OKLAHOMA CITY (May 20, 2009) – Legislation that will streamline state information technology services and purchases while also working to prevent technology security breaches passed the House today.

House Bill 1704 would create a Chief Information Officer (CIO), who would direct technology purchases for state agencies. The consolidation of technology contracts will help the state pool its purchasing power to help drive down costs and improve services.

Instead of each state agency having its own small information technology (IT) contract, this legislation would allow the state to better leverage its purchasing power by buying IT equipment in bulk for agencies that have similar needs.

Oklahoma is only one of four states in the country without a centralized technology officer.

“Our state has an out-of-date technology system that doesn’t utilize purchasing best practices or properly leverage state agency purchasing power to maximize savings,” said Rep. David Derby, R-Owasso and author of the bill. “Our state spends $340 million a year on IT not including personnel and salaries and we are missing out in millions in savings by being one of the last state’s to abandon this antiquated process.”

Derby stressed that the CIO will be located within the Office of State Finance structure and no new agency is created in this bill.

The legislation would also work to centralize IT systems to help prevent and quickly attack security breaches where potentially sensitive information is compromised.

In recent months, several state computers containing citizens’ private information were either lost or stolen, including a flash drive from the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission and laptops from the Department of Human Services and the Oklahoma Housing Finance Agency.

Under the bill, the CIO would not only direct technology purchases and services for the state, but would also consolidate and update security policies for all state agencies.

“Often state agency employees have access to very sensitive, private information that needs to be protected by a universal policy,” said Rep. Jason Murphey, R-Guthrie and chairman of the House Government Modernization Committee. “This legislation will not only lead to savings of taxpayer dollars but will also work to keep taxpayer data safe.”

A task force created by 2005 legislation concluded that Oklahoma lacked a state technology strategy after listening to the concerns of agency information technology personnel. In 2007, as part of an initiative to streamline and modernize state government, the House Republican leadership further examined the costs savings potential in restructuring the state’s technology services.

Earlier this year, experts from across the nation appeared before a joint meeting of the House and Senate Appropriation and Budget committees to provide examples of other states’ successes in modernizing their information technology services, often resulting in tremendous savings.

The bill passed the House with a vote of 56-42 and now returns to the Senate for final consideration.

 Jason Murphey is as a third generation, life-time resident of Logan County. He is married to wife, Raleah, and they have two children, Jarod and Jarel.

 Jason Murphey is as a third generation, life-time resident of Logan County. He is married to wife, Raleah, and they have two children, Jarod and Jarel.

Background - Bio

 Murphey graduated with his Bachelor of Arts degree from Charter Oak State College in May of 2006 with National Honors, is a member of the National Rifle Association, attends church at Church of God Outreach in rural Logan County and has achieved Toastmasters International's highest award for communication and leadership (DTM).

 Murphey was first elected to the State House in 2006 and was re-elected in 2008. He serves as the Chairman of the House Government Modernization Committee.

- End of Bio -

Additional Information - Elections

 In 2006, Murphey campaigned for State Representative on a platform of never accepting contributions or gifts from lobbyists or groups that employ lobbyists. He also announced his intentions to work for reduction in the size of government, elimination of the state income tax, property tax reform and refocusing state government on essential services such as paving roads. Murphey conveyed his desire to open up state government to the scrutiny of the people through televising state government proceedings.

  In 2008, Murphey engaged in a down ballot campaign supporting area Republican candidates. Murphey used his campaign to launch a voter registration drive targeted at hastening the Republican tide in House District 31. As a result of the 2008 election, local level Logan County Republican candidates won all races taking 6 of the 8 county level seats (a majority for the first time in recent history) including all County Commission seats. Murphey's 12,978 votes represented more votes than any other candidate for the House District 31 seat received since a 1960s decision by the Supreme Court resulted in the creation of the district.

Chairmanship

Legislation

 In 2008, Rep. Jason Murphey was the principal author of House Bill 2215, House Bill 2231, House Bill 3325 and Senate Bill 1398 which were all signed into law by Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry.

