Contact: State Rep. Rex Duncan
Capitol: (405) 557-7344
Sand Springs: (918) 584-3434
OKLAHOMA CITY
– (May 11, 2006)State Rep. Rex Duncan was named "Legislator of the Year" by OKConsumer for his hard work on the "lemon law" bill, which would have helped all Oklahoma consumers who have been cheated on an automobile purchase.
Duncan’s work on House Bill 1426 (Lemon Law) won praise by OKConsumer, a consumer education and advocacy group.
"Representative Duncan was chosen for this award because of his work to strengthen Oklahoma’s Lemon Law on behalf of all Oklahoma car and truck buyers," said Luke Wallace, chair of OKConsumer. "He demonstrated great statesmanship, excellent legislative skills and stood strong in the face of many lobbyists who were sent by automobile manufacturers to kill the measures."
"It is a tremendous honor to receive this award and know my work is appreciated by the citizens of this state, the very people I serve and whose voice I represent," said Duncan (R-Sand Springs).
Duncan said House Bill 1426 came about after a soldier bought his wife a car from General Motors so she would have a reliable car to drive when he was deployed for active duty. However, within weeks the 2004 Chevy Malibu started having serious mechanical problems.
"It was time Oklahoma consumers are given stronger protections from defective car purchases and given positive and timely results when sold a ‘lemon,’" said Duncan. "Although the bill didn’t become law this year, I will reintroduce Lemon Law legislation every year I serve until the law is changed."
House Bill 1426 would increase the leverage of consumers dealing with defective automobiles by giving them the option of taking a full refund or a replacement vehicle of a similar type when defects meet criteria set forth in the law.
"The constituents in Representative Duncan’s district can be very proud of their state representative," said Wallace. "He is a fighter. He does not give up. Oklahoma consumers could use more representatives like Rex Duncan."