The Oklahoma Turnpike Authority (formerly Oklahoma Transportation Authority ) is an agency of Oklahoma that deals with issues regarding the Oklahoma turnpike system. Along with the Oklahoma Department of Transportation , the Authority is the primary infrastructure construction and maintenance agency of the State.
38-840: The Turnpike Authority is under the supervision of the Secretary of Transportation . Under Governor of Oklahoma Kevin Stitt , Tim Gatz a Professional Landscape Architect with Bachelor's Degree in Landscape Architecture is serving as the Cabinet Secretary. Secretary Gatz also serves as the Director of the Authority and the Oklahoma Department of Transportation.The Oklahoma Turnpike Authority (OTA)
76-562: A Republican member held the position for only one month. Unofficially, decisions were made with the approval of both Co-President Pro Tempores. By winning two more seats in the 2008 elections, the Republicans assumed control of the Oklahoma Senate for the first time in state history and held a 26–22 majority, thus ending the power sharing arrangement between the parties. Since the 53rd Oklahoma Legislature convening in 2011
114-718: A committee on nominations. Originally, the Oklahoma Constitution based Senate districts on Oklahoma's counties. The 19 most populous counties, as determined by the most recent federal census, were each to elect one senator. The 58 less populous counties were to be joined into 29 two-county districts, each of which was to elect one senator. In apportioning the Senate, the Oklahoma Constitution required that consideration be given to population, compactness, area, political units, historical precedents, economic and political interests, contiguous territory and other major factors, to
152-413: A court of impeachment. The presiding officer of the Senate is the lieutenant governor of Oklahoma , who is the president of the Senate. Since the 1960s, the president pro tempore of the Senate has presided over daily work. Prior to that time, the president of the Senate took a leading role in the Senate, including appointing committees and members to those committees. The president of the Senate may cast
190-526: A populous county or several less-populated counties, but did not provide for districts of equal population. Since 1964, under the holding of Reynolds v. Sims , 377 U.S. 533 (1964) districts must be apportioned within a 5% margin of the average target size district as determined by the U.S. Census state population figures divided by the forty-eight districts. This allows for some districts to be slightly smaller or larger than others. The Oklahoma Senate draws its own maps of its district lines, which are subject to
228-735: A requirement that the legislative sessions end by 5 p.m. on the last Friday in May. The November 7, 2006 elections resulted in an unprecedented 24–24 tie in the number of seats held by Oklahoma's two major political parties, the Republican Party and the Democratic Party . Although the Republican Party added two seats to their prior total, they had lost a seat in July due to Nancy Riley changing in her party affiliation from Republican to Democratic . The Democratic Party did hold
266-670: A vote only in the instance of a tie vote and may not vote to create a tie. The 1907 Oklahoma Constitution established the Oklahoma Senate alongside the Oklahoma House of Representatives . It met in Guthrie, Oklahoma until 1910. Henry S. Johnston , the author of the initiative and referendum section of the Oklahoma Constitution , served as the first Senate President Pro Tempore. After women in Oklahoma earned
304-635: Is an instrumentality of the State of Oklahoma (the State) and a body corporate and politic created by statute in 1947. The Authority is authorized to construct, maintain, repair and operate turnpike projects at locations authorized by the Legislature of the State of Oklahoma and approved by the State Department of Transportation. The Authority receives revenues from turnpike tolls and a percentage of
342-464: Is appointed by the governor, with the consent of the Oklahoma Senate , to serve at the pleasure of the governor. The secretary serves as the chief advisor to the governor on land, water, air and space traffic transportation needs and infrastructure. The current secretary of transportation is Tim Gatz , a professional landscape architect with a bachelor's degree in landscape architecture, who
380-423: Is removed from office. In order to file for election to the Senate, candidates must be twenty-five years of age at the time of their election. The candidate must also be a qualified elector in their respective counties or districts and shall reside in their respective counties or districts during their term of office. No person is eligible to serve as a member of the legislature if they are serving as an officer of
418-531: Is similar to a public utility, providing a needed, basic service at a fee that yields a return to its investors. The Authority must generate sufficient revenues to operate and maintain its roads at a high quality while covering the interest and principal payments owed to bondholders (investors) who have purchased its revenue bonds. The Authority consists of the Governor (ex-officio) and six members serving without pay for eight-year terms from districts established in
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#1732771910402456-522: Is the upper house of the two houses of the Legislature of Oklahoma , the other being the Oklahoma House of Representatives . The total number of senators is set at 48 by the Oklahoma Constitution . Senators approve or reject gubernatorial appointments, and contribute to the creation of both state law and an annual state budget. Every ten years, they aid in drawing new boundaries for Oklahoma's electoral districts. The Oklahoma Senate also serves as
