Representative Murphey Meets With FEMA Administrator

Rep. Murphey with FEMA Administrator R. David Paulison.

GUTHRIE - State Representative Jason Murphey, the Vice-Chairman of the House of Representative's Homeland Security Committee, recently joined Oklahoma State Fire Marshal Robert Doke and a delegation of state government and firefighting officials in visiting the headquarters of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The local officials met with FEMA Administrator R. David Paulison.

Murphey was appointed to the National Conference of State Legislatures' (NCSL) Law and Criminal Justice Committee and the NCSL's Human Services and Welfare Committee.

The resolution calling for the move, House Concurrent Resolution 1015, by State Representative Jason Murphey (R-Guthrie), received approval by the House of Representatives and now heads to the Senate where it is sponsored by State Senator Patrick Anderson (R-Enid).

State Rep. Jason Murphey recently held a press conference to talk about House Joint Resolution 1007. It's a great bill, but what do you think will likely happen?

Republican and Democrat legislators alike will oppose it. As someone from Murphey's office said to me on the phone, it's not a popular bill. On the other hand, I am most certain that if it does pass, Oklahomans will vote the cut in heartily.

While I vote for many a Democrat, I love the more conservative approach to state spending — cutting back unnecessary programs and in this case, cutting legislators' pay.

It does not surprise me in the least that Murphey is a Republican.

A joint resolution pushed by Oklahoma state Rep. Jason Murphey, R-Guthrie, has us wishing this freshman lawmaker would move to the Texas Panhandle. Murphey wants a statewide vote on cutting legislative salaries by $8,492 a year - to $29,908 from $38,400. Murphey contends this would put lawmakers' salaries more on par with the state's per capita personal income. Putting his money where his mouth is, Murphey is not waiting for voters to decide. He is donating $8,492 of his salary to an anti-abortion ministry. It remains to be seen if Murphey's colleagues will share his fiscal responsibility, but, as they say, actions speak louder than words.

Jason Murphey's got an interesting idea. He won't make many points with his fellow legislators, but he might make up the difference with voter approval.

Indeed, it seems Oklahoma legislators aren't just "some" of the best-paid; it would appear that, in many ways, they are "the" best-paid.

No doubt Murphey is garnering a reputation as something of a young whippersnapper among his peers ... But the "kid" seems to have done his homework, and it will be interesting to watch how this plays out.

No member of the legislature should make MORE than the average Oklahoman, which means they should all take about a 9,000 dollar a year pay cut.

We don't expect his effort to get very far, seeing as how the Legislature has to give its approval to send the plan to a vote of the people. But it's certainly a refreshing change of pace.

Rep. Jason Murphey (R-Guthrie) made the Gorilla's "Legislators to Watch" list earlier because this guy is the real deal. He's a good conservative who understands just what the people want. This week, the man went above and beyond the call of duty by putting forth House Joint Resolution 1007 (if it makes it out of the House) which will send to the vote of the people a Constitutional Amendment limiting the pay of our legislators, reducing their pay to be more in line with the average median income of Oklahoma residents.

The question will be whether or not the folks in the House and Senate who have been there a while will be willing to give this HJR a chance and let the people of Oklahoma vote them a pay decrease. Perhaps the money we save in legislative salaries could go to our classrooms?

A bold move to be sure for a freshman Representative, but unlike the status quo, Murphey knows that the people of his House District elected him to get things done - not to sit on his arse, taking orders from "senior" legislators. Guthrie is a pretty cool little town as it is and with a man like Murphey as the House Rep over there, I would expect more people to be moving to his district real soon.

Rep. Jason Murphey, R-Guthrie: Accepted no gifts or meals...Murphey said he returned or refused hundreds of dollars in lobbyist gifts — including the centennial watch — during the past session.

He said he also doesn't go to dinners or lunches paid for by lobbyists. He was irked last week when a lobbyist incorrectly reported he was treated to a $70 dinner. It was the only meal or gift reported this year as being given by lobbyists to Murphey.

ASSOCIATED PRESS OKLAHOMA CITY - A state lawmaker says he's tired of getting gifts from lobbyists. Rep. Jason Murphey of Guthrie says he wants to create a "no-gift" list for legislators who don't want to receive meals or gifts from lobbyists. It would be similar to the "no-call" list that telemarketers must follow. Murphey says he got the idea following a recent error on a lobbyist report showing he received a $70 dinner. Guthrie says he's never eaten a $70 dinner, certainly not one paid for by a lobbyist. Lobbyist Bobby Stem reported the meal. Stem says Murphey was invited to a dinner event he held for a committee Murphey is on, but that Murphey didn't attend. Murphey says he's refused or returned hundreds of dollars in lobbyist gifts.

According to a report released by one of the state's leading conservative publications, State Representative Jason Murphey is as conservative as possible.