flyover state" who can't do anything right besides play football, survive tornadoes, and try to overturn Roe vs Wade every other month. Oklahoma needs to get its groove back.
Oklahoma has a diverse population, a diverse economy, and a diverse ecosystem. We have a rich, storied past of hard work and overcoming hardships. We're a unique blend of rugged individualism that formed strong communities. We're smack in the middle of America's compass, right at the crossroads of where East meets West and North meets South. Far too often we act like that means we don't know where we belong, but I think it's time we recognize that the middle is a pretty cozy place where many Americans want to be. Oklahoma has got to stop comparing itself Texas and get out from under the shadow of the Lone Star; we need to recognize our own self-worth and embrace our Oklahomaness. Once you realize you're not the ugly duckling; being a swan is a whole lot easier. We need to embrace the vision that Oklahoma is successful and desirable, and the sooner we start believing that, the sooner we'll all be acting like it's true.
“When your self-worth goes up, your net worth goes up with it. ”
What do you want your legacy to be?
What happens in the next two weeks will define the legacy of Oklahoma's 56th legislature. I can guarantee their legacy won't be how many abortion resolutions they passed or how many times they vowed not to support something Obama said or that they voted to allow us to hunt wild hogs from helicopters. It will be this moment, right here, right now, when they choose to either pursue a vision for healthy, growing, thriving Oklahoma, or when they choose to do nothing, turning their back on their fellow Oklahomans in harmful, cold neglect.
Oklahoma's state leaders need to decide what kind of legacy they want to leave behind. If they're simply content with being known as the ones who cut corporate income taxes or filled up the Rainy Day Fund, then folks - we need to elect better leaders. We need leaders with a passion and vision for the future. Oklahoma deserves leadership that will inspire us and unlock that greatness that we all know is living deep down inside. We need leaders who want to leave a legacy of prosperity, of greatness, of success. Not for themselves, but for Oklahoma.
You Must Get Involved
A lot of people started this legislative session feeling fairly optimistic - we believed the new leadership in the Oklahoma House & Senate were going to be thoughtful, reasonable, and empowering to the people of Oklahoma. We were prepared for the news of yet another revenue failure and an $878 million budget shortfall, but with so many people at the Capitol agreeing that the state isn't bringing in enough recenue to cover its expenses, we thought that we'd see multiple revenue measures pass through both chambers relatively quickly.
A lot of people started this legislative session feeling fairly optimistic - we believed the new leadership in the Oklahoma House & Senate were going to be thoughtful, reasonable, and empowering to the people of Oklahoma. We were prepared for the news of yet another revenue failure and an $878 million budget shortfall, but with so many people at the Capitol agreeing that the state isn't bringing in enough recenue to cover its expenses, we thought that we'd see multiple revenue measures pass through both chambers relatively quickly.
That's not what happened.
Instead, the Oklahoma legislature passed bills to make it harder for poor people to get food and healthcare, refused to even hear a bill to ensure women and men are paid equally, were found guilty of improperly using lottery money to supplant actual education funding, and, just this week, a state senator was arrested & charged with soliciting sex from an underage male prostitute. And that's just the tip of the iceberg.
Yesterday I sat in a meeting with leaders from organizations who advocate for the rights of women, children, education, churches, social workers, healthcare, the arts, criminal justice, and budget/tax policy (basically, all the key parts of society besides Big Corporate), and as we discussed what was actually happening at the Capitol and the potential ramifications of the legislature's inaction, the consensus was clear:
This is going to be really bad.
Sure, we've budget shortfalls the past couple of years, but the legislature had people who knew where to find money to help minimize the sting of the budget cuts. This year, that's not the case. We've used up most of the one-time monies, and thus far our current leadership has been either too timid or simply unwilling to do what really needs to be done to fix things. That's not just annoying and offensive; it's literally going to cost people their lives. To quote the Governor's own Finance Secretary, Preston Doerflinger: "Our situation is dire. I beg you to have an appreciation for the situation we have before us."
Mark my words, if the legislature doesn't do something to raise revenue (and a lot of it), it's going to get ugly. State agencies are already being asked to outline will happen if they get cut an another 15% next year. Cuts to education will be catastrophic for Oklahoma's education system; schools will close, students will drop out. Cuts to Medicaid, SNAP, and other safety net programs will have devastating effects for millions of Oklahomans. Oklahoma's roads and bridges are already some of the worst in the country, and failing to fund repairs will bring more potholes, more vehicle damage, and more bridge collapses.
