State Rep. Jim Grego
By Rep. Jim Grego
We wrapped up our work in the Legislature last Thursday although numerous bills stalled in the Senate. Funding for the Oklahoma Educational Television Authority (OETA) seems to be a city/rural thing, with the governor vetoing a continuation of this service. In many areas of rural Oklahoma, this may be the only station, or one of a handful of stations residents can receive. This is not an issue in our metro areas, as numerous free television channels are available. OETA will remain in operation for one year for now, so we will see.
Senate Bill 2 was an issue that two years ago we said we were going to settle once and for all, addressing windmill setbacks from non-participating neighbors. This is not a simple issue as it weighs landowner rights against a neighbor’s view (among other concerns). At the end of the day, this bill went down in smoke. Some said too much, and some said too little, and two years later we are exactly where we started.
Senate Bill 504 was one of the most contentious bills debated this entire session. No one really has a problem telling teenagers it is best to wait a bit before marriage. In fact, a couple of years ago we passed this same issue requiring 18 to be the age to marry. However, there were some strict regulations where exemptions could be made. SB 504 removed all exemptions. I voted no as I have a problem saying never ever to many issues. I feel this may be just too much intrusion in the private lives between parent and child by this big government we have created. Ultimately, the bill passed out of the House by a single vote. Interestingly, I ran into a man recently who said he was about to celebrate his 50th wedding anniversary. He and his wife got married when they were 16.
Claire Harvey is someone who served our country during the Vietnam era and most recently took an “Honor Flight” to travel to our nation’s capital. I had every intention of seeing her off at the airport and thanking her for her service. However, during the rush of session, I was unable to attend the send-off. I recently caught up with Clair at a Choctaw Nation function and was able to thank her for the sacrifices she made. I’ll repeat that again publicly here. Thank You, Clair.
As always, we will get through this session and be looking forward to next year. Thank you always for allowing me to serve. If I can help you in any way, I can be reached at (405) 557-7381 or by email at jim.grego@okhouse.gov.
Jim Grego serves District 17 in the Oklahoma House of Representatives. His district includes Latimer County and part and Pittsburg County.
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