I got an email from a constituent recently who said she heard me on the radio on her way to work and wanted to say ‘Thank You’ for holding the line against those she sees as being bought and paid for in our state.
She asked me to please continue to shine the light on the excesses and corruption at the state level.
“Even when you feel like you are not making a difference, know that I appreciate your warrior spirit and stand with you in the battle to save our nation,” she wrote.
That means the world to me. I have fought hard to pass legislation that means something to the people in our house district. At times I can’t believe it is so hard to pass conservative legislation that preserves our very freedoms.
Take my right to garden bill, House Bill 1008. This bill just simply says that people will have the right to grow fruits and vegetables on their own property for their own personal consumption. This is a real concern as government might at any time try to impede this right. Even just to get this bill to pass in the House I had to make concessions that municipalities could limit the size or location of these personal gardens if they felt it a public safety hazard existed, such as being too close to a roadway or another public structure, for instance. I also had to allow that restrictions on water use, fertilizers and to control invasive species could not be prohibited. I was amazed at how many people fought this notion. It passed on a vote of 53-36.
Last week was a short one in the Legislature. We considered a number of bills on Monday and Tuesday. Then a lot of legislators participated in the Oklahoma Youth Expo Legislative and Celebrity Livestock Show. This event pairs legislators with young 4-H or FFA participants who come to the OYE Junior Livestock Show in Oklahoma City each March during Spring Break. To get to the show, these young people have had to dedicate hours and hours of hard work toward raising their animals and getting them show ready. This deserves a lot of praise and credit.
I was privileged this year to show a lamb named Clyde owned by Katlynn Figari with the Poteau FFA.
After the show, many legislators headed home to their districts to spend a few days before returning for a busy deadline week. We’ll know by the end of the week what House bills made it to the Senate, and which of the Senate bills we’ll be hearing in House committees.
Remember to listen to me on KPRV Radio at 7:30 a.m. every Thursday for my legislative update.
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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