Clearly the Oklahoma legislature doesn't get it, because we keep finding ourselves in this same position year after year after year. They've tried to "cut our way to prosperity;" that method hasn't worked. In fact, it's made things way worse. So, it's time for a different approach.
And that's why you must get involved.
I'm not being dramatic here. I'm trying to get you and all the other regular folks out there across the state to understand the gravity of the situation we're in. I need you to understand how serious this is so that you'll do something about it. And that something is to speak up, to communicate with your legislators however you can. Phone calls and emails are a great start, and they should be part of every citizen's efforts. But if you really want to make a difference, show up at your legislators' offices. Show up, meet with them face-to-face, and ask them what they're going to fix things. What solutions have they proposed? What solutions do they face? Stand there until they give you an answer. Tell them what ideas you support.
If you're not sure what revenue-boosting options the state has at their disposal, here's a great list. There's also a decent chance that your state legislators don't really know what options we have...which, again, is why we need to talk to them.
Saving the budget is not a partisan issue.
A sound and solid budget is required for the healthy functioning of our state, and there are TONS of things that pretty much everyone on both sides of the aisle agree on. Just off the top of my head, a quick list of some of those things that have broad, bipartisan support:
- Good public schools that are free for everyone
- Appropriate teacher pay
- Improving treatment for substance abuse and mental illness
- Healthcare and food assistance for the poor
- Reducing prison overcrowding
- Protecting consumers from skeezy business practices
- Clean air to breathe and water that is safe to drink
- Fixing bad roads and unsafe bridges
- Protecting children from being abused and neglected
- Making college more affordable
- Assessing taxes in a manner that is fair, equitable, and not overly burdensome
- Protecting the civil rights of all Oklahomans
I want those things, don't you? Doesn't everyone? I don't fully understand why the budget has become such a partisan issue, but I suspect it may have something to do with priorities. Not everyone at the state Capitol has the same priorities...and I suspect some legislators are prioritizing outside interests in order to protect their careers. I suspect that there are decisions being made to appease the voices at the Capitol who are the loudest, and sadly, it's not the voice of the people. Which brings me back to...
You. must. get. involved.
This is not optional. Seriously, you must get involved. I know a lot of people don't want to "be political." This isn't about being political; this is about being a good citizen. Heck, this is about being a good person. This is about caring for your neighbor who has cancer, this is about wanting your children or your grandchildren to be able to get a decent education, this is about helping the poor, the elderly, and the disabled. This is about living up to the Oklahoma Standard in our daily life, not just when there's an crisis. (Also, this is a crisis.)
Ok, ok, I get it. I'll get involved. But...how?
- Find out who your state legislators are. (Go here.)
- Decide what you want to say to them. (Use this.)
- Call or send them an email right now. (Here's a contact list.)
- Join us this Wednesday, March 22nd for our next Capitol Day.
- Can't make it this week? Plan ahead for April and May.
- Can't take off work? Come for a Capitol Crawl.
- Follow us on Twitter & Facebook for last-minute announcements and live coverage of our events.
- Vote in every single election you can. Sign up for TurboVote and/or register to vote by mail so you never miss another election.
Here's the thing: Whether or not you get involved, decisions about the budget will be made. And as we all know, decisions are made by those who show up. So if you want to have a say in them, you must get involved. I'm in this. I'm doing this, and so should you. Invite your BFF and come to our Capitol Day. I promise it'll be worthwhile.
See you then,
Andy
Counting Every Penny
The Oklahoman recently published an editorial written by Oklahoma House of Representatives Speaker-elect Charles McCall (R-Atoka), in which he states that before the legislative sessions starts in February, the House will hold budget hearings for the top five appropriated state agencies. (He doesn't mention which agencies, but they are Education, Health, Human Services, Public Safety, and Transportation.)
The Oklahoman recently published an editorial written by Oklahoma House of Representatives Speaker-elect Charles McCall (R-Atoka), in which he states that before the legislative sessions starts in February, the House will hold budget hearings for the top five appropriated state agencies. (He doesn't mention which agencies, but they are Education, Health, Human Services, Public Safety, and Transportation.) McCall also appears to want these hearings to be group participation activities, stating:
These hearings will take place in the House chamber, allowing every member of the House to attend and ask questions. In addition, the public will be encouraged to attend. When hearings are scheduled, a meeting notice with the date and time will be added to the House website at www.okhouse.gov.
