RIED Gives Perfect Scores to Three Legislators

The Research Institute for Economic Development (RIED) issued its grading report of Oklahoma Legislators concerning key economic development and business issues last week, giving out only three perfect scores. Receiving the high marks from the organization are Senator Tom Dugger, Senator Ervin Yen and Rep. Elise Hall. All three scored 100 points.

Under the RIED evaluation system, legislators earn points when they support job creation and economic development issues or vote against legislation that is harmful to job creation and economic development.  A score of 70 and above represents a passing grade while 69 and below represents a failing grade.

Nineteen regular session measures were utilized to complete the 2018 RIED Report with one bill, HB 1033xx, the Step-Up Plan, heard during the second extraordinary session.  The revenue-raising measure was introduced in the House, and while it received majority support during the final floor vote, it did not receive the required three-fourths ‘supermajority’ necessary to be enacted into law.  The bill was amended in the Senate, and therefore was not utilized to compose Senate scoring.

“With two special legislative sessions and the second regular session, lawmakers had many issues facing them over the past several months, including filling two fiscal year budgets,” said Mark Williams, RIED president. “Because of the unusual circumstance of legislators being in session for nearly one year, coupled with intense debate on business-related bills such as HB 1033xx, the number of perfect scores this session is down markedly from past sessions. Furthermore, some legislative leaders, who traditionally have very high RIED scores, missed a high volume of votes due to the large amount of time they spent negotiating the final FY18 and FY19 budgets. Some lawmakers did, however, file anti-business measures intended to broaden the tax base by eliminating proven and viable business incentives. Moving forward it is imperative the legislature consider the true impact that a pro-business environment provides businesses looking to expand into Oklahoma.”

You can find the RIED Report here.


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