Alva Review-Courier -

Sen. Bryce Marlatt told the Chamber of Commerce "Eggs and Issues" breakfast meeting Friday, Feb. 17, that this is his ninth year in the legislature. He will have three more sessions before he is term-limited out. He said, "Then I will be like Jeff Hickman, laughing at you, because one of you will have to replace me."

Marlatt said approximately 2,300 bills were introduced at the State Capitol during the filing window. A large number of teacher pay-raise bills were filed and he said that is the top topic at the capitol, along with the governor's proposal to remove most exemptions from sales tax.

Will a Teacher Pay Raise Really Happen?

Alva Superintendent Steve Parkhurst asked, "With a billion dollar shortfall, is a teacher pay raise even a possibility? You've got a lot of teachers getting their hopes up and is anything really going to happen? And if it does, will it be one year only, or will it be an eight-year plan like roads and bridges?"

Marlatt replied, "I didn't introduce a state teacher pay raise bill because I want to see a source of where the money will come from."

The senator also questioned whether an across-the-board equal pay raise was wise.

"I wonder whether a two-year teacher should get the same pay raise as a 20 year teacher?" he said. "I personally believe it should be up to the local school district on how to distribute pay raises. Each superintendent and principal knows who the terrific and most deserving teachers are."

42% Less Money Than In 2008

Rep. Carl Newton, standing to the side, agreed with Marlatt.

"On the house side," he commented, "everybody in leadership wants it to happen, but I'm a business person; I want to know where the money is coming from. This year's budget is 42 percent less than the 2008 budget!"

Parkhurst made one more point. "Every time there is a pay raise, the legislature seems to think an accountability thing must be added that makes teachers jump through hoops instead of it simply being a pay raise. I would like to see a simple pay raise!"

Parkhurst also added that Oklahoma needs to make it easier to attract teachers from bordering states. He explained that Oklahoma allows only five years of their experience from the other state to count toward retirement in Oklahoma. He believes when it goes the other way, Kansas will accept ten years credit.

More Taxing of Online Retailers?

Alva Hospital Authority Chairman Jason Gaisford asked if more sales tax might be collected from online retailers, like Amazon has agreed to do beginning March 1. Marlatt said he hopes others will follow Amazon's lead and do it voluntarily. He explained the states need to get the federal government on board to help with enforcement.

Finally, Senator Marlatt decried the Indian tribes buying land in non-tribe designated areas, and then opening casinos 400 miles away from their actual allotted land. He illustrated that one tribe was using this technique to open a casino in the Oklahoma panhandle. Marlatt said this was not the spirit or intent of the contract made with the tribes.

He also lamented the loss of money to online sports betting operations. It is illegal to have a sports-book in Oklahoma, so hundreds of millions of dollars are leaving the state where people go online to bet on Oklahoma football and basketball games or national events.

Todd Lamb Resigning from Cabinet

Both Marlatt and Newton were asked their opinion of Lt. Gov. Todd Lamb resigning from the governor's Cabinet. Both said they did not wish to speak for Lamb, but Marlatt commented, "I think he simply did not want to be associated with her ambitious sales tax proposals."