Lance Cargill stepped down today as speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives, saying news accounts about his personal issues were overshadowing the important work ahead for legislators.
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"For several weeks, our policies heading into the session have been buried in the newspapers, while personal stories have remained on the front pages," the Republican leader said at a news conference. "I take full responsibility for that, and hope that a new speaker can shift the focus back to the future of this great state."
He quit as speaker after coming under widespread criticism for failures in the handling of his personal taxes. He will remain in the Legislature as a state representative.
"One of the responsibilities of a leader is putting the needs of the whole before the needs of my own," Cargill said. "For the future I will, with more inspiration than ever, fervently pursue my ideas from a chair at the back of the chamber. I remain confident that we can still make 2008 a year of solutions."
Taking over the powerful position on an interim basis will be state Rep. Gus Blackwell, R-Goodwell.
GOP representatives will meet at 8:30 a.m. Monday to begin the process of selecting the new speaker, Rep. Randy Terrill said.
The full House will likely vote on who will be the speaker that afternoon, possibly right after Gov. Henry's State of the State speech.
Cargill, a Harrah attorney, was first elected to the House in 2000 and served as House speaker for almost 13 months. His colleagues re-elected him for the post in October.
At 36, he was the nation's youngest House speaker.
His departure comes a week before the Legislature begins its 2008 session
Gov. Brad Henry, a Democrat, said he doesn't think Cargill's stepping down will be disruptive to this year's legislative session.
"From my perspective, our administration is willing to work with whoever is in a leadership role in the House and Senate," the governor said. "It really doesn't matter to me. We have our goals, legislative leaders have their goals. What we all have to do is sit down and work towards those goals and develop a consensus."
Democrat House Minority Leader Danny Morgan released a statement on behalf of House Democrats. "There are good men and women who serve in the Oklahoma House of Representatives," he said. "We look forward to working together with them to restore integrity to the House and pass legislation that is important to all Oklahomans."
Cargill came under fire this month for failing to file his personal income tax returns and for repeatedly paying property taxes on his law office late.
The Oklahoman reported that Cargill failed to file his 2005 and 2006 personal income tax returns until getting a warning from the Oklahoma Tax Commission. He blamed an accountant and said he was upset with himself because he was due refunds.
The Oklahoman also reported that Cargill was delinquent six years in a row in paying the property tax on his Harrah law office. He was months overdue in paying most of the bills. "I take full responsibility for this error," he said Friday about his property tax bills. "I certainly apologize to the people of Oklahoma and to my colleagues, and will take steps to ensure these matters are handled in a timely and efficient manner in the future.”
Rep. David Dank, R-Oklahoma City, said Cargill's troubles were of his own making.
"It is unfortunate that it had to come to this, but Speaker Cargill brought his troubles on himself," Dank said. "The people of Oklahoma have a right to expect exemplary conduct of those they send to the state Capitol, and he failed that basic test."
Cargill was pressured by his own party to step down, Dank said.
"Oklahomans should know that his resignation came after considerable pressure from members of his own party," he said. "We are determined to advance a true reform agenda during the upcoming session, including passage of the ethics and campaign finance reform bill I have introduced to address many of the same issues that led to Speaker Cargill's resignation. I look forward to working with the new House leadership to make that bill a reality."
The state Ethics Commission also is believed to be investigating whether Cargill had anything to do with how political checks intended for the Oklahoma Republican Party instead went to the Oklahoma County Republican Party in 2004.
Cargill read from a prepared statement this afternoon in announcing his resignation and did not take questions afterward.
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Jan from OKC, I stand corrected. Perhaps the reason they haven't received a raise in a while is because their pay is significantly higher than any state in our region. The 38.4K base pay dwarfs Texas base pay of 7.2K and Kansas' 6.6k. Add in per diem, expense accounts, etc, and your looking at a total package of 45 to 50K. Isn't it interesting that our legislators' pay is 12th nationally, yet our teachers and public employees are consistently in the bottom 5 nationally? BTW, Cargills base pay was 56K.
