Measure Would Place Some Limits On Legislators Life After Politics

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 13, 2014

House Passes Measure to Allow Oklahomans to Vote on Corruption Safeguards

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma House of Representatives passed legislation today that allows the people of Oklahoma to vote on public corruption safeguards.

If approved by a majority of Oklahoma voters, House Joint Resolution 1034, authored by House Speaker Jeff Hickman, amends the Oklahoma Constitution to prohibit former legislators from being employed, receiving compensation, payment or expense reimbursement from any state entity until July 1 of the year following the end of their term in office regardless of the source of funding. The HJR does make an exception for legislators who are selected by the Governor to serve in a cabinet position or those who have been elected to another office. Currently, former legislators can leave office to work for a state entity if paid by funds not appropriated by the Legislature.

“This measure provides a total ban on politicians leaving office to immediately get a job with the state of Oklahoma,” said House Speaker Hickman, R-Fairview. “It allows for a legislative session to occur between a legislator’s end of service and taking a state job, to ensure legislators cannot create jobs for themselves without a future legislature having the opportunity to review such a positions.”

If approved by the Senate, the Secretary of State will place HJR 1034 on the November 2014 ballot for a vote by the people.

HJR 1034 now moves to the Oklahoma Senate for consideration.

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