494-659: Is the sole discretion of the Oklahoma Legislature to authorize projects considered for construction by the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority. Originally, fourteen toll road projects were approved. Today, there are 32 toll road projects authorized by Title 69, Section 1705. The Board of Directors of the Turnpike Authority is responsible for governing the Authority. The Board is composed of the seven members, six of which are appointed by
532-522: The Governor of Oklahoma , with the approval of the Oklahoma Senate , with the Governor serving ex officio as the seventh member. The Board is responsible for appointing the Director of the Authority, who serves as the Board's pleasure. The Turnpike Authority, as of February 2019, has 632 full-time employees. The budget of the Turnpike Authority is derived almost exclusively from the tolls collected from
570-484: The Oklahoma House of Representatives , but heard by the court of impeachment, with Oklahoma's chief justice presiding over the court. If the chief justice or a member of the Oklahoma Supreme Court is charged with impeachment, a state senator can preside over the court of impeachment. Impeachment charges may only be brought against the governor, other statewide elected state officials and justices of
608-672: The Oklahoma Republican Party has held a supermajority of the seats in the senate. The party's dominance peaked in the 56th Oklahoma Legislature following the 2016 Oklahoma Senate Election with the chamber split 42-6. The 57th and 58th Oklahoma legislatures saw slightly smaller super majorities with the chamber split 39-9. The Senate meets in regular session in east wing of the Oklahoma State Capitol in Oklahoma City , from early February to
646-403: The Oklahoma Supreme Court for willful neglect of duty, corruption in office, habitual drunkenness, incompetency, or any offense involving moral turpitude committed while in office. Impeached officials are immediately suspended in discharging their duties. Should the impeachment fail, the official returns to their duties. If the impeachment is successful and the defendant found guilty, the official
684-423: The 1960s. The President Pro Tempore is the one who serves as leader of the Senate, managing legislative votes and is the head of the majority party. The President Pro Tempore appoints the majority floor leader and the chair of the appropriations committee. Along with the elected officers of the majority caucus (caucus chair, caucus vice chair, three assistant majority leaders and four majority whips), they comprise
722-411: The Oklahoma Turnpike Authority as follows: "To construct, maintain, repair, and operate Turnpike projects and highways, with their access and connecting roads at such locations and on such routes as it shall determine to be feasible and economically sound." In addition to providing this responsibility to the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority, limitations were placed on the selection of toll road locations. It
760-532: The State Statute. The Governor may remove any member of the Authority, at any time, with or without cause. The members are appointed to represent defined geographical districts. Authority members have full control over all turnpike operations; however, the OTA must operate in strict compliance with trust agreements that define operating procedures to be followed. The Authority employs an Executive Director to manage
798-530: The United States or State government. Furthermore, any person who has been adjudged guilty of a felony is not eligible to election to the legislature. If a member of the Senate is expelled for corruption, they are not eligible to return to the legislature. The senators are elected to four-year terms on alternating cycles. The odd senatorial districts are elected in the same cycle of every presidential election year (years divisible by four, e.g., 2012, 2016);
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#1732771910402836-476: The approval of both the Oklahoma House of Representatives and the governor. Should the redistricting not occur in a timely manner, the lines are determined by a panel of five statewide elected officials. In 1966, voters approved 90-day legislative sessions and, in 1968, they voted to create a Board of Legislative Compensation. An initiative petition championed by Governor Henry Bellmon in 1989 created
874-620: The day-to-day operations. The Executive Director is appointed by the Authority’s Board. Oklahoma was the first state west of Pennsylvania to complete a toll road financed exclusively from revenue bonds. The Oklahoma Turnpike Enabling Act, as amended to date, controls the designation, financing, construction, and operation of the Oklahoma Turnpikes. An excerpt from Section 1705 of the Enabling Act delegates responsibility to
912-605: The director of the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority . As of 2019, seven of the eight transportation secretaries have served in one of those dual positions, with three serving in all three. Executive Director, Oklahoma Turnpike Authority The secretary of transportation is responsible for the construction, maintenance, and regulation of state's transportation system. This infrastructure includes rail lines, state highways, state turnpikes, state seaports, state airports and state spaceports. As of fiscal year 2011 ,
950-679: The even numbered senatorial districts are elected during the gubernatorial election year (even-numbered years not divisible by four, e.g., 2010, 2014). Senators serve a four-year term and are limited to three terms or 12 years. A term-limited member cannot run for election to the House of Representatives as both representative terms and senate terms are added together in determining the total number of legislative years in office. When term limits were implemented in 1992, they were not applied retroactively, which meant that senators elected prior to their implementation could serve up to three full terms following