P.S. An earlier article said "Intentionally failing to file a state income tax return is a misdemeanor, even if no further taxes are owed. The crime has a maximum punishment of a year in jail and a $5,000 fine."
RE Lawerence, OKC: This is NOT in defense of Cargill (I am a Republican and was one of the 1st to post that he must at least step down as Speaker). Just to clear up a couple of points... 1) Mr. Cargill HAS paid his property taxes (just late). 2). He says he was due a refund on his State taxes, so he HAS paid his taxes there too. What he failed to do, was file the paperwork which is required by Oklahoma law, (there are probably fines & penaltys for filing late. 3). While I agree that he and the others (2 Dems and 2 Repubs) should resign from office there is no requirement that they do so. True, other State employees can lose their licenses and even be fired from their jobs for the same offenses, from what I understand, even though our Legislators are considered State employees (they get their paycheck from the State), they weren't "hired" by the State so the State can't "fire" them. Perhaps there might be a way (impeachment?) but that would have to be done by their fellow Legislators, and there is little chance of that happening. The voters who "hired" them will probably be the ones that will have to "fire" them. Unfortunately, voters are well known for having extremely short memories and unless these Legislators are up for election this year, all will be forgotten by then.
T.A. from Moore, the Oklahoman has reported extensively on Jeff McMahan over a lobg period of time. Linda from Cyril, the legislators don't vote on their pay raises. A Constitutional board does that and it has been quite a while since legislators have been given a raise.
Mitch from Oklahoma City, the Oklahoman has reported extensively on McMahan over a long period of time. Linda of Cyril, the legislators don't vote on their pay raises, a Constitutional board does that and it's been quite a while since they voted a raise.
He said he wanted to take FULL RESPONSIBILITY so we hasn't he resigned from the state legislature yet? They have laws in place to remove those that don't pay their taxes. If he won't take responsibility then it will become the responsibility of others to remove him from the position so we can get some responsible tax paying citizens representing us in the capital. Like I said before - he is suspect now and needs to be thouroughly audited and examined for other misdeeds that he will no doubt lay the blame on someone else!
Jonathon.... I vote and I post my opinions on this site (just like you). What frustrates me is how Republicans get working class people to vote against their own interests by bringing up wedge issues every election cyle ( last election it was gay "marriage", this time, it is illegal immigration). In the case of Cargill, he ran as a "family values" candidate against gay marriage...but lo and behold, it has come out today that he has evidently been having an affair. And then you take someone like Mitt Romney, he spouts off every chance he gets about illegal immigration, but amazingly, he has not once but twice hired illegal immigrants to mow his grass and tend the grounds of his estate (in fairness, he claims that he did not know they were illegal). Then you have all of the Republicans (Cheney, Limbaugh, Hannity, and the like) who attacked the patriotism of John Kerry but they have never served a day in the military and in Cheney's case he received deferrment after deferrment to avoid military service. The republican party is a party of hypocrites....plain and simple, and for some reason many people in Oklahoma have lost their common sense and continue to "drink the kool--aid" and vote for these scam aritsts. $2, $3, $4,....it doesnt matter, you are still being played like a CHEAP fiddle.
I find it absolutely hilarious that so many great Oklahomans will take the time to log on and complain and/or comment about our legislators but will not take the time to go to the polls and vote. If you don't like the current politicians; cast a vote and get someone new.
Now that the media has smeared this great leader, maybe the editors will get together and take up a collection to pay all of those back taxes out of sympathy. What a riot! Not to be partisan, any Dems who haven't paid their taxes need to go too....
It is amazing to me that our democratic Senator has been arrested for drunk driving on two occasions and is trying to pass a bill to increase Prison beds, yet he has not had to spend a single night in jail.
