Friends,

I am pleased to announce my bid for re-election to the Oklahoma State House of Representatives, serving House District 100 (NW Oklahoma City, Bethany, and Warr Acres).

Since my election in 2010, I have worked to reduce government spending through sensible reforms and sought to lower the cost of government by reducing taxes.

Last year I helped pass more than 20 government-modernization bills that were signed into law, including a consolidation of state government information technology entities that will save an estimated $170 million over the next seven years.

This year, I am pleased to be part of a team continuing the push on consolidation and modernization. As part of that work, I have filed legislation creating checkbook.ok.gov, a site where Oklahomans can easily obtain information on all state bond debt and obligations. By increasing public awareness of state obligations, we can ensure debt is used only for truly

worthwhile projects instead of being an “easy out” when special-interest groups seek project funding.

On another front, I recently led a legislative study on imposing a stronger spending limitation on the Legislature to ensure Oklahoma’s public sector does not grow too fast in “boom” years. Currently, lawmakers are allowed to increase state spending up to 12 percent annually. Once that rate is compounded over several years, it translates into dramatic and unsustainable

spending increases.

For example, state employment grew by 8.57 percent from 2000 to 2010 while private sector employment grew by only 6.07 percent. And government expenditures increased 72.20 percent from 2001 to 2010 while private earnings grew only 40.71 percent.

Those numbers illustrate why I believe we need to lower the growth limit to no more than 5 percent annually (plus the rate of inflation). It is better to return money to working families through tax cuts or save surplus revenue for shortfall periods than to over-commit the state to expenditures it cannot sustain.

To reduce the burden of government on working families, I have joined 22 other House lawmakers as authors of a bill to begin gradually phasing out Oklahoma’s personal income tax this year.

Without the state personal income tax, the average Oklahoma family of four would save over $1,300 a year, and the average individual filer would save nearly $1,000 annually.

By slowly phasing out the personal income tax over 10 years, there will be ample time to make spending adjustments when necessary and growth revenue from other sources would support core state services such as education, transportation, and public safety.

Those are just a few examples of the challenges I have tackled in the Oklahoma Legislature, but they make clear my commitment to imposing good business practices in state government and ensuring that working families are able to keep more of their hard-earned money.

My objective as a legislator is to enact policies that will grow Oklahoma’s private economy and increase opportunity for all.

I am proud to be a part of Oklahoma’s House District100 and count it a pleasure and blessing to serve as our State Representative. 

I’d love to visit with you - continuing to hear your story and concerns for our state. Let me know how I can continue to serve you.

I hope I can count on your vote on June 26, 2012!

God bless, 

Elise Hall

State Representative, House District 100

405.213.3326 cell

Elise@EliseHall.com

Paid for by Friends of Elise Hall.

8304 NW 69th Street, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73132