Getting Oklahoma lawmakers to return for a special session to address a civil lawsuit bill ruled unconstitutional by the courts is a “waste of time and money,” the House Democratic leader said.
Rep. Scott Inman said he believes most Oklahomans agree with members of his caucus that spending about $30,000 per day to vote on a bill that can be taken up in February is a waste of taxpayer money. Inman criticized Gov. Mary Fallin for discussing the possibility of a special session with Republican leaders in the House and Senate.
“Now, because (Fallin) doesn’t like the way the Supreme Court has ruled, she’s throwing around the idea of a special session for tort reform,” said Inman, D-Del City. “My caucus believes it would be a waste of time and money, something that could easily be addressed next legislative session.”
Senate President Pro Tem Brian Bingman, R-Sapulpa, said he favors returning during the interim to address the 2009 “tort reform” bill that was shot down by the Oklahoma Supreme Court in June as an unconstitutional example of logrolling, or putting multiple subjects in one bill. House Speaker T.W. Shannon has said he would defer to the governor to make the call.
Fallin has said she is discussing the idea with Bingman and Shannon, but has not yet called for lawmakers to return.
“Oklahoma’s lawsuit reform bills were drafted with bipartisan input and have been widely seen as successful and important to the state’s economic success,” Fallin spokesman Alex Weintz said. “Pursuing a lawsuit reform fix would involve passing previously negotiated and vetted language, which can be done relatively quickly.”
But Inman suggested a quick fix might not be that easy, because the 2009 bill was part of broader negotiations and deal making on civil lawsuit changes made between then Gov. Brad Henry, a Democrat, and the Republican-controlled Legislature. He also noted that in the House, where Republicans hold a 72-29 advantage, the GOP would need at least 68 votes to pass the bills with an emergency clause so they could take effect right away. A handful of absent or disagreeable Republicans could keep the bills from passing.
“They might find it difficult, (but) that’s thinking way down the road, and I haven’t done a head count yet,” Inman said.
Bingman, who said he’d like to keep a special session to no longer than one week, has suggested it could take as many as two dozen separate bills to address the concerns raised by the court.
Inman also said he believes there are more pressing issues lawmakers face than civil justice laws, including ways to fund more safe rooms in public schools and pay raises for prison workers and state troopers.
“I promise you the people of Oklahoma care more about protecting their children in schools from tornadoes, as well as from armed gunmen, than they do about fixing an unconstitutional tort reform law in a special session,” Inman said.
Topics Legislation Leadership Oklahoma
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