Institute ranks legislators on business and economic issues

The Research Institute for Economic Development has issued its annual evaluation of Oklahoma legislators’ records this past session when it comes to probusiness and economic development issues.

This year’s RIED Report shows that 11 members of the state Senate and 12 members of the House of Representatives scored a perfect 100 for the session.

It said freshmen Republican Sens. Julie Daniels, Tom Dugger, Lonnie Paxton and Adam Pugh received perfect scores.

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Others who got perfect scores were Senate President Pro Tempore Mike Schulz and Republican Sens. Stephanie Bice, AJ Griffin, Ron Sharp, Wayne Shaw, Gary Stanislawski and Roger Thompson.

As for the House of Representatives, it gave perfect scores to freshmen Republican Reps. Rhonda Baker, Avery Frix, Dell Kerbs and Kevin West.

Others receiving perfect scores were House Speaker Charles McCall and Republican Reps. Josh Cockroft, Elise Hall, Randy McDaniel, Glen Mulready, Casey Murdock, Terry O’Donnell and Steve Vaughan.

The institute said the RIED Report gives legislators positive points when they support job creation and economic development issues and deducts points from them when they introduce or vote for legislation that the organization believes negatively impacts Oklahoma’s business climate.

A score of 70 and above represents a passing grade.

Susan Winchester, the organization’s president, said 75 percent of the state’s legislators achieved at least that mark this session.

“Facing a $900 million shortfall, lawmakers filed a broad range of proposals intended to fill the revenue gap, including measures to broaden the tax base and to eliminate several tax credits and other proven business incentives,” Winchester said.

“Fortunately, most of these measures did not move forward. I was especially proud of our new legislators who took a strong stance in opposition to these bills. Positive business growth and job creation are critical to the future of Oklahoma.”