If Lance Cargill truly wants to do what's best for Oklahoma and not party politics as he indicated, he should resign completely. I won't give the scum bag credit for partially doing the right thing. He is living proof that most people in the legislature are there because they can't earn a living in the real world. If an attorney can't pay less than a thousand dollars of taxes on his business for 6 years straight, then he is incompetent and needs the job to try to make a living. His chief of staff Chad Warmington is a turd and needs to go as well. I've had republican senators tell me that they can't get in to see Lance because they didn't contribute to his campaign. I am a republican and Todd Hyatt was the most arrogant speaker to date until Lance took over. They both have been the most unaccessible speakers in state history. I have been trying to find the spirit of the T-Bar 12 to come back and take over. It's a shame when the democrats did what was right and through out their own and our republicans have cowered in shame.
Take a stand and do what's right for Oklahoma members of the house. Get rid of incompetent fools like Chris Benge, Rex Duncan, and Lucy Lamons no matter what party you belong to. Glenn Coffee is another one that needs to go. There are many more and we will be coming after them next.
Oklahomans expect their elected officials to screw them over and it's such a way of life that they roll over and do nothing about it. It's time to remind the bastards that they took a job to work and represent us and we should treat them as their employers. Don't tolerate their arrogant disrespect any more. My senator Glenn Coffee has still never returned my calls and Lance Cargill had his secretary call and say "he doesn't need to talk to you" Any guess who I am boys..... I'm not going away and I would say you have more embarrassing moments to come.... but " No Pride, No Shame" and that's who you are.
interesting....I went to youtube and searched cargills name. It looks like the "holier than thou" Republican protector of marriage does not respect his own marriage vows. Hmmm...not only does the hypocrite not pay his taxes on time but he also evidently cheats on his wife. Imagine that, yet ANOTHER right wing hypocrite from the Republican party. Wise up Oklahoma....these Republicans are playing you like a two dollar fiddle.
Anyone ever thought how many more of our Legislators are crooked. Hello, pretty much most of them right? No one goes into office thinking I am going to become greedy. They go in hoping to make changes but money takes over the mind. I can bet there are many more people in office who fail to take responsiblity as we normal hard working citizens are expected to. I say, if they can't handle their responsibilities at home they sure as heck don't need to be in any office. My thought was do their wives not having anything to do. Could they not had been a little responsible too. Oh but they are probably too busy with "social" affairs. I like Lance Cargill and really wish this had not happen but it did so now we are stuck with a bunch of old fogies who make more money than they can spend in their lifetime. God Bless America
I still can't believe the DOK went after someone from the "Holier than Thou" party. If you work for DHS and skip one year of paying your state taxes, you get the axe. Our legislators should be held to the same standard. Especially since they've voted themselves enough raises to earn more than the average pay of teachers and other state employees for three months of "work".
yes it is great that lance cargill has been held to the fire on this but there are still 4 other people in the house that deserve the same treatment and all 5 should resign their positions in the house and let people in that will be the example they are paid to be
Forget the property tax for a moment and take a look at his failure to file state income tax on time. If a teacher doesn't file you get a letter from the state tax commission threating that you will forfeit your license. There is indeed a double standard. The legislature needs to meet every other year like they used to do and primarily consider the budget . We don't need professional legislators proposing more and more restrictions on our personal lives. They make an insane amount of money for doing next to nothing but go to parties (where they always have their hands out) and have their staff members come up with inane legislation. And, by the way, he didn't resign his position as speaker because of the tax issue. I think the Oklahoman knows that, yet we have seen nothing of it in the press. Check out youtube. All you have to do is type in his name.
I want to compliment the Oklahoman for its coverage of Cargill. For a long time it seemed that the paper would print no bad news about the GOP in the state while the Democratic Party's sins were constantly front page news. We are seeing a difference in attitude, at least from the news department.
As a nurse, I am unable to renew my license if I haven't filed taxes. matter of fact, one of my co workers was not able to renew her nursing license last month because she was delinquent in 2005 taxes and had to clear up the delinquency in order to continue working in the hospital.
It says he was upset because he was due refunds. Good to know that he was due money back. I have friends that make less than $35,000 and always have to pay at least $300 or 400. HOw much do you have to make to get a refund in OKlahoma? They always get a federal refund but always have to pay the Oklahoma money...good to know he lost out on his money for a few years. Also good to know that if mine are filed late, I can claim my accountant didn't call and let me know it was tax season. EVERYONE KNOWS WHAT HAPPENS EVERY APRIL!!
