State Representative Rick West (R-Heavener)
By Rep. Rick West
I had a great meeting last week with Doug Linehan, the executive director of the Oklahoma Tax Commission.
I requested the meeting to address concerns from constituents about unanswered or unreturned calls by the commission and rudeness experienced when callers did get through.
Linehan, who took his post in 2022, took my list of complaints, gathered over the past year or more, and said he would personally deal with them. I believe he’s a man of his word.
One complaint was from a constituent who got his tax return on a debit card but said he’s been unable to access his money for two years. This is something Linehan said he would like help with – legislation that reverses the policy of state tax returns being placed on debit cards that are managed by a Chicago company. I told the director I would be happy to look into such legislation. We surely can save money by issuing returns in the state and not through someone in Chicago.
Linehan inherited a lot when he got to the Tax Commission. He’s been working to update computers and software and to improve the work environment at the commission. I believe he is committed to fixing the problems that remain. I’m hoping to bring him soon to LeFlore County where he can meet with bankers and certified public accountants and others involved in tax filing and policy. He said he would love to come.
In other news, I spoke recently with Anthony Eschelle at the Oklahoma Department of Transportation. He said the four-lane from Sunset Corner to U.S. Highway 59 in Spiro is on schedule. We also spoke about the two four-lane bridges from Poteau to Pocola. These are being constructed in anticipation of making State Highway 112 into a four-lane with a turning lane in the future in Pocola. This would eventually hook onto Interstate 40. Pocola residents initially were against a four-lane running through town. Now, it seems people are in favor of this. That was good news to Eschelle.
On a final note, I spoke with Oklahoma Agriculture Secretary Blayne Arthur recently about the threat of the New World screwworm coming to Oklahoma after cases have been reported in New Mexico and Texas. The screwworm is a parasitic fly that lays eggs in the flesh of living, warm-blood animals. Infestations can be devastating to livestock herds and pose an economic threat to our farmers and ranchers and our state as a whole.
Arthur said people have been trained at the Oklahoma State University Extension Offices on how to detect and respond to any potential infestation. There are multiple labs in the state ready to test samples. Ranchers and farmers themselves, though, are the first line of defense, being vigilant to check their animals and making sure not to move them out of infected areas.
Cattlemen in Oklahoma battled the screwworm back in the 1960s and 70s. We haven’t seen a case in the state in a long time. I believe if we find a case, we can deal with it.
Remember to listen to my Capitol update on the radio at 7:35 a.m. every Thursday on KPRV.
As always, if I can help you with anything, please 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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