Three hundred dealerships,15,000 employees plus another 15,000 related jobs, these were the numbers the Oklahoma Auto Dealers Association provided us at their Zone 5 meeting in Krebs this past week. Our auto dealers’ impact on our state’s economy cannot be underestimated. The new law on transferring tags between original owners and new buyers is a train wreck. No one seems to know what the law’s intent is, and we may need to file some cleanup language next year. We also heard how the manufacturers are pushing dealers to sell auxiliary services with very little financial incentives. It was a very informative meeting as it always is.
An interim study on the impact data center expansion has on Oklahoma’s water resources and the power grid is scheduled to be heard Oct. 21 at the Capitol. Speakers from the Commonwealth of Virginia’s Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission will share their most recent report on this issue. Right now, northern Virginia is being called the data center capital of the world, so it will be interesting to hear their findings. We want new business in Oklahoma, but we really want the jobs that come with it. Some question these data centers, with their reliance on artificial intelligence instead of human workers, combined with the massive amounts of water and electricity they use. We’ll see what we find out in this study.
This past weekend, another successful Fall Festival was carried out at Robbers Cave State Park. I haven’t seen the final numbers for attendance or the car show. I’m sure both were down as a line of severe thunderstorms moved through around noon. It’s always a welcome boost to the local economy when this many people cone to our beautiful part of the state.
As always, thank You for allowing me to serve you. 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.
Get Local News!
