Morgan: Chamber readies plan for Oklahoma By Erod Morgan Guest Calumnist Posted: 08:54 PM Friday, August 20, 2010 Let me ask you, "Who is leading this state? What is the plan for creating more jobs and successful businesses in Oklahoma? How are we going to grow our economy? How will Oklahoma successfully compete against other states and other count ” | would suggest that currently there is not a clear, comprehensive plan or blueprint for building a successful Oklahoma. What should our tax system be in five years? How will we fund our $10 billion underfunded teacher retirement system? What are our goals for Oklahoma's education system to ensure a first-class work force in the future? How will we improve our costly workers' compensation system? What must be done to correct our civil justice system to make it fair and less expensive for everyone? How will our state government be structured to efficiently deliver needed services to our citizens? Fred Morgan This November, we will have a historic election and a tremendous opportunity to move this state forward. We will elect a new governor, lieutenant governor, superintendent of public instruction, attorney general, treasurer and a new Legislature ~ including new majority and minority leadership in both houses. We must begin now to plan for our next 25 years of growth and expansion. Oklahoma City began this process almost 20 years ago. With the work of community and business leaders, the three separate MAPS programs have created a business plan for Oklahoma City that is the envy of cities across the country. Tulsa created its Vision 2025 plan to establish a united visionary planning opportunity for the Tulsa region. We need to do the same thing at the state level. Oklahoma needs a comprehensive economic business plan. Phe State Chamber is working = z z fe to create a new five-year comprehensive plan to create high-paying jobs, capital investment and wealth. It's a plan our elected officials can embrace. We hope to have this plan ready by early fall. We need to look at restructuring our tax system, We need to finish the job of restructuring our civil justice system - both for regular lawsuits and for workers’ compensation claims. We need to promote excellence in education, and create a skilled work force. Finally, we need to improve the health of our people. | [We need to recognize the advantages Oklahoma presents as the true “Crossroads of Ame! and not only build the infrastructure needed to exploit that advantage, but also market the positives of our great state. We cannot simply do things the way we have always done them and expect te be successfill. We must fipd new bold and inngvative solutiops to our wes: Nothing about education. .. The State Chamber looks forward to working with our newly elected political leadership to implement this plan. Fred Morgan is president and CEO of The State Chamber.