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House District 11 Representative Derrel Fincher released a column titled “Governing Through the Challege” on Thursday. Below was his response to COVID-19:

“Oklahomans deserve an effective and honorable government in these uncertain times -- a government that is nimble, open to new information, able to adapt, and focused on the welfare of all Oklahomans. In the House, Democrats and Republicans came together to address the challenge of continuing government when meeting together may not be possible. There is no pandemic response manual for the House, but under current recommendations by multiple health officials and agencies it is unwise for all of us to gather in one place at this moment with the threat of illness and exposure. Consequently, we created temporary emergency rules that will allow representatives to continue to vote on emergency items and be able to represent their districts. While the procedures are complex, it does not mean we are less thorough. Any such legislation will typically be available at least forty-eight hours prior to the vote for all representatives.

None of us believe the rules should be used for routine business, and we explicitly set the rules to expire on sine die, the day the House adjourns the Session. Constitutionally, sine die must occur no later than 5 p.m. the last Friday in May. Currently, we are adjourned until the call of the chair, but we will be able to pass crucial legislation when the chair calls us back into session. I hope that is next week, but we are prepared if it is longer.

Our actions in the new rules speak to the trust among members, and the working relationship and trust between the House leadership in the two caucuses. It is because we have such trust in each other, and trust that we are all trying to do our best for the Oklahomans we each represent, that we supported these measures. History will be judging us by how we use these powers. And well it should.

Oklahomans deserve a government that moves forward and leads in a crisis. I expect that we will have to make hard decisions. While all may not agree on such decisions, we will do our best for Oklahomans.  For each action, we will be criticized by some and lauded by others.  The historical measure of our performance should be whether we did the best we could with the information we had. If we do not, our children, our grandchildren, and our great-grandchildren will know.

As so many Oklahomans will be hurting because of the pandemic, I will be donating half my salary for at least the next three months to charitable causes that support Oklahomans in need. I encourage all Oklahomans to step up as able to support others in this extraordinary time. This is already happening; I have heard of landlords with financial resources who are able to temporarily reduce rent. Many utilities are suspending service cutoffs, and broadband providers are removing caps. And, of course, volunteers throughout the state are already at work to help others. Join them financially if you can; donate your time if able.

Like other times of crisis, I am confident Oklahomans will rise to meet this new challenge. As we stay calm and help others around us, we will see the very best side of ourselves and the state in which we choose to live. We are one Oklahoma.”

Rep. Fincher will appear on KWON AM 1400 and FM 93.3’s Capital Call program on Friday at 9:30 a.m. with Senator Julie Daniels and Representative Judd Strom. The program is powered by Phillips 66.