By State Rep. Rick West
We ran bills through the House this past week just like we were running a bunch of cattle through the sale barn. Things flew pretty fast and furious on the House floor as we voted on one bill after another – an average of about 60 bills a day. This week should be more of the same.
A wise friend told me once not to fall in love with my bills. He’s right. I can be passionate about an issue and work my hardest to get something passed, but at the end of the day, not everyone is going to see things my way.
The LeFlore County Livestock Show was a few weeks ago. The premium sale was last Friday night. I appreciate all the buyers and businesses who helped the kids that made the sale. The sale likely will bring about $100,000 to support these young people. More important than money is the life lessons these kids learn that will make them productive citizens when they are adults. I’m proud of every one of them. Keep up the hard work and keep trying. This sale is one of the best things in our area. It teaches hard work, ethics and character, and all of these kids demonstrate that. The FFA instructors and 4H leaders have a great relationship with their kids, and this program wouldn’t be possible without them. Thanks to the LeFlore County Cattleman’s Association and the Community State bank for cooking the hamburgers. A 4H group of homeschoolers served the meal.
At the Capitol, I had a page this past week. Garrett Huckaby is a senior at Heavener High School. His parents are Andrea Vaughn and Stephen Huckaby. Garrett said his plan after high school is to go to nursing school and then work with trauma patients. His list of community service projects includes painting and welding pipe fences and cleaning up our area highways. His favorite hobbies include fishing and hunting. He’s also a bodybuilder and loves playing basketball. He said he also works a lot. At school, he’s on the baseball and the fishing teams.
What I was most touched by, though, was Garrett’s response to the question, “What is your proudest lifetime personal accomplishment and/or life goal?” He said, “Growing up making my parents proud of who I am with the intentions of making it through nursing and being very successful. Accepting Christ into my life and being the best person I can.”
It was great to have Garrett at the Capitol this week. Pages get to see our work on the floor, help run errands for lawmakers and help out in our offices. They also get to take part in a mock legislative session. I hope Garrett learned a little more about state government this week, and I wish him the best in his future.
This coming week, I’ll have a group of eighth-graders from Heavener visit the Capitol. That’s always a highlight to get to visit with a group of future leaders and show them around the People’s House.
I met recently with Department of Public Safety officials in Poteau to get an update on their efforts to address the backlog of people wanting to get their driver’s or commercial driver’s licenses. DPS has two issues – COVID and technology challenges as they try to transition to the REAL ID system. We ran some legislation in the House recently that will help with this issue, and the governor also issued an executive order that waives some restrictions on local tag agents and that will allow third parties to administer driver’s license examinations. I hope we see some REAL RELIEF soon.
Remember to listen to me on KPRV Radio each Thursday morning during the legislative session. And if I can help you with anything, feel free to call my Capitol office at (405) 557-7413 or email me at rick.west@okhouse.gov.
- Rick West represents District 3 in the Oklahoma House of Representatives, which includes part of LeFlore County.
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