Agricultural News
House Republicans re-elect McCall to historic fourth term as speaker
Tue, 08 Mar 2022 08:03:20 CST
- House Speaker Charles McCall was overwhelmingly re-elected speaker-designate for the 59th Oklahoma Legislature by the House Republican Caucus on Monday.
First elected speaker in 2016 for the 56th Legislature, McCall, R-Atoka, is already Oklahoma's longest-serving Republican speaker and is now on track to become the longest-serving speaker in state history.
"Working as a team these past six years, the House has consistently met goals and put Oklahoma on an incredibly positive trajectory," McCall said. "The speaker serves at the pleasure of the members, and I am deeply appreciative of my colleagues' decision to maintain our shared emphasis on civility and productivity in the House of Representatives."
The 59th Legislature will be seated after November's elections and convene for its first session in 2023.
It will be McCall's fourth term as speaker. Under its rules, the majority caucus nominates the speaker-designate for the upcoming Legislature through a caucus election the first Monday in March during election years.
The fifth-generation Oklahoman's steady leadership as House speaker - spanning the administrations of two presidents, two governors, two Senate president pro tempores and numerous congressional and statewide elected officials - has steered state government from trying times into prosperity. A community banker by profession, McCall's focus on getting the state's fiscal house in order has brought the state budget out of routine shortfalls and into solvency and surpluses.
During his tenure as speaker, personal and corporate income taxes have decreased, public common education funding has increased by 35%, teachers have received historic pay raises, parental choice in schools has expanded, and state revenues and reserves are at record levels. A legislative watchdog office established early in McCall's speakership is now in operation, providing increased accountability over tax dollars.
These fiscal and education achievements, plus the sustained commitment of the House Republican Caucus to transportation and broadband infrastructure statewide, are helping grow Oklahoma's economy. Under McCall, House Republicans have also stood strong for Oklahoma's rights as a state by enacting legislation to fight back against federal overreach into state sovereignty.
McCall's prioritization of public policies that work in all parts of Oklahoma and emphasis on functionality, civility and respect in government has helped grow the House Republican Caucus from 72 members in his first term as Speaker to a historic 82 members today, reflecting increased public support for Republican governance in Oklahoma.
"There is a lot left to do in the 58th Legislature, and I believe Oklahoma is positioned to accomplish more than ever in the 59th Legislature," McCall said. "Retaining the confidence of my House colleagues to help guide this institution remains an honor of a lifetime and I will continue to approach it as such."
The speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives is the body's chief presiding officer, responsible for committee appointments, the flow of legislation and management of the staff, budget and administration of the House.
McCall was elected in 2012 as the first Republican in state history to represent House District 22, which encompasses portions of Atoka, Garvin, Johnston and Murray counties. McCall and his wife, Stephanie Ann (Hays) McCall, have been married for 28 years and met on a blind date at the University of Oklahoma. Stephanie is a former elementary teacher in the Atoka Public School System. The McCalls have two sons, Chase and Carson, both students at the University of Oklahoma, and is a member of Cornerstone Church in Atoka..
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