Oklahoma City Representative Chris Kannady, who wrote the bill, said it would put every county health department on the same page, but those opposed said it is an overreach.
House Bill 2504 would take away a city appointment to the Tulsa and OKC health boards and replace that person with a state health commissioner appointee.
The director would then be required to discuss actions with the state health commissioner and ban local rules from being more strict than state guidelines.
It would also allow the state health commissioner to force a vote to remove the local director.
Critics said this is an obvious way to overstep and centralize power, give political appointees control, and undermine residents health and safety.
House Committee Advances Bill To Limit Tulsa, OKC Health Departments
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Oklahoma bill would undercut independence of OKC, Tulsa Health departments
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Political notebook: Oklahoma lawmakers target civil disobedience
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Some lawmaker campaign war chests swell to $100,000 or more By: Trevor Brown Oklahoma Watch February 9, 2021
Many state lawmakers will find themselves in a favorable position when they start planning reelection campaigns.
Recently released campaign finance reports show that nearly half of the 148 members serving in Oklahoma’s Legislature will be entering the next election with at least $20,000 in reserves.
Some lawmakers have campaign war chests significantly larger.
Ethics Commission filings, which require lawmakers to report fundraising balances as of the start of 2021, show seven lawmakers – all Republicans in leadership positions – each have more than $100,000 in their coffers.
Senate President Pro Tem Greg Treat, R-Oklahoma City, who is term-limited from running again after winning reelection last year, leads the lawmakers with just over $325,000 cash on hand.