988-492: The extent feasible. In 1964, the United States Supreme Court ruled this method violated the federal Constitution. Since then, every ten years, the Oklahoma Senate is responsible for passing into law new district boundaries for the Oklahoma House of Representatives, Oklahoma Senate and Oklahoma Congressional delegation. The Senate and House have traditionally drawn their own lines without any comment from
1026-514: The governor on transportation needs and infrastructure policy and advise the state transportation agencies on new policy as directed by the governor. Oklahoma state law allows for cabinet secretaries to serve concurrently as the head of a state agency in addition to their duties as a cabinet secretary. Historically, the secretary of transportation has also served as either the director of the Oklahoma Department of Transportation or as
1064-523: The implementation of term limits. For example, the longest-serving member of the Oklahoma Senate, Gene Stipe was first elected in 1956, but would not have been term limited out until after the 2004 election, had he not resigned the previous year. The majority of Oklahoma legislators receive $ 35,000 (reduced in 2018) in annual pay while presiding officers earn a larger salary. (Also, they do not receive any Bonuses.) Additionally, legislators can seek reimbursement for expenses related to meals and lodging during
1102-481: The last Friday in May. Special sessions may be called by the governor of Oklahoma , or by supermajority vote of the legislature. Unlike their counterparts in the Oklahoma House of Representatives , state senators are not restricted on introduction of bills and resolutions. The Oklahoma Senate advises and consents to numerous appointments of the Governor, including the entire Governor's Cabinet . Nominations are heard by respective standing committees rather than through
1140-406: The legislative session, and for certain travel expenses related to their duties at any point during the year. They also have access to benefits received by state employees, including health and life insurance as well as retirement savings plans. The Lieutenant Governor serves as President of the Oklahoma Senate, but by custom only casts a vote in the case of a tie and presides less frequently since
1178-556: The other body and work together with the Congressional delegation to draw lines appropriate for the next election. The Governor must sign these bills into law or a statewide panel is convened to draw the disputed lines. The Oklahoma Senate serves a dual role as both a legislative body and as a judicial court. As the court of impeachment , it is an independent court in the Oklahoma court system . Impeachment charges are brought by
Oklahoma Turnpike Authority - Misplaced Pages Continue
1216-521: The right to vote in 1918, the Oklahoma Senate gained its first female state senator. Lamar Looney was elected in 1920 over a male incumbent, G. L. Wilson. Looney was a progressive Democrat and served from 1921 to 1929. The United States Supreme Court "one man, one vote" decision in Baker v. Carr (1962) led to a court order that forced Oklahoma to equalize representation. Before that decision, Oklahoma had 48 senatorial districts that represented either
1254-508: The seat of lieutenant governor, who also serves as President of the Senate, giving them a tie-breaking vote in the Senate. The result was a power-sharing agreement for the 2007 and 2008 legislative sessions that split control of the presiding officer position of President Pro Tempore into two Co-President Pro Tempores, one of each party. Officially, a Democratic member held the President Pro Tempore position for 23 months and
1292-427: The secretary of transportation oversees 3478 full-time employees and is responsible for an annual budget of over $ 1.9 billion. The secretary of transportation oversees the following state agencies: The secretary of transportation is one of the few cabinet secretaries whose annual salary is not set by law. As such, it is left to the governor to determine the position's salary through the annual budget. Despite this, if
1330-494: The secretary serves as the head of a state agency, the secretary receives the higher of the two salaries. What makes incumbent Secretary Gary Ridley's example unique is that he serves as both the head of the Transportation Department (ODOT) and the director of the Turnpike Authority (OTA). As such, he receives the salaries allowed to both positions. Oklahoma Senate Minority The Oklahoma Senate
1368-421: The turnpike concession sales. The Authority may issue Turnpike Revenue Bonds for the purpose of paying the costs of turnpike projects and Turnpike Revenue Refunding Bonds for the purpose of refunding any bonds of the Authority then outstanding. Turnpike Revenue Bonds are payable solely from the tolls and other revenues of the Authority and do not constitute indebtedness of the State. The Oklahoma Turnpike Authority
1406-477: The users of the turnpike system. For Calendar Year 2019, revenues are anticipated to be $ 330.1 million. The Authority uses those funds as follows: This Government of Oklahoma -related article is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Oklahoma Secretary of Transportation The Oklahoma secretary of transportation is a member of the Oklahoma Governor's Cabinet . The secretary
1444-482: Was appointed by Governor Kevin Stitt in 2019. The position of Secretary of Transportation was established in 1986 to provide greater oversight and coordination to the agricultural activities of the state government. The position was established, along with the Oklahoma Governor's Cabinet , by the Executive Branch Reform Act of 1986 . The act directed the secretary of transportation to advise
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