In Oklahoma, third graders must be able to demonstrate sufficient reading skills before being passed to fourth grade. Why did your Legislature pass such a requirement? The facts about reading skills and command of the English language being the greatest predictors for success in America speak for themselves:
Seven out of every 10 prison inmates cannot read above a fourth-grade level.
Eighty-eight percent of 19-year-old dropouts were unable to read proficiently by third grade.
Students who can’t read by the end of third grade are four times more likely to drop out of high school.
Seventy-five percent of Americans receiving food stamps dropped out of school.
Those are just a few of the reasons the Legislature encourages our schools to concentrate on reading skills.
Did you know that Oklahoma has a teen-pregnancy problem? Last year, Oklahoma teenagers gave birth to 5,233 babies. That represents more teen mothers than the number of freshman girls entering OSU and OU during the fall semester. We are number two in the United States in teen-birth rate. That is the reason I do not support legislation that limits access to contraception. It is also the reason I support sex education. Teen mothers struggle to be good parents. When they fall short in abuse or neglect, taxpayers often pay for increased crime, prison and foster care costs.
The number of Oklahoma Highway Patrolmen is close to a 20-year low. As Oklahoma’s population quickly approaches four million people, the OHP is strained to keep up with the myriad of demands of a growing state. The OHP entry salary level is less than the seven regional states around us, and lower than many city police officers make in Oklahoma. I recently voted to increase the monthly expense allowance troopers can use for things such as uniforms and cleaning, practice ammunition, etc. I also join with our governor in supporting a trooper pay increase.
Oklahoma has 269,700 horses. These horses are used for recreation, racing and rodeo. When coupled with the support industries, such as veterinarians, feed stores, farriers, etc, the horse industry has a major economic impact on our state. Since the passage of the state question that allowed betting on horse racing, the tax revenue from the horse industry generated for state and local governments has grown from $49 million to approximately $100 million each year.
Thanks for allowing me to be your state representative. I can be reached atdougcox@okhouse.gov or 405-557-7415.
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