Published: January 12, 2009 10:45 pm         

Legislative forum on tap Thursday at NWOSU-Enid

Garfield County legislators will discuss the upcoming legislative session during the annual Greater Enid Chamber of Commerce legislative forum 4:30-6 p.m. Thursday at Northwestern Oklahoma State University-Enid.

Legislators will discuss bills they will introduce this session, probable legislative issues and will answer questions. Expected to appear at the forum are state Reps. Mike Jackson and John Enns and state Sen. Patrick Anderson, all Enid Republicans. State Sen. David Myers has a conflict but may attend part of the meeting. State Rep. Dale Dewitt, R-Braman, also has been invited, according to Jennifer Kisling, chairwoman of the chamber legislative action committee.

Jackson is chairman of the House Aerospace Committee and said much of his time will be spent on projects affecting that committee. One bill of his bills deals with attracting engineers to the state to aid the expanding aerospace industry and make it easier for those companies to find workers. A second bill would allow astronauts to vote from space. Jackson said Oklahoma has produced more astronauts than any other state.

Landlord relief also is an interest of Jackson’s. He will focus on trespassing laws, plus legislation aimed at creating or attracting work force locally through the CareerTech system and providing some changes in statute to make that easier.

Enns will continue his fight for funding agribility legislation. He plans to lobby both the House and Senate for $200,000 to allow hiring another therapist to help disabled farmers solve specific problems and learn new technologies. Enns also plans a bill dealing with stem cell research, calling attention to a program at the University of Oklahoma.

Anderson has authored a bill putting limits on the master lease program used by colleges and universities. Colleges now can issue bonds for projects on their campuses without legislative approval.

Another bill would acquire $400,000 for a fire training tower at Autry Technology Center. The project is endorsed by the Enid Fire Department and will provide fire departments the ability to train for multi-story fires.

Anderson also is attempting to acquire a $1 million permanent endowment for the Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center to help fund the museum.

All legislators said the state funding shortage may make it difficult to do anything except fund existing services this session.