House Majority Floor Leader Jon Echols Tuesday announced co-leaders of the House Republican Leadership Policy Working Groups, created to begin developing conservative policy proposals that reduce government waste and increase efficiencies in spending, enhance personal freedom and grow economic opportunities for Oklahomans.
Leader Echols created the groups last month to develop an innovative and conservative policy agenda for implementation during the 2018 legislative session. Echols said he believes using a “co-leader” structure rather than “chair” structure will help increase collaboration among the group members.
“The hope is that co-leaders will facilitate discussion and encourage participation and ideas from the members,” said Echols. “There is a lot of work to do before December, so we want members to be engaged from the beginning so our time is efficient. Our goal is to develop policy ideas that innovate the way we develop and deliver government services to our citizens.”
There are seven working groups:
Agency, Board and Commission Consolidation and Efficiency:
Rep. Josh Cockroft (R-Wanette), Co-Leader
Rep. Mike Osburn (R-Edmond), Co-Leader
Business Development, Commerce and Regulatory Environment:
Rep. Elise Hall (R-Oklahoma City), Co-Leader
Rep. Scott Fetgatter (R-Okmulgee), Co-Leader
Rep. Casey Murdock (R-Felt), Co-Leader
Budget Reform:
Rep. Kevin Wallace (R-Wellston), Co-Leader
Rep. Terry O’Donnell (R-Tulsa), Co-Leader
Rep. Earl Sears (R-Bartlesville), Co-Leader
Education Support and Reform:
Rep. Todd Russ (R-Cordell), Co-Leader
Rep. Michael Rogers (R-Broken Arrow), Co-Leader
Healthcare and Mental Health:
Rep. Chad Caldwell (R-Enid), Co-Leader
Rep. Marcus McEntire (R-Duncan), Co-Leader
Transportation:
Rep. Dustin Roberts (R-Durant), Co-Leader
Rep. Steve Vaughan (R-Ponca City), Co-Leader
Public Safety and Corrections:
Rep. Bobby Cleveland (R-Slaughterville), Co-Leader
Rep. Greg Babinec (R-Cushing), Co-Leader
The groups are expected to complete their work by December.
The policy working groups will meet monthly and are voluntary; unlike official interim studies, participating members will not be paid per diem or reimbursed for mileage for travel to the Capitol.
