From The Journal Record:
OKLAHOMA CITY – The chairman of the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber didn’t waste any time Thursday morning before addressing what is perhaps the most divisive topic in the state. The issue pins many legislators into a position where they must choose to incur the displeasure of the business community, the anger of some rather vocal citizen groups within their districts, or even the ire of members of their own political party.
House Speaker Lance Cargill, R-Harrah, speaks on teacher pay and education Thursday at the 2008 Legislative Breakfast in Oklahoma City. (Photo by James Keathley)
The Greater Oklahoma City Chamber unanimously supports the repeal of the immigration law, part of which went into effect Nov. 1. Additional provisions designed to deter businesses from hiring people who live in the U.S. without the proper documentation are slated to go into effect July 1.
Nichols said the Tulsa Metro Chamber and The State Chamber also support repealing the law. Read more...
Related:
Statement from Speaker Cargill
OKLAHOMA CITY (Jan. 17, 2008) – “Opposing reforms like charter schools and performance pay is not ‘standing’ for children. It is protecting the status quo, which is exactly what Oklahomans wanted to get rid of when they threw the Democratic majority out of office three years ago,” House Speaker Lance Cargill said.
“House Republicans have put forward record investments in education, raising the Department of Education’s budget to an all-time high of $2.5 billion in the current fiscal year. We led the entire country in teacher pay raises on a percentage basis over the last three years. It was 80 years of Democratic leadership that resulted in teacher pay being near the bottom of the barrel. We can’t fix it overnight, but in the three years since Republicans have had the majority in the House, we have done more than any other state to improve teacher pay. They can just keep wasting everyone’s time with inaccurate, deceptive, partisan releases; we are going to keep moving the state forward,” said Cargill, R-Harrah.
“It is absurd to imply that we think our public school teachers are ‘inferior’ and ‘inept’. We have so many great teachers in this state and that is why we want to create a program to reward that excellence,” said House Education Committee Chairman Tad Jones, R-Claremore.
Labels: Immigration Reform, OK Legislature, Spkr. Cargill
Posted at 1/18/2008 08:41:00 AM
