Conservative voting record recognized

I was recognized recently for my commitment to America’s core principles as written in the U.S. Constitution by the Conservative Political Action Coalition Foundation.

This group tracks conservative voting records and rewards those who show what they consider “conservative excellence.”

They look at things such as protecting the right to life of the unborn, protecting our children from radical agendas, preserving free elections and free enterprise, national security, Second Amendment freedoms and more. The group’s overall mission is protecting life, liberty, property and upholding the American family – all things on which I and the majority of my constituents wholeheartedly agree.

I received a 95 percent rating, and I’m glad to have been given this award on behalf of the people I serve.

In other news, at the Capitol last week I met with a roomful of rural firefighters who aired their concerns about new mandatory training requirements by the state fire marshal.

Rural fire departments are all different. Western Oklahoma firefighters, for instance, battle wildfires on a regular basis.

Eastern Oklahoma firefighters deal with different issues.

Rural firefighters are volunteer, and traveling for training can be expensive.

Training is necessary, but we hope for some consideration of local needs.

Last week was an important deadline in the Legislature.

All bills had to pass from their chamber of origin to stay alive this session.

We heard several hundred bills in the House in advance of the March 14 deadline.

My House Bill 2972 passed the House.

This would require organizations such as the Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association to accept cash at their games and would not allow them to charge extra for cash-only transactions. The bill now moves to the Senate.

Another bill that passed, House Bill 2320, would establish a moratorium for the next three years for Oklahoma retired teachers who return to work in a public school classroom.

This bill would allow the teachers their full retirement benefits, which they’ve earned, as well as full salary. This could help us address our teaching shortage, and it will be a big boost to these teachers.

We also passed House Bill 3644 that would require special agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or the Internal Revenue Service who are conducting a raid or warrantless arrest of a citizen of Oklahoma to make contact with the sheriff of the county in which the raid or arrest is taking place.

It’s a protection for our citizens.

I authored this legislation last year, but it did not get a hearing. Rep. Jay Steagall found the right vehicle this year and allowed me to present it in the State Powers Committee, which he chairs. He presented and passed the bill on the House floor last week. I’m glad to see it advancing to the Senate.

As always, if I can help you with anything, feel free to call my Capitol office at (405) 557-7413 or email me at rick.west@ okhouse.gov.

Rick West serves District 3 in the Oklahoma House of Representatives. His district includes part of LeFlore County.