Now, we're big supporters of public involvement and we certainly believe that the state budget deserves a close examination every year, but we're rather disappointed that these hearings are only looking at spending and, yet again, ignoring income. His decision to examine appropriations to five state agencies completely ignores (and arguably distracts from) the fact our state doesn't have a spending problem, we have a revenue problem. Everyone wants a larger piece of the pie, and rather than trying to slice it differently, we need to be looking at how to make the entire pie larger.
{ Hey look, the proportions are the same AND all the slices got bigger! }
McCall's analogy of the legislature deciding about funding agencies like a mother who is forced to choose between buying healthy vegetables or face another week of PB&J sandwiches is not just overly simplistic (and sexist), it completely disregards any consideration of how much money is coming into the household and what other non-food expenses the woman may have. To better reflect the reality of how our legislature handles Oklahoma's budget, perhaps we should compare it to a man who complains he doesn't have enough money because he refuses to go pick up his paycheck from his employer (and then keeps spending what little money he does have on beef jerky and orange soda).
If Oklahoma is going to experience growth and prosperity, we have got to talk about taxes. The only source of income our government has is from taxes, and yet some of the good folks at 23rd & Lincoln still believe that we can cut taxes year after year and somehow have more money. Think about that for a second - if someone said to you "If I give you less money, you'll actually have more money," you'd say they were delusional. It's not getting any cheaper to operate this state - the cost of everything has gone up. Roads, healthcare, pensions, copy paper, Capitol repairs - all these things cost money, and a million dollars doesn't buy as much as it did 10 years ago. (There are 50,000 more students in Oklahoma schools than there were in 2008, but we're spending $175 million less on education. How is that a good idea?)
Listen, I don't want to pay any more taxes than you do, but I'm okay with paying my fair share. And based on the conversations I've had with friends, family, and folks at the Capitol, it seems like most people agree. Most folks think that corporations should pay their fair share, too. People should be rewarded for doing a good job, but let's not go overboard. Call me crazy, but maybe companies shouldn't receive millions in tax credits and incentives even when they're making hundreds of millions in profits.
So, what can you do? First of all, talk to your state representatives and senators. They need (and want) to hear from you. Ask them questions like:
- "Will you move to stop future income tax cuts until the state economy has time to fully recover?
- "Why does Oklahoma have the lowest gross production tax rate in the country? Will you propose restoring the gross production tax rate to 7 percent?"
- "Why do we give money to energy companies for wells that don't produce anything?"
- "Did you know that nearly 1 in 4 children in Oklahoma live in poverty? What are you doing to reduce the gap between rich and poor Oklahomans?"
- "What are you doing to ensure that schools in my district have enough money to provide my children with the education and experience they deserve?"
- "Will you stand up for what is right for Oklahoma, even if your party's leadership asks you to vote otherwise?"
- "What's your favorite kind of cookie?"
(Throw that last one in there just to mess with them...and also as a reminder that they're people, too, who also pay taxes and have families and have to live in this state with us. Plus it's helpful to know what kind of cookie to send them as a thank-you for standing up for what's right, even when that's politically unpopular.)
Once they announce the date(s) of the budget hearings, we'll share the information on Facebook and Twitter.
Wrap-Up: Hall & Oaths and Capitol Crawl
Last week we hosted our first events of the 2017 Oklahoma legislative season - Hall & Oaths and the inaugural Capitol Crawl. Both of these events were timed to coincide with the swearing-in ceremonies of the 56th Legislature, which more-or-less marks the first "official" day for the 43 new members of the legislature.
Last week we hosted our first events of the 2017 Oklahoma legislative season - Hall & Oaths and the inaugural Capitol Crawl. Both of these events were timed to coincide with the swearing-in ceremonies of the 56th Legislature, which more-or-less marks the first "official" day for the 43 new members of the legislature.
Hall & Oaths
The purpose of Hall & Oaths was to get people to do something rather unusual: go to the state Capitol, watch the legislature take their oath of office, and actually have face-to-face conversations with them. What better way to welcome state representatives and senators to the job than to show up, wear buttons, and start the discussion. These folks ran for office because they want to make a difference in our state, so we wanted to tell them what issues are most important to we, the people of Oklahoma.