 In 2009, Murphey served as the Chair of the House of Representative's Government Modernization Committee. He was the principal author for House Bill 1031, House Bill 1032, House Bill 1111, House Bill 1294, House Bill 1295, House Bill 1474, Senate Bill 794, Senate Bill 800 which were signed into law by Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry.

 Murphey also won approval for Senate Joint Resolution 12 which will allow the people of Oklahoma to vote for term limits for statewide elected officials.

 Also in 2009, as the Chairman of the Government Modernization Committee, Murphey authored Senate Bill 980 with Oklahoma Senate Pro-Temp Glenn Coffee. Senate Bill 980, while not enacted, contained much of the language that would become law in House Bill 1170 which sought to consolidate much of Oklahoma's IT infrastructure.

 In winning approval for House Bills 3325 and 1032, Representative Jason Murphey completed a restructuring of the states' centralized purchasing system. The restructuring was designed to allow Oklahoma's central purchasers leverage the state's buying power in order to save taxpayer money. Two separate consultant audits found millions of dollars could be saved with the enactment of the reforms in House Bill 1032.

 House Bills 3325 and 1032 also called for the state to apply technological advancements in order to streamline government activities. House Bill 1032 contained a mandate to state agencies requiring that licensing and permitting processed be placed online for people to access.

 House Bill 1032 mandated the government to list a series of state employee purchases online at the ok.gov website for people to be able to review.

2009 Modernization Studies

 What follows is a press release regarding 2009 attempts to study new ways to save taxpayer money.

 OKLAHOMA CITY (June 26, 2009)—House Speaker Chris Benge announced the approval today of 120 interim studies that will be conducted over the summer and fall prior to the next legislative session.

 The studies cover a breadth of issues, including government modernization, health care, public safety, education and economic development.

 “Interim studies give members an opportunity to delve deeper into an issue and give thoughtful study to a topic prior to writing and working to pass law,” said Benge, R-Tulsa. “This year we have a good set of studies that will help to find ways to make our government more efficient all while providing vital government services to the people of our state.”

 Benge noted that taxpayers expect their elected officials to be good stewards of their tax dollars, which includes a continual study of how government is spending the peoples’ money.

 “These studies will help ensure our taxpayers are getting the most out of their money in government services and programs,” said Benge. “As legislators, we must continually look at all government expenditures with a critical eye.”

 The House legislative studies on government modernization approved this year include the following, among others:

  * A study to analyze possible consolidation of state government licensing and permitting functions, requested by Reps. Jason Murphey, R-Guthrie, and David Derby, R-Owasso.

  * Efforts to use new technology to enable better purchasing processes and transparency in government, requested by Reps. Murphey and Derby.

  * A study will analyze other government entities’ usage of open source technology products and consider possible application to Oklahoma state government in order to realize savings, requested by Reps. Murphey and Derby.

  * A study to determine the potential effect of passage of State Question 744, the “HOPE” petition, requested by Rep. Leslie Osborn, R-Tuttle.

 “I believe state government should focus on a few core functions while empowering private citizens as much as possible,” Benge said. “These legislative studies will help us accomplish that goal by seeking new ways to make health care affordable and accessible, target crime, promote safety and provide efficient delivery of services.”

Honors

 Murphey has won a series of awards from conservative and pro-taxpayer groups over the years. What is a summer, 2009 annoucement from one of these groups.

 State Representative Jason Murphey (R-Guthrie) has learned that he will receive a rating of 100% from Oklahoma’s longest running conservative publication for his work during the 2009 legislative session.

 The 100% rating was given to Murphey and one other Oklahoma Representative by The Oklahoma Constitution Newspaper. Each year since 1979, The Oklahoma Constitution has graded Oklahoma legislators and published a Conservative Index by which the constituents of the legislator can gauge how conservative or liberal their legislator votes.

