Sherrer Accepts Original Art Work from Bee’s Knees

OKLAHOMA CITY – State Rep. Ben Sherrer (D-Chouteau) accepted an original mixed-media piece created by David Blose of El Reno and Lindsey Pluess of Oklahoma City today. Blose and Pluess are artists for the organization Bee’s Knees, a program of Youth and Family Services Inc. and Autism Oklahoma that gives young artists with developmental disabilities the opportunity to create and sell art.

“I was first introduced to Bee’s Knees through Leadership Oklahoma where I met Dee Blose, who came to speak to us about Youth and Family Services, Inc.” said Sherrer. “Throughout my time in the Oklahoma House of Representatives, I have been a supporter of several organizations that work with people with disabilities, and it was truly an honor to work with Bee’s Knees.” 

Bee’s Knees was founded about three years ago by Dee Blose, executive director of Youth and Family Services, Inc., as a class to teach young adults with disabilities about entrepreneurship. From there it grew into a program that basically functions as a small business that creates handmade products such as notecards and calendars and original one-of-a-kind masterpieces and then sells them through various exhibits and venues. The program is designed to promote self-sufficiency, and allow these adults to have work in an environment that is more conducive to their needs.

Sherrer worked with Brandon Smith, Bee’s Knees coordinator, to commission the piece. 

“The only direction I gave was that I wanted the piece to reflect the various state symbols of Oklahoma,” said Sherrer. “I wanted it to be a painting that I could hang in my office and remember the people I am here to serve and protect. I could not be happier with the way it turned out. It is a beautiful piece that evokes a smile.”

Sherrer commissioned a work in 2011 that was a mixed-media piece painted on local newspapers depicting Oklahoma state symbols.  The 2013 piece also contains familiar state symbols but features a three-dimensional presentation in which the symbols appear to float above a field of brightly-colored puzzle pieces, symbolic of the puzzle of Autism. 

Sherrer is a graduate of Oklahoma Partners in Policymaking, a disability advocacy program, and serves on the House of Representatives Human Services Committee. He has also been appointed to the Governor’s Council on Developmental Disability.

Debate on Pseudoephedrine Renewed

OKLAHOMA CITY - The Oklahoma State Medical Association, the Oklahoma Osteopathic Association, and the Oklahoma Academy of Family Physicians all announced last Tuesday that they are taking a stance against proposals to make pseudoephedrine a prescription-only drug.

Rep. Ben Sherrer has renewed his push to pass House Bill1235 which would make pseudoephedrine a Schedule III drug. The measure was introduced during the 2011 session at the request of law enforcement that was looking for a way to reduce the number of meth labs in the state of Oklahoma.

House Bill 1235 could receive a hearing during this legislative session. 

Similar efforts last week in the Senate failed to gain the votes needed for passage. Sen. Kim David, R-Wagoner, joined Rep. Sherrer’s effort to make the tablet form of pseudoephedrine only available by prescription by introducing similar legislation this year.

Speaker Steele Names Investigatory Committee Members

Speaker Kris Steele

House Speaker Kris Steele today announced the eight members of the special bipartisan committee that will investigate the allegations that led to state Rep. Randy Terrill being charged with felony bribery.

“The lawmakers who have agreed to serve on the committee are well-respected members of this body with the ability to undertake a task of this significance,” said Steele, R-Shawnee. “I am confident they will conduct a thorough review that complies with the rule of law, respects the rights of the accused, and fulfills our duty to the public, and then reach an appropriate conclusion based only on the facts of the case.”

The committee’s makeup is evenly divided between Republicans and Democrats.

State Rep. Fred Jordan, R-Jenks, will chair the committee. Jordan is a former Marine Corps Judge Advocate and attorney who chairs the House Judiciary Committee.

State Rep. Ben Sherrer, D-Pryor and an attorney, will serve as vice-chair.

The other six members of the committee are:

• State Rep. Gary Banz, R-Midwest City
• State Rep. Doug Cox, R-Grove
• State Rep. Steve Kouplen, D-Beggs
• State Rep. Jeannie McDaniel, D-Tulsa
• State Rep. Harold Wright, R-Weatherford
•State Rep. Purcy Walker, D-Elk City

The committee met briefly Monday morning to adopt the rules that will govern the investigatory process. The group is charged with gathering evidence and ultimately making a recommendation to the full House if the Committee finds sufficient evidence exists that the legislator in question “has engaged in conduct which impairs the ability of the member to perform the duties of his or her office, or substantially impairs public confidence in the Legislature.”

Under the rules adopted, the committee members cannot discuss the investigation while it is ongoing to protect the member under investigation and all witnesses, as well as to protect the integrity of the process.

However, all the group’s findings and recommendation will be released to the public.

The rules adopted call for a multi-part process.

In the first phase, the committee or its counsel will conduct an investigation and gather evidence. Upon completion of the gathering process, all information will be provided to members of the committee.

At that point, committee members will determine if the evidence is sufficient to warrant additional proceedings. If so, a written report outlining the evidence will then be provided to the member under investigation, who will then have 14 days to respond in writing and to request an opportunity to present additional evidence.

At the conclusion of that process, the committee will vote on whether or not to recommend disciplinary action to the full body of the Oklahoma House of Representatives.

Throughout the process, the committee will have subpoena power to compel witness testimony and production of documentary evidence.

“The committee process has been designed to maintain decorum and gather information in a forthright and orderly fashion,” Jordan said. “While this committee is not conducting a criminal investigation, the decisions reached could still have lifelong implications for one of our colleagues, and this task will be treated with the seriousness a decision of that magnitude deserves.”

Upon completion of its work, the committee will submit a report of its findings to the House, which will be filed in the chief clerk’s office. The report will be made available to the public.

“The public has a right to know how a decision was reached and why, and the report will provide those answers at the appropriate time,” Jordan said.

The final decision would then be left up to the full membership of the Oklahoma House of Representatives during a floor session.