September 24, 2019 Issue, Page 4 of 10

Page Text

Page 4 The Elk City News, Elk City, Oklahoma Tuesday, September 24, 2019 Opinion Page pears oa “ElkCituNews Serving Western Oklahoma since 1901 000! Oklahoma process doesn’t have to be ugly The Oklahoman, Oklahoma City When the U.S. Supreme Court decided this year to leave it to states to draw their congressional districts, the justices said politics is naturally part of the process. What will that look like in Oklahoma? Republicans have supermajority control of both cham- bers of the Legislature, and thus all the clout when it comes to deciding the boundaries for congressional and \ AW legislative districts. It would be asking for trouble, how- ever, to use a steamroller in this process when it begins early next year. House Speaker Charles McCall vows that won’t happen in his chamber. To oversee the process, McCall, R-Atoka, says he plans to put together a bipartisan House Redis- tricting Committee with subcommittees that will focus on various regions of the state. The committee will “reflect the rural, urban and subur- 1 ban makeup” of the House, McCall says. “The commit- tee will work best if it reflects the will of people from all across the state.” — USMCA i S a good deal He’s right, and says the committee will seek input from the governor's office, the state Supreme Court, and state, county and local officials. The committee also plans to hold town hall meetings across Oklahoma, and give the public a chance to comment via email (the address is re- for union workers districtoklahoma2020 @ okhouse.gov). The redistricting plans in the Senate haven’t been an- nounced, although a spokesman for Senate President Pro Tem Greg Treat, R-Oklahoma City, said Treat intends for By Deena Flinchum, labor earned about $36 an hour in that 75 percent of vehicle independent legal bodies the process to be thorough and robust. advocate and former AFL- today’s dollars. The average parts be made in the United dedicated to settling labor Redistricting, conducted every decade following the CIO employee Mexican autoworker earned States, Mexico, or Canada disputes in a timely manner. census, almost always leaves one party disappointed. In Members of Congress will just $6.65 per hour. -- otherwise, companies will The deal also forces Mexico 2011, some Democrats said they weren’t included in the soon face one of the most U.S. auto companies shift- face tariffs. That's up from to protect workers from ex- process, and a senator filed a lawsuit over the finished important decisions of their ed production to Mexico to NAFTA’s 62.5 percent re- ploitative business practices product, saying it tilted too strongly in Republican favor. political careers -- whether take advantage of this cheap quirement. Thanks to this -- such as gender and racial But the House minority leader at the time said Demo- to ratify President Trump’s labor. In 1994, auto factories provision, U.S. firms will discrimination and child la- cratic voices were heard and that the process was fair. Mc- new trade deal with Canada employed about 100,000 have less incentive to source bor. Call says he’s aiming for a similar result this time around. and Mexico. Mexicans. By 2016, that fig- car parts from factories in As working conditions in The current House minority leader, Rep. Emily Virgin, The United States-Mex- ure jumped to 767,000. Asia, where labor is cheap. Mexico improve and wages D-Norman, says she’s cautiously optimistic about Mc- ico-Canada Agreement, This growth came at the These provisions will rise, multinational compa- known as USMCA, isn’t expense of American work- boost demand for American- nies will have less incentive Call’s vow for transparency. perfect; but it’s far better ers. The number of Ameri- made car parts. USMCA to outsource American jobs. “We have heard this rhetoric during the budget process, than NAFTA. cans employed at auto facto- will spur an estimated $34 The deal also requires but we have yet to see it followed up with transparent ac- USMCA would strength- ries dropped from about 1.1 billion worth of investments Canada and Mexico to grant tions,” Virgin said. “Hopefully, the redistricting process en labor protections, cre- million in 1994 to 940,000 into the U.S. automotive stronger intellectual prop- will be different, and we will be able to put something ate jobs, and discourage in 2016. And their average sector within five years. erty protections -- such as together that represents all Oklahomans.” U.S. firms from outsourcing wages dropped to about $28 Those trademarks, copyrights, and investments will What we don’t need is the turbocharged politics evident work abroad. Congress can per hour, as companies used create excellent opportuni- regulatory data protection in fights elsewhere over congressional districts. Former do union members a favor the threat of outsourcing to ties for American workers. -- to American innovators. Attorney General Eric Holder heads an outfit called the by swiftly ratifying the new bully workers into accepting Over the next five years, These protections are criti- National Redistricting Action Fund that has challenged deal. worse pay. USMCA is expected to cre- cal for the nation’s high-tech some states’ redistricting plans in court, in an attempt to USMCA contains compre- USMCA would combat ate more than 76,000 U.S. manufacturers, which sup- produce maps that help put more Democrats in Congress. hensive, enforceable labor this outsourcing. The deal automotive jobs. port