Because he's a lawmaker, he should be held to a higher standard. Just like these thieving and oftentimes perverted preachers who make their living off the name of Jesus Christ should be held to a higher standard.
Bonnie in Norman, you are right. If you have a professional license in Ok and have not paid your taxes, you loose your livelihood. But of course, we have a different set of rules than those that are making those rules & those in leadership in this state. I sell insurance & have to sign something at license renewal that I have not had any felony charges or moral improprieties having to do with money, etc. But at the same time, I had to answer to the likes of Carroll Fisher and his antics. Go figure. I am glad to see the "house cleaning" has begun.
JoJo, how could you support someone that can't even pay his own bills as the Speaker of the House??? Personally I expect better business men & women to serve in that capacity.
For some time now, irregularities and rumors of irregularities have followed Cargill. T.A. from Moore,
I wonder how you can characterize the Oklahoman's coverage of Cargill as an attempt to aid favored politicians. Anyone who is at all familiar with the editorial policy of the Oklahoman knows that policy is very supportive of Rapublicans and their causes. They have never hesitated to question a Democrat's actions when there was some evidence of wrongdoing.
Perhaps you've forgotten about our former Insurance Commissioner or our currently out-of-service State Auditor. We all owe gratitude for the Oklahoman's serving the press's role of a watch dog for the people wherever it leads. I can't claim that Cargill is guilty of anything beyond remarkable financial sloppiness. But, that's more than enough to raise questions about whether he deserves a leadership position in the legislature. The more important question is whether he diverted campaign funds from their intended purpose. The State Ethics commission is said to be looking into that. I don't know that they'll find evidence of a criminal action, but it's certainly appropriate that they look. The fact is that there are good men and women in both parties, and both parties have their share of the unethical and the crimninal. Over time, with the vigilance of the press, and with oversight agencies exercising their responsibilities, we usually end up able to separate the wheat from the chaff.
Way to go Oklahoman. You have once again proven that this rag you call a newspaper is nothing more than a tool for your favored politicians to gain power in the state of Oklahoma. I would say you should be ashamed of yourselves but I already know you have no shame. I really wish Rep. Cargill had not allowed himself to give into your vicious attacks because one day soon the Oklahoman is going to be paying the price for these attacks on good legislators.
If he can't manage his personal life then why would we elect him? A man scamed my 88 year old mother out of 495,000 and still my mother clamed he was a good Christian man. This is how I caught him. He owed 3 years back property tax (Missouri). This lead to many other things he had covered up. We are still fighting this guy..... There is a reason Cargill paid his taxes late for so many years. One year could be an excused and overlooked. However, year after year throws up a very large red flag. Maybe we should check out all of our public servants. I wonder how many more there are.
This crazy. My opinion of Cargill is about as low as it gets, and I couldn't be more pleased he is gone. But, it is the idea of how we are overlooking so many more damaging wrongs to make a big deal out of this. Like one tax collector said people like Cargill paying late fees mean more revenue. I suspect that Cargill has cost us a lot more money in other areas and that is what the media should spend time on. This is cherry picking news.
Cargill endorsed Amnesty John McCain and called him a fiscal conservative.We can see Cargill's poor judgement.Lance and McCain are both idiots.McCain is a hot headed,erratic crazy.Cargill is a rank hypocrite.
JoJo, you are ridiculous. And Mister from Bogata, don't be suprised to hear of more Cargill failures in the future, both job-wise, and personally...tip of the iceberg indeed.
Jo Jo this has nothing to do with political party... he just paid late like so many others. He resigned his post everybody give him a break, that was humiliation enough don't you think.
Good luck, Jim, Chandler! I've always heard the lawyers and doctors are the last to pay their bills. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - - - As for Cargill, he should resign his seat in the house as well. Since he pushed legislation to fire state employees that don't pay their taxes on time--what's good enough for them is good enough for him!
