By Journalist Alondra Perez (OU)
In the House Chambers Saturday, November 19th, 2023, Senate Ameritus and current Representative McPherson presented a somewhat controversial yet highly respected bill which had the body of the House moving swiftly following the author’s explanation. Bill OU-517 is an act relating to infrastructure in relation to creating a better oklahoma. Representative McPhersons first presentation in the House of Representatives following his change in chambers from the Senate . Mcpherson had the following comments following the House bodies decision to fail his legislation,“It felt like the body was supportive of the bill however there were certain provisions they did not like. The body did not like the statewide sales tax, and there were concerns of eminent domain, however despite their objections they liked the premise of the bill just not the execution of the bill.” Representative McPherson explained how creating the infrastructure for a high speed railway has a positive outlook for the state of Oklahoma’s economy, “A high-speed rail system linking urban centers is a potent driver of economic growth…the ease of travel between urban centers encourages the concentration of industries, the formation of innovation clusters, and the establishment of business hubs. This, in turn, cultivates a vibrant economic ecosystem that attracts both established companies and startups.” With the intent of the bill being good at heart for the betterment of improving the relationships between potential urban hubs and the rural outskirts of Oklahoma, Representatives discussed the potential to fix their qualms with the execution of the bill but the body ultimately voted to fail it.
When asked if the representative would bring this bill back at future sessions the Representative McPherson stated he “plans on making crucial edits and addressing the concerns of the body and bringing the bill back at a later date”.