Capitol Spotlight for April 29, or thereafter

Bill would axe sentencing panel 
By Jim Campbell
OPA Capitol News Bureau 
The epitaph for the agency charged with tracking growth of Oklahoma's prison population and the consequent costs was scripted a year ago, in an abortive late session strike believed directed at its chief official.
The Oklahoma Criminal Justice Resource Center, research arm of the Oklahoma Sentencing Commission, calculates the fiscal impact of sentencing bills proposed each year. The bipartisan commission makes annual recommendations for coping with constantly escalating corrections expenses.
Last year's effort to have the director appointed by the governor instead of the sentencing commission was defeated, with opponents saying it was designed to get rid of Executive Director K.C. Moon.  His days evidently numbered despite the bill's failure, Moon left the agency several months ago and is now with the Department of Correction.
In calling for the commission's demise last week, House Speaker Pro Tem Gus Blackwell, R-Goodwell, pointed out that not one recommendation had ever been approved.
That's true. Notably one made the list year after year - removal of the governor from responsibility to sign every parole. Gov. Brad Henry has said he feels an obligation to crime victims and their families to examine each parole recommendation.
"It's not the commission's fault that the recommendations aren't approved," said Sen. Richard Lerblance, D-Hartshorne, who chaired the panel before Blackwell.
"They want to get rid of the commission because they don't want to believe the numbers and want to keep passing bills that cause the corrections department to spend more and more money," he said. "What they ought to do is spend some money to get to the root of the drug problem and we wouldn't have so many people in prison.
"Its bad legislation," said Lerblance, "I hope we can kill it in the Senate."
Blackwell, the current commission chairman, inserted the language into House Bill 1709 that originally involved a task force study of possible consolidation of the medical examiner's office with another agency.
 The measure would transfer 19 of the center's 21 employees to the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, one would go to the Attorney General's office and one position would be eliminated.
"It (the commission's work) will get lost there," Lerblance said. 
Blackwell said the commission "has done a great job, but it has served its time."  The bill, as amended, passed the House 59-33 and went to the Senate.
Rep. Al Lindley, D-Oklahoma City, opposed the bill during House consideration, saying an agency should not be dissolved because someone "has a grudge" against it or its head official.
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Upcoming votes in the Senate could send to the November ballot proposed state questions on making English the state's official language, limiting statewide elected officials to 12-year terms and requiring that gubernatorial judicial appointees be confirmed by the Senate.
"I would speculate that it would pass in the Senate," co-president Glenn Coffee, R-Oklahoma City, said of the official English bill. 
Coffee said earlier he would not favor an expansion of last year's immigration restrictions in House Bill 1804, but believes the language bill by Rep. Randy Terrill, R-Moore, does not expand on his original measure.
There was no debate, but opponents tied up the language measure, SB 163, for nearly two hours with rules questions before passing it, 70-28.

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