House Minority Leader Scott Inman names Democratic members to committee posts


OKLAHOMA CITY – State Rep. Scott Inman, D-Del City, the minority party leader in the
Oklahoma House of Representatives, has announced committee appointments and ranking member designations for his party in the upcoming 55th session of the State Legislature Legislature.

In his role as leader of the minority caucus at the Capitol, Inman also designated ranking members to each panel. A staff release expalined, “Ranking members will serve as senior advisers for caucus members, work closely with committee chairpersons to maintain goodwill, and vigorously protect the caucus’ interests in all committee business. Also, ranking members will become committee chairs if control of the House changes.”

In an interview with CapitolBeatOK last month, Rep. Inman said his caucus would continue to play a role as “loyal opposition” to Governor Mary Fallin and her Republican allies in the Legislature. Asked to identify the top three issues for his caucus in the coming year, Minority Leader Scott Inman said he and his colleagues will press for more education funding, implementation of the Justice Reinvestment Initiative and Medicaid expansion. Inman stressed that he wants majority Republicans to begin to outline, in detail, what their alternative to Medicaid expansion will be. 

In comments sent to CapitolBeatOK after December interview Inman said, “We have made a concerted effort to align our members on House committees that accentuate their strengths, their life experiences and their backgrounds. This will enable them to be better advocates for their constituents and for all Oklahomans.”

Rep. Inman’s House Democratic committee assignments include Administrative Rules: Mike Shelton, Oklahoma City, Ranking Member, Ed Cannaday, Porum; Agriculture and Rural Development: Steve Kouplen, Beggs, Ranking Member, Brian Renegar, McAlester, Wade Rousselot, Okay, Jerry Shoemake, Morris; Alcohol, Tobacco, and Controlled Substances: Will Fourkiller, Stilwell, Vice Chair and Ranking Member, Johnny Tadlock, Idabel; Banking and Financial Services: Eric Proctor, Tulsa, Ranking Member, Mike Shelton, Oklahoma City; Business, Labor, and Retirement Laws: David Perryman, Chickasha, Ranking Member, Kevin Matthews, Tulsa, Shane Stone, Oklahoma City. Children, Youth, and Family Services: George Young, Oklahoma City, Ranking Member, Ben Sherrer, Chouteau; Common Education: Ed Cannaday, Porum, Ranking Member, Donnie Condit, McAlester, Will Fourkiller, Stilwell, Jeannie McDaniel, Tulsa; County and Municipal Government: David Perryman, Chickasha, Ranking Member, Kevin Matthews, Tulsa; Criminal Justice and Corrections: Johnny Tadlock, Idabel, Ranking Member, Ben Sherrer, Chouteau, Cory Williams, Stillwater; Economic Development, Commerce, and Real Estate: Richard Morrissette, Oklahoma City, Ranking Member, Jason Dunnington, Oklahoma City, Kevin Matthews, Tulsa; Elections and Ethics: Donnie Condit, McAlester, Vice Chair and Ranking Member, David Perryman, Chickasha; Energy and Natural Resources: Eric Proctor, Tulsa, Ranking Member, Mike Brown, Tahlequah, Jason Dunnington, Oklahoma City, Scott Inman, Del City, Jerry McPeak, Warner, Seneca Scott, Tulsa.

Also appointed to the named panels were Environmental Law: Cory Williams, Stillwater, Ranking Member, Emily Virgin, Norman; Government Oversight and Accountability: Johnny Tadlock, Idabel, Ranking Member, Seneca Scott; Higher Education and Career Technology: Emily Virgin, Norman, Ranking Member. Cory Williams, Stillwater; Insurance Committee: Mike Shelton, Oklahoma City, Ranking Member, Steve Kouplen, Beggs, George Young, Oklahoma City; Judiciary and Civil Procedure: Ben Sherrer, Chouteau, Ranking Member, Richard Morrissette, Oklahoma City, Emily Virgin, Norman; Long-term Care and Senior Services: Jeannie McDaniel, Tulsa, Vice Chair and Ranking Member, James Lockhart, Poteau; Public Health: Jeannie McDaniel, Ranking Member, Tulsa, Will Fourkiller, Stilwell, Claudia Griffith, Norman; and Public Safety: Brian Renegar, McAlester, Ranking Member, R.C. Pruett, Antlers, Cory Williams, Stillwater.

Democrats named to the Rules Committee include: Chuck Hoskin, Vinita, Ranking Member,
Ben Loring, Miami, David Perryman, Chickasha; State and Federal Relations: Kevin Matthews, Tulsa, Ranking Member, Jason Dunnington, Oklahoma City; State Government Operations: Jason Dunnington, Ranking Member, Oklahoma City; Richard Morrissette, Oklahoma City; Transportation Committee: Jerry McPeak, Warner, Ranking Member, James Lockhart, Heavener, Eric Proctor, Tulsa; Tourism and International Relations: R.C. Pruett, Antlers, Vice Chair and Ranking Member, Ben Loring, Miami. Johnny Tadlock, Idabel; Utilities Committee: Seneca Scott, Tulsa, Ranking Member, James Lockhart, Heavener, R.C. Pruett, Antlers; Veterans and Military Affairs Committee: Jerry Shoemake, Morris, Vice Chair and Ranking Member, Chuck Hoskin, Vinita; and the Wildlife Committee: Brian Renegar, McAlester, Ranking Member, Mike Brown, Tahlequah.

The important Appropriations and Budget Committee: will include these Democratic members: Mike Brown, Tahlequah, Ranking Member; Chuck Hoskin, Vinita, Scott Inman, Del City, Jeannie McDaniel, Tulsa, Jerry McPeak, Warner, Richard Morrissette, Oklahoma City, Eric Proctor, Tulsa, Ben Sherrer, Chouteau.

Rep. Inman appointed the following Democratic members to these listed Appropriations Subcommittees , including Education Subcommittee: Claudia Griffith, Norman, Ranking Member, Ed Cannaday, Porum, Emily Virgin, Norman. General Government Subcommittee: Shane Stone, Oklahoma City, Ranking Member; Jerry Shoemake, Morris, Donnie Condit, McAlester; Health Subcommittee: Will Fourkiller, Stilwell, Ranking Member, Claudia Griffith, Norman, Mike Shelton, Oklahoma City; Human Services Subcommittee: Wade Rousselot, Okay, Vice Chair and Ranking Memberm George Young, Oklahoma City; Judiciary Subcommittee: Ben Loring, Miami, Ranking Member, Claudia Griffith, Norman, Scott Inman, Del City; Natural Resources and Regulatory Services Subcommittee: Steve Kouplen, Beggs, Ranking Member, Jerry Shoemake, Morris, Seneca Scott, Tulsa; Public Safety Subcommittee: Donnie Condit, McAlester, Ranking Member, Ben Loring, Miami, Ed Cannaday, Porum; Revenue and Tax Subcommittee: Wade Rousselot, Okay, Ranking Member, Shane Stone, Oklahoma City; and Transportation Subcommittee: James Lockhart, Heavener, Ranking Member, Steve Kouplen, Beggs.

While many aspects of legislative organization are still unfolding, Republican Speaker of the House Jeff Hickman has named close allies to his leadership team for the lower chamber, and designated Committee chairmanships from Republican ranks.

Not long after the November general election, a Republican caucus vote that elected House leaders to top positions, including designation of Rep. Lee Denny of Cushing as Speaker Pro Tempore-Elect.

Organization day at the state Capitol will take place on Tuesday, January 6. The session begins on Monday, February 2.