 Each year bills nominated for use on the Conservative Index are submitted to the Oklahoma Conservative PAC (OCPAC). The membership of OCPAC takes input from both lawmakers and citizens and uses that input to vote on the top ten issues by which the lawmakers are graded.

 The ten issues and the rankings of the lawmakers are published in the Conservative Index. The index grades lawmakers on both their session score and their cumulative lifetime score in order to keep track of the voting habits of lawmakers during their entire time in office.

 Murphey was graded on 10 issues including his votes against issuing more government debt and against liberalizing Oklahoma’s unemployment benefits to accept federal stimulus money. Murphey was given points for his votes for declaring English to be Oklahoma’s official language and for overturning a Gubernatorial veto on a key right-to-life issue.

 “When I campaigned for office I ran on a platform of representing conservative values. I believe this ranking shows that I am keeping my word,”Murphey said.

 Murphey remains the only Oklahoma Legislator to maintain a lifetime score of 100% having scored a 100% on the index in both 2007 and 2008.

Communication

On The Issues

The Stimulus Nightmare

 In September, 2009, Murphey wrote about the problems created by federal stimulus funds.

 Jason Murphey explained how he thought the 2009 state government funding shortfall would provide an excellent opportunity for state government to get smaller. Murphey felt that the shortfall would force state government to cut the most wasteful and inappropriate functions.

 Murphey said many of the residents of his house district can articulate their belief that government is wasteful with our tax dollars. Murphey agrees with them and see a budget shortfall as the perfect tool to make politicians and bureaucrats cut some of this waste.

 For example, during one budget committee meeting hearing this year, a state agency testified that by rearranging some office space and giving up a conference room, they were able to realize $40,000 savings per year in rent fees. The way Murphey sees it, budget shortfalls which rid state government of $40,000 conference rooms are a huge blessing.

 During the next economic upturn when state revenues will once again increase, it was Murphey's belief that conservative legislative leaders would return the increased revenue back to the people in the form of tax reduction instead of using the money to once again grow government. The result of the downturn which forced spending reductions, coupled with tax relief during the upturn, would be a smaller, more efficient state government. Murphey is convinced that over the next few years, this simple strategy would be effective in returning government to a much more limited role.

 Earlier in the 2009 legislative year, it appeared that this was about to occur. As the economic shortfall worsened and state government revenues dropped, state leaders were under the gun and facing tremendous pressure to take the necessary steps to start reducing state government spending.

 Then everything changed as the federal stimulus money started becoming available. Because of this funding, not only did state government not get smaller this year, it will actually spend slightly more money.

 It is hard to tell how many strings are going to be attached to the stimulus funding. For instance, in order for Oklahoma to accept stimulus money for one state agency, the state had to loosen its unemployment funding eligibility criteria, even though Oklahoma’s eligibility guidelines are already extremely liberal. Once a program like this is expanded, it will be very difficult to shrink it back down to the appropriate size.

 This is why Murphey maintained a policy this year of voting against budget bills where it was apparent that stimulus money was being received. Not only has the stimulus greatly harmed the future of our nation, it has also made it much more difficult to eliminate waste in state governments all across our country.

Secretive Tax Credit Program to Come Under Legislative Review

 Representative Jason Murphey is a strong opponent of special perks and Murphey opposes efforts to build special loopholes into the tax code for a privileged few. I am happy to be able to report that one of the most secretive of these programs is about to receive some legislative review.

 Murphey says this type welfare takes place when the Legislature passes laws which financially benefit certain interests by creating a complicated scheme that enriches the proponents of the plan. Usually, advocates of these efforts carefully craft their arguments, claiming that if the Legislature provides them with special incentives, a massive amount of economic development will occur. Jason Muprhey says this argument puts pressure on other legislators to support the incentive, since they do not want to be seen as voting against economic development.