As it turns out, the general public rarely attends the swearing-in ceremonies, so our presence there was highly unusual. Multiple people commented that they have never seen a crowd so large for these events. There were people sporting red Let's Fix This buttons throughout the Capitol - in the halls, in galleries, in legislators' offices.
We estimate there were 75 to 100 people attending LFT throughout the day, and among our group were teachers, parents, healthcare workers, blue collar workers, white collar professionals, retired adults, newborn babies - the whole gamut. I'm proud to say that our group proudly represented the diversity of our state. The media took notice as well, with the following comprehensive reports from OETA, NonDoc, and the Red Dirt Report:
Capitol Crawl
While the purpose of Hall & Oaths was to the bring the people to the Capitol, the purpose of the Capitol Crawl was to bring the Capitol to the people. We decided to hold the event in the Uptown 23rd district, in shadow of the Capitol itself. The crawl began at 6:00pm at Guyutes with around 35 people (including four legislators) and then moved to The Pump Bar, where we joined up with more people (and another legislator). You could feel the momentum and excitement growing with each stop along the route.
By the time the full group reached the Rockford Cocktail Den around 8:30pm, we numbered more than 150 and had strangers asking "What's going on?" followed by "Oh wow, this is really cool!"
Here's the thing: it really was cool. People were introducing themselves to legislators and asking them real questions, like "What's your stance on school vouchers?" and "What are you going to do about mental health funding?" Furthermore, the legislators were also introducing themselves to constituents, asking where they lived, who their representatives are, and finding out what issues are important to them.
We [the public] hold onto this notion that legislature doesn't care about us, and I understand why. We want to change that perception, and, to the extent that it exists, we want to change that reality. I also have a hunch that many in the legislature feel like the public doesn't care about what they do, because we don't act like we care. Low voter turnout and very little interaction with the folks at the Capitol mean they have to govern in a vacuum. They can't represent you if you never talk to them. Even if you didn't vote for them, they still represent you.
It's not hard. We did it, and on pretty short notice, too. All you have to do is call your legislator and invite them. Or even tweet at them, like one of our board members did:
Altogether we had over 200 people - including seven legislators - who were able to come to our first Capitol Crawl. We look forward to many more constituents, many more legislators, and many more conversations at our next one in February. And we hope that more people feel like this attendee:
Special thanks to the legislators who participated: Senator Kyle Loveless and Representatives Forrest Bennett, Mickey Dollens, Jason Dunnington, Scott Inman, Shane Stone, and Collin Walke.
First time at the Capitol?
Tomorrow is will be the first event of Oklahoma's 56th Legislature, and for many of the folks attending our Hall & Oaths event, it will be their very first time to ever visit the state Capitol. Which, by the way, is terrific. When Let's Fix This started in the spring of 2016, it was the first time most of us had ever gone to the Capitol, at least for something other than a tour. Personally, I wasn't sure where to park or walk or where to find the restrooms, much less my Senator's office.
And so, here's your quick guide to visiting the Oklahoma State Capitol!
Tomorrow is will be the first event of Oklahoma's 56th Legislature, and for many of the folks attending our Hall & Oaths event, it will be their very first time to ever visit the state Capitol. Which, by the way, is terrific. When Let's Fix This started in the spring of 2016, it was the first time most of us had ever gone to the Capitol, at least for something other than a tour. Personally, I wasn't sure where to park or walk or where to find the restrooms, much less my Senator's office.
And so, here's your quick guide to visiting the Oklahoma State Capitol!
WHERE DO I PARK?
There are two lots: one to the south of the building and another lot to the east, just across Lincoln Blvd. To get to the east lot, take the 21st Street exit from Lincoln and then the entrance will be on your left. You can see on this map that both lots are roughly the same size.
WHERE DO I ENTER THE CAPITOL?
If you park in the south lot (#1 on the map), just walk through the parking lot to the building. If you park in the east lot (#2 on the map), you'll have to cross Lincoln Blvd. Ordinarily you could take the tunnel and go underneath the road, however, it's currently closed due to construction.
Looking at the south side of the building, you will immediately notice that the south steps are currently barricaded due to the potential of falling rock (yes, seriously). Just to the right of the steps is a sidewalk that leads up to the entrance. There are some signs; it's really not too difficult. There are two other entrances to the building, but I think most visitors enter this way, so we'll stick with that.