many union jobs. Meantime, Karl Rove wrote recently that Republican and provisions. These protec- requires that nearly half of USMCA wouldn’t just Unions have railed against Democratic groups are zeroing in on 10 states where legis- tions will help prevent out- all car parts come from fac- help autoworkers. It’d boost NAFTA for three decades. lative party control could be flipped or where the minority sourcing, which costs Amer- tories paying employees at the fortunes of Americans Now, their allies in Congress ican workers roughly 90,000 least $16 an hour by 2023. laboring in multiple indus- finally have an opportunity party could make gains. jobs each year. Cars that don’t meet this tries, especially manufactur- to scrap that deal and replace GOP dominance of our Legislature ensures Oklahoma’s NAFTA enabled giant threshold will be slapped ing. it with a new agreement that redrawn maps will be to the party’s liking. An open and corporations to outsource with tariffs. The pact gives Mexican protects American workers. inclusive process, however, might ensure the medicine jobs, especially to Mexico. This requirement will ef- workers the right to union- Deena Flinchum is an IT goes downa little easier for the other side.could be viewed ‘Auto companies were partic- fectively force companies ize and engage in collective worker who was employed as exactly the reason to have a red flag law. ularly egregious offenders. to keep jobs in the United bargaining. To ensure the by the AFL-CIO for 25 years This is an emotional issue with no easy solution. But the Back in 1994, when NAFTA States rather than shipping Mexican government en- before retiring. She is now conversation around it is worthwhile and needs to con- went into effect, the aver- them south of the border. forces these rights, USMCAa community volunteer in tinue. age American autoworker USMCA also mandates requires Mexico to create southwest Virginia. Support legislation requiring all children to wear seatbelts By Oklahoma Institute aged 8-17 were seriously nizations involved with this legislators about supporting * Buckle your kids up for * Teach kids to put phones, for Child Advocacy CEO injured or killed while un- topic. “All Kids Buckled a change to our current law. every trip. All Children un-headphones, and devices Joe Dorman restrained in car accidents. Up” is the official name of In the months to come, “All der age 2 must be rear-fac- down when crossing the Most ofus have seen signs Experts estimate about half the coalition advocating for Kids Buckled Up” will send ing, all children up to age street. that say, “buckle up, it’s the of those deaths or injuries this policy change, and our out specific information on four must be in a harnessed eIt’s always best to walk law.” Given that seatbelts could have been prevented collaborative partners are visiting with legislators to car seat and all children up on sidewalks or paths and dramatically increase your if the children were buck- holding a media conference advocates, but there is no to age 8 must be in a booster chances of walking away led up. In fact, according on Thursday, Sept. 26, at 3 reason to delay. Feel free seat, unless they are over cross at street corners, us- from a car accident, it cer- to AAA, riding in a vehicle p.m. on the south side of the to contact your own state 49”. ing traffic signals and cross- tainly should be the law. without a seatbelt is a great- Capitol steps. If you are a senator and representative + Keep your child in the walks. Unfortunately, if you are a er threat to child wellbeing concerned parent or citizen, as soon as you can. They are back seat at least through age * Children need to cross 9-year-old riding in the back than all forms of violence please consider attending. very responsive to requests 12. Remember, even passen- the street with an adult. seat of a car in Oklahoma, it combined. With those ter- The larger the crowd, the for meetings or call from gers in the back seat should * Be a good role model. isn’t. In fact, Oklahoma is rible statistics in mind, the better. Some of our speak- voters in their districts. be buckled in to reduce the Set a good example by the only state in the coun- Oklahoma Institute for Child ers will include high school In the meantime, Choc- risk of injury ina crash. putting down your phone try where a child ages 8 to Advocacy (OICA) supports student leaders as well as an taw-Nicoma Park Public * Never leave children un- and devices when walking 17 can legally ride without a quickly updating the current 8-year-old who will speak Schools has spent the month attended in cars. around cars. seatbelt. law to require all children to about why they believe this of September releasing some Teach kids at an early age This glaring omission in wear seatbelts. law is necessary. And, of great information on auto- to look left, right and left Thank you in advance to state policy is the subject OICAis just getting start- course, there'll be several of motive and pedestrian safety again before crossing the taking action to protect our of an interim study led by ed with this issue, and we us older folks participating. that we are happy to share street. Then remind them to kids. Together, we can cor- State Senator Carri Hicks. encourage you to join the Whether you can attend here. Some of their tips in- continue looking until safely rect this law and help save In 2017. 83 Oklahoma kids coalition of advocate orga- or not. please contact vour clude: across. lives!