OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma State Representative Jason Murphey expressed his appreciation today to the five courageous members of the House Government and Transportation Committees, who had the courage to vote for an initiative to expose lobbyist influence in state government.

SB 1962, which failed to receive approval of the committee by a vote of 8-5, was sponsored by Representative Jason Murphey and Senators Anthony Sykes and Tom Addelson. This bill would have allowed the Oklahoma citizens to see how many pieces of legislation are proposed by lobbyists. SB 1962 would require that the name(s) of lobbyists requesting bills be placed on the Oklahoma Taxpayer Transparency web site.

"Each year, hundreds of pieces of legislation are requested by lobbyists and taxpayer-funded lobbyists. Unfortunately, there is no way for the people to know which of these bills are from the paid special interests," Murphey said. "I think the people of Oklahoma deserve to know who is writing the laws they live under."

Murphey stated that because the bill received unanimous approval of the Senate and came within two votes of passage in the House committee, he believes that this reform will be successful in the near future.

The defenders of the status-quo may have won a battle, but they are losing the war," Murphey stated. "More and more legislative officials are standing up for reform, and eventually the light of day will be shown even more brightly on the influence of lobbyists in state government."