At the beginning of each new year, I have a tradition with the two men who represent Beckham County. We discuss their top three goals for the incoming session.
Naturally, they both work on far more than that in the hectic session. Oklahoma has one of the shortest legislative sessions in the country, so those tasked with drafting our annual budget and updating laws get little sleep and even less time at home during that chaotic three months.
Nick Archer, a Republican from House District 85, spent the weekend putting together a wooden lock box with his 11-yearold son Zander. Rep. Archer and his wife Katie both share a passion for building, so naturally their child would be gifted with something that requires carpentry and a lot of math.
“We had his birthday party yesterday,” Archer smiled. “We have been putting together this box for six full hours at least. It has been an all-day project.”
Makes sense. Archer likes seeing long projects come to fruition. Elk Citians and those in the surrounding communities remember that from the many big projects he spearheaded during his time as mayor.
The same rigor, riddled with his signature ADHD obsessive attention detail, flows through every part of his legislative approach.
Archer and I first discussed the possibility of a special session prior to the beginning of the regular session.
“We had a caucus meeting last week to discuss the upcoming year. Regular sessions are from the first Monday in February to the last Friday in May. So, we start on February 5 and, let me look, we end on May 31. But, we were told during this meeting that they are considering calling us into session before the start,” Archer explained.
Archer said that, should a session be called, it will be to address one of Governor Stitt’s biggest objectives — tax cuts.
However, Archer is concerned that a costly tax cut at this time could put Oklahoma in a vulnerable position should an economic downturn take place. He mentioned multiple times throughout the call that the Oklahoma State Treasurer Todd Russ, Archer’s District 85 predecessor, certified revenue losses for several quarters.
“Cutting taxes poll well,” Archer said. “And it is something that we can all put on our push cards in our districts. If you walk up to anyone at the grocery store and ask if they support a tax cut, they are gonna say yes. But, sometimes it is not smart. I’m seeing what Treasurer Russ is finding and it is clear that we have revenue reductions. We have to be prepared for that. The one that the Governor and McCall really want is a quarter- percent cut. The average Oklahoman makes $50,000 a year. For that amount, it is going to just be a $4 savings for her two-week paycheck. Last session, we passed a historic education bill. I want to protect that. While the tax cut wouldn’t make a big difference to most Oklahomans, it would to the state in total. It would take $250 million from our state’s budget, so something would have to go. They are already wanting to increase the portion that private schools get, so what happens to the public schools in my district when that revenue is gone, more is allotted to private schools and, let’s say, other revenues also go down? I want to cut taxes, but in a smart way and in a way that doesn’t put growth and rural Oklahoma in jeopardy.”
Archer said a potential special session would also address a corporate tax cut and the grocery store tax.
He noted, “On the grocery store tax, I do want people to understand that won’t eliminate all grocery tax. That will only be the portion that goes to the state. A lot of municipalities depend heavily on that tax and couldn’t take care of their obligations without out.”
Archer and I then shifted to his top three priorities for the upcoming regular session.
1). Expand on the Spaceport at Burns Flat.
With only fourteen in the country, Archer believes the potential to become a leading industrial park is there.
“Listen, other spaceports are being built. We hear our leaders talk about being a ‘Top 10’ state, well, this is how. We have seen what has happened at the Mid-America Industrial Park. It has created a bunch of jobs — good jobs. We could do the same, but the time has come to divest ourselves from some of the things that we fund, which are thriving. MidAmerica is thriving. It no longer needs that. Let’s funnel that money over to Burns Flat and do the same thing here,” Archer stated.
When asked if he would want to sell it to Elon Musk, he said, “No, I want Elon and others to come pay us to use it and put businesses in here for western Oklahomans.”
2) Community Investment Fund Archer explained, “We have seen how well MAPS has worked with Oklahoma City. We did the same thing in Elk City when I was mayor five years ago. It has been great for Elk. This will allow every community to thrive. To really be a ‘Top 10 State,’ all 77 counties have to thrive — not just Oklahoma City and Tulsa.”
3) Spend more time at home amid the chaotic session.
“Last year was my first session,” Archer recounted. “I think as the new guy, you really feel like you have to be at every single thing. That had me spending pretty well seven days a week in Oklahoma City. I missed my wife. I missed my kids. But, I also missed the events that were happening in my district. Seeing my family is of course good for my focus on why I am doing this. I want to continue to see western Oklahoma grow into a place my kids want to come home to. But, I also like being out in the community here, at home, during the session so I can get feedback from all you guys on what is coming up. I love for my constituents to call and email, but there’s nothing like running into you at the hometown game and hearing it from you while we are face to face. I have so many things that I am working on, so it is hard to say which is the third. But definitely learning how to be a representative who actually lives out here and do that well while being away from here.”
