New lobbying group targets rural issues
A new lobbying group has formed that hopes to influence lawmakers on issues affecting rural communities and industries.
The Oklahoma Rural Association isn’t yet linked to any specific topic other than improving rural parts of the state, but its membership will ultimately define the group’s goals as the 2019 legislative session approaches.
President Monica Miller said the ORA will focus on recruiting members from the energy, agribusiness, manufacturing, financial services, equipment and utilities sectors. The organization also plans to address issues in education and health care.
“Over time there has been an erosion of rural community and economy,” said Miller, who recently served as executive director of the Oklahoma Farm Bureau. “This association came together with likeminded individuals who saw a void that needed to be filled on a variety of fronts.”
Miller is joined by Jim Walker, who is a lobbyist registered to represent several industrial companies and industries at the state Capitol. Other board members include Jeramy Rich of Castles Investments and Taylor Burnett, assistant superintendent for business and industry services at High Plains Technology Center.
ORA’s mission includes state lobbying as well as influencing policy in Washington, D.C. After recruiting members, Miller said ORA will develop a legislative agenda by November. Oklahoma lawmakers return to the Capitol in February.
“Whatever is good for rural communities is what the Oklahoma Rural Association is looking to advocate for,” Miller said. “We see a lot of great things happening in the metro areas and we’re really supportive of that, but what about the other 75 counties out here? What can we do to bring that kind of activity to rural Oklahoma?”
While there are already organizations that lobby for rural interests, like the Farm Bureau, American Farmers and Ranchers, the Cattlemen’s Association and others, ORA intends to be a coalition that includes those kinds of associations along with corporations and landowners.
At the Capitol, however, even rural Oklahomans can disagree. The group’s agenda will ultimately be controlled by who becomes members and pays the bills, said rural state Rep. Steve Kouplen, D-Beggs.
“The biggest issue is who are they working for?” said Kouplen, who leads the House Democratic Caucus and serves on the Agriculture and Rural Development Committee. “It’s a little different animal than what the other organizations are.”
A persistent mantra at the Oklahoma Capitol is that the real conflict isn’t between Republicans and Democrats, but rather between urban and rural interests.
“Not 100 percent, but I think to a large degree a lot of times you’ll see bipartisan support for issues that affect rural Oklahoma, especially when it comes to ad valorem taxes and tax exemptions for agriculture,” Kouplen said.
Those two issues, along with private property rights, are often the three main issues for the rural community, he added.