Olan Bloomer, Peggy Clark, Jim Boles, Dick Cummings, Adele Higginbottom, Carol Khalil, Rheta Long.
These are the seven – the seven names I read each year on April 19. These are the names of my friends and coworkers who worked alongside me at the U.S. Department of Agriculture in the veterinary services division. They were among the 168 who died in the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in downtown Oklahoma City on the morning of April 19, 1995. It was the worst act of domestic terrorism ever to occur in United States history.
I read their names again this year on the House floor during a presentation observing the 28th anniversary of the bombing. I’ll read them every year I am a state representative. It’s important to me to remember these folks and all those who died or were wounded that day. We must tell and retell this story. It’s all of our story, and it reminds us that evil must never triumph over good.
The worst of humanity came to Oklahoma City on the day of the bombing, but in its place good arose. Good-hearted people from within and without our state overwhelmed us with love and kindness. They helped the wounded, donated everything imaginable, and showed us a strength and resolve that came to be known the world over as the Oklahoma Standard. May we never forget this as long as we live.
Also this week, my House Bill 1005 was signed into law by the governor. This will allow nurse practitioners and physicians assistants to sign affidavits for those who are unable for health reasons to sit on a jury. Currently, only physicians are able to sign these forms, and that presents a hardship for those in rural communities who are far from their doctors.
The sports betting bill, meanwhile, is dead for this year. House Bill 1027 would have opened the door to online and in-person sports wagering. This would simply try to capitalize on personal weakness while requiring a portion of the money raised to be designated to programs to help the very people participating avoid or recover from gambling addictions. There are much better ways to stimulate our economy. I’m glad to see this bill stalled for now.
April 27 is the deadline by which all Senate bills have to pass in the House to stay active this year and the same for House bills in the Senate. After this, we’ll turn focus to those bills that were amended in the opposite chamber and to passing our state budget.
As always, 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 serves District 3 in the Oklahoma House of Representatives. His district includes part of LeFlore County.
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