Patrick B. McGuigan, Particular to The Southwest Ledger
State Rep. Garry Mize, R-Guthrie, chairman of the Home of Representatives’ Committee on Utilities, knew from the beginning of his legislative profession the panel “historically shouldn’t be the supply of a whole lot of laws. However within the aftermath of the winter storms, we dealt with the costliest coverage piece maybe in state historical past with the securitization difficulty.”
As Mike Ray reported for Southwest Ledger (April 29, 2023), Mize was a key participant in shepherding Senate Invoice 1050 (Regulated Utility Client Safety Act) and Senate Invoice 1049 (Unregulated Utility Client Safety Act) by means of this 12 months’s legislative course of.
The measures “securitized” the huge vitality prices incurred by utilities throughout the stunning subfreezing February winter climate.
In an interview with The Southwest Ledger, Mize mentioned, “I consider what we completed was good. The query is whether or not that’s the greatest we might do or … if we have to add to it, catch something we didn’t catch in session.”
Among the many Mize musings of our early June change, he questioned, “Did we do all we might? We want to ensure, however can by no means do every little thing for everyone. We had conferences final week and this and I do know we can be having extra within the time forward.”
Within the strategy of “securitization,” Mize, members of the Home and Senate studied what different states had completed in current many years to recuperate from excessive climate.
As he mentioned in February, “No less than 20 different states have used this idea to recuperate from excessive climate occasions.” The aim was to keep away from the affect of “shocking customers with crippling utility payments.”
The brand new legal guidelines, as Ray reported then, create “a property proper based mostly on the client fees for the securitization, which ensures the holders of the bonds can be repaid. The Oklahoma Growth Finance Authority (ODFA) is allowed to difficulty ratepayer-backed bonds. The maturity interval of these bonds is proscribed to not more than 30 years.”
The work of a dutiful legislator is rarely completed, in fact. In our June interview, Mize mentioned oversight of developments within the medical marijuana business (the precise phrase, it appears) “has emerged as an necessary difficulty. What’s most wanted? It’s simple to say legislators, that’s, the Legislature on the time didn’t get forward of that difficulty when it emerged. Now, we’ve got momentum constructing to grapple with points that come up from medical marijuana query.”
He continued, “After the state query handed … some legislators should have thought they didn’t need to set [bad] precedents. Now it’s clear some higher coverage is want. What must occur subsequent – as with every difficulty – is to get all people on board to the extent attainable. Meaning the state Senate, the governor and the non-public sector.”
A seamless difficulty “is wording of the state query, which has leisure orientation. We’ve heard that from advocates in different states. For now, we have to adequately fund the company the folks created by passing the measure.”
Hinting at robust selections forward: “There are worldwide of us coming into Oklahoma, attempting to make cash and a few don’t care an excessive amount of what the legislation truly says. Usually talking, what we hear from rural of us is that ‘worldwide of us’ with sources are pushing the perimeters of the legislation when it comes to what is definitely permitted. As policymakers, we’ve got to determine that out.”
He admitted, “It’s a tough political difficulty. Actually, growth of coverage on this space shouldn’t be a standard Republican difficulty or method to go about dealing with a difficulty of coverage. That will appear a superb nuance, attempting to handle considerations about medical marijuana practices however to not undo the desire of the folks.”
Simply days in the past, “I spoke with a bunch of Logan County Republican girls, they usually acknowledged that [ballot] measure handed overwhelmingly within the first place, together with in Logan County. Out within the nation is the place a whole lot of the sting nonsense is happening.
“The scenario reveals the facility of cash, in that no person has been severely policing it. I don’t care who you’re, at a sure level it’s tempting to folks to simply accept a suggestion of sources for entry to their land. Discovering a stability that constructions this for good well being and never for leisure abuses.”
Reflecting broadly on his expertise on the state Capitol, Mize mentioned, “I’ve been shocked on the dissension between the businesses and the Legislature. I might like to see extra collaboration and extra bipartisanship on every kind of points – to put out on the entrance finish what’s and isn’t on the desk. Lay out the problems. Make an affordable deal. Work it out.”
Rep. Mize has carved out a distinct segment for his work on Psychological Well being and Substance Abuse points. He advised this reporter, “I consider we’re additional down the street than two years in the past. We spent some cash on these points this 12 months, and we spent a while on it. We now have a bipartisan, bicameral caucus. We’re by no means going to vary or advance any difficulty till we’re speaking about it.
“Now, we’ve got folks of excellent religion engaged on psychological well being and substance abuse points. So, we will discuss adjustments. Statistics reveals that these points contact all of us.
“Lots of people – most likely most individuals – struggled throughout the pandemic. No matter anybody’s views on masks and such points, the pandemic was a time of wrestle for lots of people. Now there’s assist in extra and alternative ways.
“The rhetoric must proceed to emphasize that psychological well being struggles don’t make you ‘irregular’.”
An uplifting theme within the current work on psychological well being/substance abuse points is: “There’s life on the opposite facet. I anticipate we’ll proceed to see progress working collectively, together with spending for the applications.
“There was a change from among the age-old rhetoric: ‘All people’s bought some factor of B.S. of their lives, no matter it’s.’ Recognizing that, individuals are how one can assist one another.”
This reporter advised Mize he was shocked the solon raised the utility difficulty earlier than the query might even be posed. He mused, once more: “My expertise within the Legislature is just like that within the non-public sector: Get in, get soiled, determine it out. The previous saying is you’ll be able to’t be a jack of all trades. And when you attempt to be, you’ll be a grasp of none.
“Properly, I feel you’ll be able to have an effect on a whole lot of points in public life – however I simply have to know who the grasp is.”
Mize was among the many cluster of Republican legislators who attracted no Democratic opposition within the 2023 basic election. His comfy win within the GOP major (the place he garnered nearly 67 p.c assist) re-elected him. He mentioned, “I truly wasn’t shocked due to the 2018 win. My predecessor did draw opponents – however I didn’t – at the very least, in that race.
After three legislative periods, along with his fourth set for subsequent February, Mize already appears to be a powerful candidate for a 3rd time period. And the legislative reapportionment course of (surprisingly noncontentious) made him look even higher.
He commented that his Home District 31 needed to shrink in space resulting from inhabitants progress and alter.
“I used to be actually lucky, as a result of the character of the district is ‘it didn’t matter what I gave up’,” he mentioned.
“I’ve to say it was a good commerce for me. I’m blissful as a result of I bought a chunk of Guthrie on the west facet, the place my sister lives. That is perhaps somewhat higher for the folks. So, all of us win.”
Requested to the touch on any important matter the place your humble servant had not questioned him, Mize supplied maybe his wisest phrases but: “Properly, I’ve a view of politics and of issues normally. There’s an excessive amount of emphasis on what we do, not sufficient on the house and the household. Let’s all make {that a} precedence.”
