Federal Issues

Minimum Wage

Oppose advances to increase the current federal minimum wage amount. Increases do more harm through resulting job eliminations and shifting of entry-level jobs from lower-skilled workers to higher-skilled workers, resulting in higher unemployment and higher costs to business. - Labor/HR, and Small Business Taskforces

Education                          

Support changes in the method used to allocate Title I funds to the states to more equitably serve low-income children in every state, using the free and reduced lunch counts.  

Reauthorize the ESEA (Elementary and Secondary Education Act) this year; if reauthorization does not happen school district should be granted relief from the sanctions of No Child Left Behind.       


Energy and Environment                            

Strengthen Existing Energy Businesses.               

 

Healthcare                       

Support extension of the F-MAP (Federal Medical Assistance Percentage) stimulus rates into 2011.       


Regional Tourism                          

Support local and statewide efforts to study and develop light rail transit and public transport. 

Repurpose the Page Belcher Federal Building for uses to enhance the hospitality corridor created by the BOK Center. 


Transportation Taskforce                           

Support appropriations to deepen the McClellan-Kerr waterway to 12’ and to widen the last 50 miles to the Port of Catoosa.            

Support efforts to allocate US Department of Transportation section 5309 bus capital funding on an equitable formula basis.