 Murphey explains their legislation is created in a manner much like this:

 a) Those who want to benefit from big government hire a powerful lobbying firm which has built strong relations with legislators by spending time with them, investing in their campaigns and providing them with personal gifts like free meals or entertainment;

 b) Those lobbyists help draft the plan into law and utilize their relationships with powerful legislators to sponsor the legislation;

 c) This legislation may be introduced late in the legislative session when few legislators understand what is being proposed and have very little time to understand the legislation’s impact.

 Murphey thinks the people who are hurt the most by these schemes are Oklahoma small businesses owners who cannot afford to hire powerful lobbyists to build a special loophole in the law. These business still have to pay a high tax rate without benefitting from the special perks. Instead of paying for the creation of special loopholes, the state government should focus on reducing taxes across the board for Oklahoma individuals and businesses. It is this policy that will result in true economic development and will make it harder to the powerful to use the tax code as a way to achieve personal enrichment.

 He said one of the most dangerous of the special perks is that of the state’s transferable tax credit program. The reason this program is so dangerous is because it is very difficult to see who is claiming the millions of dollars to these credits which can then be sold to and claimed by a third party. These credits can be claimed and filtered through a number of LLC’s which make it rather difficult to know who is benefiting and if these credits are really creating jobs, as their proponents would claim.

 Murphey explained that this year, Rep. David Dank and Senator Randy Brogdon, both outspoken critic of transferable tax credits, have won approval for a task force to conduct a study of the credits. The study should occur over the next few months and hopefully will be a starting point to allow people the opportunity to know who is using this program to benefit at the cost of the rest of the taxpayers. Murphey thinks it is a great credit to Oklahoma’s legislative leaders for allowing this important study to go forward.

 Murphey believes a strong majority of Oklahomans prefer small government and low taxation for all, as opposed to heavy taxation with loopholes for the privileged.

Preparing to Advocate an Aggressive States’ Rights Agenda

 In July, 2009, Murphey wrote about advocating an aggressive states’ rights agenda.

 Representative Jason Murphey had previously written an update entitled, “Preparing for an Expansion of Government.” In that update, Rep. Jason Murphey referenced how that over time, under both Republican and Democratic administrations, both parties have used the expansion of federal government as a tool to accomplish their various agendas and in doing so violated the important concept of states’ rights. Murphey also wrote about the possible upcoming expansion in the size and scope of the federal government due to the recent consolidation of liberal control over both the presidency and Congress.

 Since that time, Murphey states that he has been contacted by a number of worried constituents who are desperate to know what can be done. They have contacted their U.S. Senators and Congressman but are terrified because with vote after vote, the U.S. Congress seems to be moving towards implementing a frightening new socialist agenda. They want their Oklahoma lawmakers to do whatever they can to stop this agenda.

 Jason Murphey predicts that next year there will be a significant number of 10th amendment/states’ rights legislative initiatives filed by Oklahoma legislators.

 Murphey says several Representatives are considering filing a bill tailored after a measure that was signed into law in Montana earlier this year which seeks to keep the federal government from regulating the production and sale of firearms. Traditionally, the federal government has regulated this industry through the “Interstate Commerce Clause” in the constitution. However, the Montana law seeks to provide a means by which the producers and users of the firearms can clearly document that the product in question was made in Montana and is thus not subject to federal regulation.

 According to Murphey, this type of creative concept can likely be expanded into other areas of policy ranging from health care to energy. For instance, Indiana, Minnesota, New Mexico, North Dakota and Wyoming have all considered proposals to take preemptive action against the pending federal mandates tied to the ongoing socialization of health care efforts by Congress. The Arizona Legislature has passed a resolution that will allow the people of Arizona to vote on amending the state constitution to codify that no resident would be required to participate in any public health care option.

 He says as more and more of the important votes are being lost at the federal level, the fight will move to the state level and the question before our legislative leadership and the Governor will be about whether or not they will allow important states’ rights legislation to go forward.

 Murphey thinks it is important to move forward quickly with this legislation before the federal judiciary is stocked with liberal appointees who will rule against states’ rights and try to strike down these laws.

Should you have questions please call 405.563.0034.