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El Reno Tribune

Prosperity district bill gains ground on the hill

By CATHERINE SWEENEY
The Journal Record
OKLAHOMA CITY
Legislators signed off
on two vague bills this
session that would
create special districts
with abnormally lax
regulations.
As one of the
measures moves through
committee and onto the
floor, the picture is
getting a little clearer.
The measures would
create a mechanism
to legalize so-called
prosperity districts,
where businesses and
residents wouldnt have
to follow city, county
or state regulations. A
new and more lenient
framework would replace
the rules, and the
districts governing
board would implement
that.
Although the bills
span more than 100
pages, lawmakers and
proponents struggled to income, and peoples
explain exactly how the personal income is down
laws would work and right now.
how the districts would Personal income tax
function. is one of the revenue
House Bill 2132 streams that came in
and Senate Bill 548 below projections this
both made it out of year, spurring almost $35
committee. The Senate million in mid-year
bill didnt make it agency spending cuts.
to the full Senate, Prosperity district
but the House of proponents across the
Representatives passed country, including
its bill off the floor. It the national policy
will start the committee organization pushing the
process in the Senate measure in five states,
again. said forming special
House Speaker development zones could
Charles McCall, R-Atoka, draw in firms that might
took on the bill and otherwise never show
has pushed it through up and that the option
his chamber. His should be especially
spokesman, Jason appealing for rural areas.
Sutton, said now is an The idea is that less
especially important stringent regulations
time to consider could be a rare amenity
implementing the law. that makes less desirable
Its an opportunity for areas more enticing to enormously complex but
economic development, developers.
he said. The state During the committee
revenues are a byproduct hearings, opponents
of peoples personal voiced concerns that
the districts would take
authority from local
that developing nations She said the They dont want to deal
offer fewer regulations to organization focused with a lot of issues that
potential developers, primarily on worker inhibit their opportunity
especially those from and environmental to be flexible.
other countries, and that protections. Arizona, Arkansas,
Oklahoma shouldnt aim The element of the North Dakota,
to conduct business like unknown is essentially Mississippi and Missouri
they do. It could allow what killed the measure have considered
foreign corporations to in Mississippi, said the prosperity district
come in and exploit bills author, Speaker Pro legislation this year, but
Oklahomas workers and Tempore Greg Snowden. none have warmed to
land. It failed in a House the idea as much as
He pitched two committee, even though Oklahoma has. North
amendments. One would he hadnt gotten any Dakotas measure made
ensure employees get negative feedback. it to the House floor
minimum wage, sick Frankly, its one of before it failed.
leave, family leave and those things that has The national policy
equal pay regardless to take a few years to organization Compact
of gender. The other percolate to get people to for America aims to get
ensured companies understand, he said. legislation passed in
within the district would People that are multiple states, president
pay taxes. philosophically Nick Dranias said.
Members voted to conservative, I think, If it succeeds, the
table the amendments. are attracted to this organization can create
State Rep. Meloyde because it provides so an interstate compact
Blancett, D-Tulsa, said much freedom from and take it to Congress.
the bills language was regulation. Then, the districts could
Similar to Oklahoma find ways to replace
lacked specificity. She leaders, Mississippis federal regulations as
called it a Pandoras box proponents said the well.
and called to vote against measure could be a cure Ideally, districts
it. to economic struggles in would already be in
The House passed the rural and other low- place and successful
measure 60-26 on March density areas, where in each state, and

VFW 382 governments, that the

language was overly
legal and hard to
understand, and that
22.
The Oklahoma Policy
Institute, a progressive
think tank based in
recruiting business can
be difficult.
The Mississippi Delta
is a very poor area, he
advocates could use
them as examples when
attempting to cajole the
federal government.
And Auxiliary the bill raised more Tulsa, raised similar said. That could result in
questions than it issues. The job opportunities more freedom while
SPECIAL FORCES LADIES answered. Our primary concern arent what we would dealing with federal
On the House floor, is the unknown aspect of like for it to be. One of regulators, such as
AUXILIARY Democrats raised several
issues. State Rep.
this, said policy analyst
Courtney Cullison. We
the things businesses are
really looking for, we
the Environmental
Protection Agency or the
Jason Dunnington, have no idea what could have learned, is that they Occupational Safety and
HOSTING BINGO AT THE EL RENO D-Oklahoma City, noted be created. want regulatory relief. Health Administration.

VFW POST 382

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 Sapulpa Daily Herald

Creek County OK2A Tonight

Apr The public is invited to attend the OK2A Creek County
06 Chapter meeting Thursday, April 6, 2017 at Cafe USA to listen
to the curator of the world famed J.M. Davis Museum in
2017 Claremore.
There is no cost to attend and the program begins at 6:30
Page p.m. with the pledge of allegiance and invocation.
0002
Jason Schubert, has been the Curator of the J.M. Davis
Clip Arms and Historical Museum in Claremore, Oklahoma since
resized
64% December, 2006, and has twice served as the Museums
Interim Executive Director.
He holds a Bachelors degree in History and a Masters
degree in Museum Science, both from Texas Tech University.
He was previously the Director of Museums for Philmont
Scout Ranch in Cimarron, NM; overseeing the Philmont
Museum-Ernest Thompson Seton Memorial Library, Villa
Philmonte Historic House Museum, and the Kit Carson Living
History Museum at Rayado, NM.
Jason has had the pleasure of working on the Outdoor
Channels Gun Stories with Joe Mantenga, NRAs Gun Gurus,
and documentaries on Oklahomas own OETA and the NHK
network in Japan.
Mr. Schubert will discuss J.M. Davis the man, his great love
of firearms, and the vast collection, . , Schubert will also bring
everyone up to speed on all the happenings ongoing at the
Museum today.
Please bring your family and friends and join us as we learn
more about the fascinating J.M. Davis Arms and Historical
Museum from Jason Schubert Thursday night, April 6th, at
6:30 pm. You need not be an OK2A member to attend.
OK2A the organization was founded in 2009 to help protect
the Second Amendment Rights of Oklahoma Citizens.
OK2A Creek County meetings are always free and open to
$1.50 the public.

League of Women Voters Oppose

OKLAHOMA CITY The League of Women Voters of
Oklahoma (LWVOK) is standing in opposition to House Bill
2132 which creates so-called prosperity zones in our state.
Organization says bill will undermine local control
Oklahoma would be the first state to pass this legislation
which would bar local and state governments from enforcing
regulations within these established zones. The current version
of the bill also includes language that would join Oklahoma
into an interstate compact if other states pass similar legisla-
tion.
This bill would tie the hands of cities and the state should
they seek to implement reasonable oversight and regulation of
the activities occurring within a prosperity zone,said Sheila
Swearingen, LWVOK state president.

Property of OPS News Tracker and members of the Oklahoma Press Association.