By Andy Rieger
U.S. Rep. Mary Fallin brought her early campaign for governor to Norman Tuesday, telling fellow Republicans she wants to reform the state's tax and worker's comensation laws, streamline and combine agencies and make Oklahoma a magnet for businesses and retirees.
Speaking to the Cleveland County GOP club, the Fifth District Congresswoman said she is ready to return to Oklahoma and continue the reforms that she helped start as a state legislator and former lieutenant governor.
"After all the work we have done, there is still so much to do," Fallin said, while addressing the state's workers compensation system and a move to lower the corporate income tax rate.
"I believe we need to work on our tax code so we can become a magnet and draw businesses and retirees to our state."
She singled out Gov. Brad Henry for his veto on bills related to education and workers comp reform. Fallin said she wanted to use the governorship to enact policies that would transform Oklahoma from a "good state to a great state."
Fallin said the current administration's energy policy will be devastating to Oklahoma oil producers. She said other states are moving to raise taxes on millionaires.
"I've never been offered a job by a poor person," she joked.
Addressing the debate over changes in the nation's health care system, Fallin said she thinks members of Congress will get an earful while they are home in August. She is against the current bill but wants some kind of reform.
"When members go home this month, the people of America will stand up and say we do not want a system of socialized medicine in America."
Her five campaign planks include:
· Reconstitute the Fallin Commission, a group looking at workers compensation, and demand a report within 90 days. "I want them to tell me how to create a better and more fair workers' compensation system."
· More work on tort reform. She applauded recent changes but says more can be done.
· Modernize state government through agency elimination and making better use of technology.
· Address shortcomings of common education. She said a fourth of the state's ninth graders drop out before they graduate from high school and more than a third of high school graduates need remediation when they arrive at college. "That is not acceptable," she said.
· Keep taxes low so as to attract retirees and businesses to the state.
Later Fallin toured the National Weather Center and SouthWest NanoTechnologies.
The Cleveland County Republican Club meets at 11:30 a.m. at the Hilton Garden Inn on the first Tuesday of each month. On Sept. 1, the group will hear a debate on the nation's Constitution.
