EDMOND —
House Speaker-elect T.W. Shannon was overwhelmingly elected by his peers as the next Speaker of the House of Representatives during “Organization Day” Tuesday at the state Capitol.
In his acceptance speech following the vote, Speaker Shannon offered a glimpse of the Republican caucus agenda for the upcoming session, honing in on workers compensation reform, lowering the tax burden on Oklahomans and shoring up funding to maintain state assets.
“I am humbled by the confidence of my peers to lead our state Legislature and promote a pro-family, low tax, economic growth agenda,” said Shannon, R-Lawton. “We were sent here by the people of Oklahoma to implement the type of government that will create jobs, reduce burdensome regulations on businesses, expand individual freedom and push back against a federal government that habitually oversteps its bounds set forth by the Constitution.
“In doing that, we can be a model for the rest of the nation in how conservative policies can protect families and God-given rights, prosper individuals, increase freedom and grow economies. We have a lot of work to do, but I am confident that we have a majority caucus in place that is committed to Oklahoma.”
Democratic Leader Scott Inman of Del City congratulates Rep. T. W. Shannon of Lawton on his election as the Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives.
“I know with Speaker Shannon as the leader of the House,” Inman stated, “we can work together to craft thoughtful policies and useful legislation that truly furthers the best interests of all Oklahomans.”
Speaker Shannon and Leader Inman started in the Oklahoma State House of Representatives together, first elected in 2006. Speaker Shannon noted their relationship in his acceptance address to the chamber, saying he regarded Leader Inman as a competitor and a friend, not an enemy. Leader Inman hopes that it is in this spirit of friendship that both Democratic and Republican caucuses can move Oklahoma forward together in the coming legislative session.
In addition, the House voted to elect state Rep. Mike Jackson, R-Enid, as House Speaker Pro-Tem and also voted to certify the members of the House of Representatives.
“If everyone pitches in and lends a helping hand, we can make this great state better for ourselves and our future,” Jackson said.
Local News
Shannon elected as Speaker of the House
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OG&E works to replace Edmond power poles
“Oh my God, it’s the tornado,” Betsy Herring thought as she and her husband, Lee, took shelter in their laundry room as Sunday’s tornado roared toward their Forest Oaks home in Edmond.
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Equine center aids Orr Family Farm horses
Connie Yearwood, a third-year veterinary student at Oklahoma State University, had been job shadowing at Equine Medical Association in Edmond when the call came to help rescue horses that were injured during Monday’s tornado in Moore and Oklahoma City.
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Lincoln County Emergency Management calls for help
Carney is a city of about 649 residents and following the recent tornado outbreak 20 homes were destroyed there and an additional 18 homes in the county were leveled.
Wednesday, a press release from Lincoln County, along with Wellston Emergency Management Office and the City of Carney, stated that at this time the needs have changed for the city. -
Oklahoma National Guard coordinates tornado relief support
Oklahoma National Guard members, who work side-by-side with local responders to aid in recovery efforts during domestic operations such as the May 20 tornado that tore through Oklahoma City and Moore, are given their tasks through the Guard's Joint Operations Center.
The JOC, located in the Guard's Joint Force Headquarters in Oklahoma City, is primarily responsible for the collection, dissemination and tracking of information to increase the situational awareness for leadership as well as the National Guard Bureau, said Lt. Col. Hiram Tabler, the director of military support for Oklahoma's Joint Force Headquarters. -
UPDATE: Businesses, groups offer free relief to tornado victims
Listed is information on free services offered to victims of the recent tornadoes.
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House approves $45M aid package for tornado victims
As rain poured this morning on disaster relief workers in the Moore and Oklahoma City areas, the Oklahoma House of Representatives unanimously approved a $45 million aid package to provide relief to those impacted by Monday’s EF-5 tornado.
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TIMELAPSE: Take a tour through the damage in Moore
Take a driving tour of the damage in Moore caused by Monday's tornado.
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Moore mayor wants tornado shelters in new homes
Moore Mayor Glenn Lewis wants tornado shelters in all new homes in his city, where an EF-5 tornado damaged or destroyed more than 12,500 homes Monday afternoon. A proposed ordinance would require a shelter inside or outside each new residence.
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Rescue workers, tornado victims find respite in college dorms
Monday’s tornado put an estimated 20,000 people out of their houses, which were damaged or destroyed. Some of those victims — and the rescue workers who’ve come to help them — are staying a few miles south, in dormitories at the University of Oklahoma.
More than 300 individuals and families left homeless by the storm are staying at OU, where the university is providing beds, hot water and meals, often delivered by a familiar face. The university also housed 287 first-responders from Texas, Nebraska, Kansas and Tennessee. -
Mom delivered baby as tornado struck
Shayla Taylor’s second child was moments from birth as an EF-5 tornado bore down on Moore Medical Center on Monday afternoon.
Her labor was too far along to move her to safety with the rest of those in the hospital, her nurses decided. So as her husband, Jerome, and their 4-year-old son, Shaiden, went downstairs with the others, she and four nurses stayed upstairs and braced for the worst. - More Local News Headlines
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