Once you're inside you will immediately go through security, so leave your weapons at home, lest they be confiscated and sold at public auction.
WHERE DO I GO?
Depends what you want to do...so, let's consult the floor plans of the state Capitol and get the basic breakdown:
- Basement: State Auditor, Ethics, and Election Board, and the snack bar (but it's currently closed). The entrance to the tunnel is down here, too, but it is also closed due to construction.
- 1st Floor: Various state offices
- 2nd Floor: Supreme Court, Governor, Treasurer, some House Representatives' offices, and a few other things. Nice art.
- 3rd Floor: More House Representatives' offices, Senate admin offices.
- 4th Floor: More House Reps' offices, Senators' offices, plus both Chambers. This is the main hub where most of the action takes place.
- 5th Floor: More House Reps' office (including all Democrats, except for Munson), more Senators' offices, and the Gallery seating for both chambers. (That's where us regular folks get to sit and watch the proceedings).
You'll note that all House-related stuff is on the west side of the building and all Senate-related stuff is all on the east side. That's actually pretty convenient. Also, note that the restrooms are in the same place on every floor, always at the north end of the building. Also convenient. Offices have not yet been moved around so if your Legislator is new on the House side, you will need to look for them personally as you won't find an office with their name on it.
Each floor definitely has it's own unique "feel." I don't know how to explain it, but you'll understand once you walk around a little. Offices are assigned based on position and seniority; consequently, they greatly vary in size.
OKAY, BUT WHERE DO I GO TOMORROW?
4th floor rotunda. We'll have smiling volunteers standing around to help guide you. But remember, if you're running late and are just going to try to grab a seat in the gallery, the entrance for those are on the 5th floor.
HOW DO I FIND MY LEGISLATOR'S OFFICE?
First, find out who your legislators are. Get to know their face so you'll recognize them when you see them. (Caveat: the newly-elected legislators haven't even sworn in yet, much less had headshots, so they're not yet in the directory. If your district has a new rep, you may need to look at NewsOK's Election Results to find them.)
Now, I know this sounds weird, but to find offices I actually use a free app put out by the Oklahoma Association of Electric Cooperatives. It's available for both iOS and Android and it's incredibly helpful. (Caveat: like the OKLeg website, the app hasn't yet been updated to reflect the election. Check back in a few weeks.) Also, as I said earlier, offices have not yet been moved around so if your Legislator is new you will need to look for them personally as you won't find an office with their name on it.
OKAY, I FOUND THEM, NOW WHAT DO I SAY TO THEM?
That, my friend, is up to you. Legislators rely on us constituents to to keep them informed and educated about how legislation affects our lives. That's really why I started Let's Fix This in the first place - I realized that most of us just complain on Facebook and Twitter but never actually communicate with our elected officials, and I wanted to change that. And what I've learned from them is that they want to get to know us and hear our personal stories so that they can more effectively represent us at the Capitol.
If you need a help articulating what you want to say, try writing it down. We have a handout called A Letter to My Legislator for that very purpose. You can write down your message, take it with you to be used as a script when talking to your representative or senator, and then leave it with them so that they can refer to it later. Feel free to print the form yourself; we'll have plenty of of copies of it with us at the Capitol as well.
WHAT IF I'M NOT SURE WHAT TO ASK THEM TO DO ABOUT MY ISSUE?
That's okay, we don't expect you to have to have all the answers! If you're not sure, I encourage you to ask your legislators what they plan to do about the issues. They may not have a solution (or not one you agree with), and that's why these conversations are so important - we are highlighting to them what issues are most important to us, their constituents.
I also encourage you to talk to other people attending the event with you. Remember, we're all in this together, and I love learning from other people about what ideas they have and what resources are out there.
ANYTHING ELSE I NEED TO KNOW?
Yes! You need to know that every conversation, every email, every phone call really does matter, especially on the state and local level. Sometimes all it takes is 5 or 6 phone calls from constituents to kill a bill. Your legislators are paid to represent you...well, you and all your neighbors. But chances are your neighbors aren't talking to their legislators, either, so you already have an advantage. (But seriously, invite your neighbors to our next Capitol Day. You'll be glad you did!)
Can't wait to meet all of you tomorrow!