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I
e to dominate the
in office.
government struc-
ealth Department
as an opportunity
campaign themes:
ernment. Medicaid
obacco Settlement
SET) reforms, end-
ywood and film
gle that paid mil-
stein, and initiation
process improve-
state agency would
he can also work to
m for out-of-state
nies and tribes sell-
g these reforms will
and revenue need-
room teacher a
nd protect
t together thought-
ss the political spec-
kage of criminal jus-
s. But the hard work
ssed, and they des-
vernor’s thoughtful
tive is building new
decade.
administration has
more innovative and
aging their
Here again is a
n to deliver on a
bringing more
oma while also
e fastest-growing
dget.
serves as president of the
airs (www.ocpathink.org).
have enjoyed the opportunity
to observe the leadership of
six different Speakers of the
House. It's said to be the most
powerful position in all of
Oklahoma government; stronger
in influence than even the
Governor. Based on careful
observation over the years, I have
attempted to learn all I can about
the strengths and weaknesses of
the different leadership styles
and apply the lessons that I have
learned to my life.
I have noticed that at the high-
est and most simplistic level of
analysis, there are two primary
types of House Speaker arche-
types. The first, a distinct minori-
ty of the whole, creates an envi-
ronment conducive to produc-
tivity and resists the temptation
to use the Speaker’s office to cre-
ate fear.
These Speakers are remem-
bered in a more positive light
and may maintain the loyalty of
their former colleagues even
after they leave office. We feel a
bit of regard for these individuals,
not because we agreed with all
their policies, but because they
treated fellow House members
with respect and didn't use their
great power to inflict harm;
hopefully he worked for us,
rather than us working for him!
The second type of House
Speaker deliberately uses fear as
a tool to maintain discipline. He
reminds members of his power
by making examples of real and
in a toxic environment of fear
and trepidation which hides
under a fragile
facade of parti-
san unity.
This poison-
ous atmos-
phere has a
chilling effect
on policy. No
one wants to
be next on the
Rep. Jason enemies’ list,
Murphey so even the
Speaker’s
friends are
House hesitant to
District 31 speak out too
much.
Eventually
the free flow of
ideas begins to dry up, thus sig-
nificantly compromising the
mission given to us by the tax-
payer. The Speaker's inner circle
becomes an echo chamber into
which honest and truthful advice
is not produced. House leader-
ship subsequently loses touch
with the people and reality, and
House members sense this but
are trapped between a rock and
a hard place, i.e., reality and the
state's most powerful politician.
They become demoralized
and the more attentive con-
stituents quickly notice the
change of quality in their repre-
sentation. The perceptive will
see the dead look in their politi-
cian's eyes as their legislator
attempts to justify an indefensi-
groupthink into which he has
been forced. Worse, because the
free flow of ideas has slowed to a
trickle, the politician offers little
in the way of actual policy-based
solution and simply resorts to
traditional government pander-
ing: "We just need to spend more
money!"
There is a tremendous amount
of power vested within the
Speaker’s office, and the use of
fear to stay in power is extremely
effective in the short run. In the
long run, however, nearly every
House member is happy and
relieved when this Speaker
moves on from his seat of power.
It should be the goal of every
Speaker to govern in a fear-free
environment. As custodian of
the role of Speaker, he should
view it as a personal failure if a
caucus member expresses fear
because of his actions. It should
be his primary goal to be a ser-
vant to the members and help
them succeed in their legislative
endeavors.
Unfortunately, most come far
short of meeting this standard.
And ironically, though they had
great power, they are not well
remembered and few, if any, will
ever surpass the zenith of that
power.
It should be our goal as mem-
bers of the House to remove this
power and disperse it amongst
the members of the House. In
this way, we ensure this type of
abuse will never occur again.
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Members of The Edm

estration: Our Country’s Greatest Enemy Sun’s Editorial Board

Sun General Manager
Moler, Sun Editor Mark
Codner and communit
thing can com- operations and most importantly, uniform. I voted in favor of the Member of Congress, it is my duty members Keith Weber
the heartache end the ill effects of an underfunded budget agreement after our to fully support our troops who Lee and Mark Nash.
by the lossCopyright
of military due to years of sequestra-
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February 15, 2018 9:48 am (GMT +6:00)
President and Commander in Chief defend the rights of all Americans. Powered by TECNAVIA
ese wars, no tion. The two-year and General Mattis asked me and To vote against providing our mili-
as done more budget agreement my colleagues to do so in the name tary with the resources it so desper-