Good luck, Jim, Chandler! I've always heard the lawyers and doctors are the last to pay their bills. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - - - As for Cargill, he should resign his seat in the house as well. Since he pushed legislation to fire state employees that don't pay their taxes on time--what's good enough for them is good enough for him!
Randy, Brett, and others of the bitter party. The Speaker didn't violate criminal law, didn't attempt to avoid paying taxes, he pays late. He appears to be a very sloppy bookkeeper, and there appears to be reason to believe that he may not have broad enough shoulders to handle a position of such responsibility. Unlike several Democratic officials including a former governor convicted of crimes, some of whom are still spoken of highly. David Walters avoided jail by making a deal with his AG...then many of the same people that nominate him for the US Senate, attack Cargill for paying taxes late, with the same fines any citizen of Oklahoma would pay. Political corruption in Oklahoma begins and ends with the Democratic party and its leadership. // Cargill should go, because in the GOP, we expect more of our leaders. It's a pity the other party doesn't feel the same.
How can you blame an accountant for not paying your taxes in 2005 and 2006? Did it never occur to you to ask where the papers were to sign when April 15th rolled around with no word? Take responsibility for yourself and stop blaming others.
Cargill was just another self-righteous politician who tried to tell us how to live our lives but he can't live his without ignoring the very laws he creates.
GOOD RIDDANCE!
Filing his property tax returns late is not a problem. Many people do this. However, not filing them is illegal. He should resign his legislative seat.
I hope he does. Just another example of "entitlement." He appears to believe he is entitled to ignore the law, yet he's willing to fire non-legislative state employees for the same infringement. What a jerk!
Speaker paid property tax late on office 01/27/2008 Oklahoma House Speaker Lance Cargill was delinquent in paying property taxes on his Harrah law office six years in a row, an investigation by The Oklahoman...
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Thank you for joining our conversations on NewsOK.com. We encourage your discussions but ask that you stay within the bounds of our terms and conditions. Please help us by reporting comments that violate these guidelines. To review our rules of engagement, go to Commenting and posting policy.
Leave a comment. Log in below or sign up (it's free).Editor's note: It is not our intent to offer comments on crime or fatality stories.
Take a stand and do what's right for Oklahoma members of the house. Get rid of incompetent fools like Chris Benge, Rex Duncan, and Lucy Lamons no matter what party you belong to. Glenn Coffee is another one that needs to go. There are many more and we will be coming after them next.
Oklahomans expect their elected officials to screw them over and it's such a way of life that they roll over and do nothing about it. It's time to remind the bastards that they took a job to work and represent us and we should treat them as their employers. Don't tolerate their arrogant disrespect any more. My senator Glenn Coffee has still never returned my calls and Lance Cargill had his secretary call and say "he doesn't need to talk to you" Any guess who I am boys..... I'm not going away and I would say you have more embarrassing moments to come.... but " No Pride, No Shame" and that's who you are.
I wonder how you can characterize the Oklahoman's coverage of Cargill as an attempt to aid favored politicians. Anyone who is at all familiar with the editorial policy of the Oklahoman knows that policy is very supportive of Rapublicans and their causes. They have never hesitated to question a Democrat's actions when there was some evidence of wrongdoing.
Perhaps you've forgotten about our former Insurance Commissioner or our currently out-of-service State Auditor. We all owe gratitude for the Oklahoman's serving the press's role of a watch dog for the people wherever it leads. I can't claim that Cargill is guilty of anything beyond remarkable financial sloppiness. But, that's more than enough to raise questions about whether he deserves a leadership position in the legislature. The more important question is whether he diverted campaign funds from their intended purpose. The State Ethics commission is said to be looking into that. I don't know that they'll find evidence of a criminal action, but it's certainly appropriate that they look. The fact is that there are good men and women in both parties, and both parties have their share of the unethical and the crimninal. Over time, with the vigilance of the press, and with oversight agencies exercising their responsibilities, we usually end up able to separate the wheat from the chaff.
GOOD RIDDANCE!