Magna Carta News
Friday, March 18, 2005
Regina Birchum
Media Specialist
Oklahoma House of Representatives
State Capitol, Suite B-25
405.557.7499 office
405.557.7498 fax
birchumre@lsb.state.ok.us
Contact: State Rep. Jim Newport
Capitol: (405) 557-7355
Ponca City: (580) 765-3939
Rep. Newport to Chair National Task Force
OKLAHOMA CITY (Feb. 25) -- State Rep. Jim Newport has been
selected to serve as chairman of the American Legislative Exchange
Council (ALEC) Task Force on Commerce, Insurance and Economic
Development.
Newport, R-Ponca City, will serve a two-year term on the panel,
which is comprised of state legislators from across the nation. "I look
forward to working with fellow legislators from around the country as
well as private sector decision-makers in an effort to develop
innovative model legislation," he said.
ALEC is the nation's largest bipartisan, individual membership
association of state legislators. The organization's membership also
includes more than 300 individuals from corporate and private
foundations, resulting in a public-private partnership.
ALEC Task Force director Trevor Martin said the panels serve as
a "public policy laboratory." To date, ALEC's task forces have
considered, written and approved hundreds of model bills on a wide range
of issues. Several of those policy recommendations have since been
adopted by the states.
As chairman of the Task Force on Commerce, Insurance and
Economic Development, Newport will direct issues such as labor and
employment, public pensions and retirement, insurance regulation,
banking and financial services, and job growth initiatives.
The policy driven in this national committee often provides
model legislation to be discussed and passed into law throughout the
entire United States.
Newport, who is serving his fifth consecutive two-year term as a
state representative, is vice chairman of the House Committee on
Appropriations and Budget. He also serves as an Assistant Majority Floor
Leader.
"It's exciting to help frame the debate for future legislation,"
Newport said. "I'm honored to serve on this prestigious panel." ALEC's
membership includes five sitting governors and several former governors,
including Frank Keating. Other Oklahoma alumnus include Sen. Don
Nickles.
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