*************************************************** Phreaks of the Industry / 02-22-95 / Written by BiC *************************************************** After a recent trashing run at the SW Bell office on 600 E. California, U and myself found an copy of the 'Build Oklahoma' newsletter. I decided to put it into a file, because I thought you may find it sorta interesting. You will notice that 1] SW Bell is practicly TELLING its employees what to vote for on each bill and 2] every bill that would give customers a break, which rarely happens, they oppose. All they care about is how fat their wallets are. I've commented in certain areas, what I say is in []'s. ______________________________________________________________________________ February, 1995 Democrats Still Rule State Legislature The Republican tide that swept Congress and the national political scene in November did not completely spill into the state Legislature. Republicans did pick up five seats in the state House of Representatives and two in the Senate. Final Count: 65 Democrats, 36 Republicans in the state House; 35 Democrats, 13 Republicans in the state Senate. It's a Landslide! The state Legislature convened February 6 and runs through May 26. Holding true to form, lawmakers set a new record in the number of bills introduced this year: 1,766 pieces of legislation. Newspaper editorial writers and legislators themselves agree that nobody has time to read or understand that many bills. A number of solutions have been proposed, such as limiting the number of bills any legislator can sponsor. For now, the glut continues. Right-to-work, workers' compensation, welfare reform and appropriations (Especially since Gov. Frank Keating wants a 2.5 percent spending cut for most state agencies) top this year's issues. In addition, a slew of bills directly impacting SWBT [Southwestern Bell Telephone, if your stoopid.] are in the works, including: Major Bill Impacting SWBT HB 1382 Develop and implement statewide 911 service. Could increase sales oppurtunities. [See, all they care about is money. They dont give a shit about the 911 service.] Author: Sean Voskuhl, D-Marshall. Company position: Support. HB 1892 Provides regulatory reduction for service providers who have invested in the infrastructure by providing digital service to customers. Jim Reese, R-Narden. Support. HB 1905 Allows individuals to deduct taxes paid on telephone service from their income taxes. Gary Bastin, D-Del City. Neutral [The only reason they are nuetral is cuz the bastards dont get any money out of it, nor do they lose it.] HB 1942 Allows Corporation Commission to decrease telephone rates if company's ad valorem taxes are lowered. Doesn't mention increasing rates if our taxes are raised. [Fuck off lewzers, you make enough money already.] Jim Hamilton, D-Poteau. Oppose. HB 1977 Prohibits Oklahoma Turnpike Authority from placing fiber optics along its right-of-way, keeping the OTA out of the telecommunications business. [Heaven forbid competition!] Don Kinnamon, D-Stroud. Support. HB 2022 Prohibits candidates for Corporation Commission from accepting anything of value from regulated entities. Could prohibit SWBT's employee Political Action Committee and indiciduals at SWBT from contributing to candidates. Leonard Sullivan, R-OKC. Oppose. SB 19 Entacts right-to-work law, making it illegal to require union membership as condition of employment. (Nine right to work bills have been introduced.) Mike Fair, R-OKC. Neutral SB 113 Allows amateur radio clubs operating from business locations to pay residential rates. Would open the floodgates from other groups demanding similar treatment. Frank Shurden, D-Henryetta. Oppose. SB 116 Authorizes the Corporation Commissioner to disqualify a commissioner whose impartiality is questioned. Dave Herbert, D-Midwest City. Support. SB 234 Allows customers with overdue accounts to keep phone service if they pay only 20 percent of past due amounts. Frank Shurden, D-Henryetta. Oppose. [Again.. they make less money. I feel such pity for those poor telco guys.] SB 352 Requires telephone companies to make available digital service to all public elementary, secondary and vo-tech schools. Could allow independent telcos, long distance and cable TV companies to provide service in SWBT territory. [Noooo! We luv SWBT.] Ben Robinson, D-Muskogee. Oppose. SB 536 Stops telcos from billing customers who have made 800 number pay-per-calls. SQBT today won't disconnect a customer for not paying charges to 800 numbers. This bill would prohibit SWBT from even handling the billing. [So?] Howard Hendrick, R-Bethany. Oppose. FOR INFORMATION ABOUT STATE OR FEDERAL LEGISLATION, CALL (405) 291-5866 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------