Representative Tom Gann

Hi, I'm Tom Gann and I represent the people of Oklahoma's 8th District.


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News & Announcements


May 6, 2025
Recent Posts

Gann’s Appeal of Utility Case to Proceed Despite Ethics Decision

OKLAHOMA CITY – On Monday, the Oklahoma Supreme Court denied motions filed by the Oklahoma attorney general and Oklahoma Corporation Commission (OCC) seeking to dismiss an appeal of the OCC’s recent $120 million rate increase for Public Service Company of Oklahoma (PSO) brought by Rep. Tom Gann, R-Inola.  “Accordingly, this appeal shall proceed,” Chief Justice Dustin Rowe wrote. Monday’s order came despite a decision by the Oklahoma Ethics Commission last week dismissing Gann’s ethics complaint filed against Corporation Commissioner Todd Hiett. In a statement, the Ethics Commission said its determination was based in part on a December 2024 Supreme Court decision that declined to prohibit Hiett from hearing OCC cases that may be tainted by Hiett’s alleged misconduct. However, a concurring opinion by Justice Douglas Combs suggested Gann and the other petitioners, Reps. Kevin West, R-Moore, and Rick West, R-Heavener, instead bring individual appeals of the cases allegedly tainted by Hiett. Four appeals worth some $2 billion to customers of OG&E, ONG and PSO are currently pending before the Court, including Gann’s appeal of the PSO rate case which the court has now decided will proceed. In response to the Ethics Commission’s May 1 statement explaining its dismissal of Gann’s complaint filed against Hiett, Gann gave the following statement: "It is baffling how the Ethics Commission could read Justice Kuehn’s concurring opinion in OSC 122513 saying that: 'The Ethics Commission has the power to investigate the complaint, gather evidence, hold hearings, and give Respondent an opportunity to be heard before resolving the ethics claim.' "Yet they completely missed Justice Combs’ lengthy assessment in footnote 1 of his concurring opinion, concluding that: 'Thus, we now know that the rule of necessity need not be utilized to maintain a quorum of three in every case, and we can disregard Southwestern Bell's language to the contrary.' "If the Ethics Commission has decided that the common law Rule of Necessity allows Commissioner Hiett to participate in cases tainted by his misconduct, despite Ethics Rule 4’s prohibition against conflicts of interest, that means the Ethics Commission determined that there is reason to question Hiett’s impartiality in these cases. Otherwise, the Rule of Necessity, which only applies to biased or conflicted decision-makers, could not apply. "As made clear by Justice Kuehn, the Ethics Commission’s role was to be the trier of fact in the complaints against Hiett. Although the Commission did not disclose the details of its findings in that role, its mistaken legal conclusion indicates that the facts pointed to Hiett having a prohibited conflict of interest. "I look forward to hearing what the proper trier of law, the Oklahoma Supreme Court, has to say about the correct interpretation of Ethics Rule 4’s prohibition against OCC Commissioners participating in cases about which a reasonable person would question their impartiality – especially the dozens of OCC cases worth billions of dollars to Oklahoma utility customers that have been tainted by Hiett’s misconduct. I continue to be encouraged by the Court’s decisions and opinions, including Monday’s decision to let the first appeal proceed." The three legislators currently are appealing four utility cases worth more than $2 billion at the Oklahoma Supreme Court. They allege Hiett was legally required to disqualify himself from those cases, and that the Oklahoma Corporation Commission’s utility audits, including of the multi-billion dollar 2021 Winter Storm costs and bonds, did not comply with state law. 



May 5, 2025
Recent Posts

Gann Condemns Passage of SB987, Calls it Corporate Welfare Wrapped in Secrecy

OKLAHOMA CITY – Following the final House vote on Senate Bill 987 , Rep. Tom Gann, R-Inola, issued a statement about voting no and delivering floor debate in opposition of the measure. “Senate Bill 987 is not economic development. It is governance by nondisclosure agreement,” Gann said. “I believe this bill expands unaccountable government bureaucracy and entrenches corporate welfare practices that undermine the free-market principles we were elected to defend.” SB987 establishes a Department of Commerce board with the authority to conduct closed-door executive sessions, granting it powers to withhold feasibility studies, financial proposals and business plans from public scrutiny. Gann said it compounds the secrecy embedded in existing law under 74 O.S. § 5090.1, which requires legislators on the Legislative Evaluation and Development Committee to sign nondisclosure agreements. “Public funds should never be handed out behind closed doors,” Gann continued. “The Oklahoma taxpayer deserves transparency, debate and documentation—not decisions made in private meetings shielded from public view.” During floor debate, Gann cited Nobel Prize-winning economist Milton Friedman’s staunch opposition to corporate subsidies, reminding colleagues that government should not pick winners and losers in the marketplace. Gann also referenced past failures such as the CANOO deal, where he said governor-sponsored, state-backed incentives were squandered on a highly speculative electric vehicle startup that ultimately failed to deliver. “If Oklahoma had followed free-market principles instead of government-directed investment schemes, taxpayers wouldn’t be left holding the bag,” Gann said. “We should be improving the business climate for all, not giving special treatment to a politically connected few.” Gann emphasized the role of government is to create a stable legal framework and a level playing field, not to gamble with taxpayer dollars. He said SB987 doubles down on central planning while eliminating transparency and accountability. “This bill is the worst of both worlds—state-directed spending with zero transparency,” he concluded. “I voted no because I believe in sunlight, not subsidies. Oklahoma deserves real economic growth, not more rent-seeking risky ventures and backroom deals.” Gann asked the governor to veto SB987 and said he will work to repeal 74 O.S. § 5090.1 and pursue reforms that restore public trust, protect the free market and end what he calls "politically motivated giveaways." 



Apr 28, 2025
Recent Posts

Bill Allowing Property Owners to Reclaim Seized Land Signed into Law

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Tom Gann, R-Inola, today commented on the governor's signing of House Bill 1103 , which requires the Oklahoma Transportation Commission to notify a previous property owner if the land they sold to the Commission is going to be offered for sale. "This was a constituent request bill," Gann said. "This person experienced the taking of his land by the Oklahoma Department of Transportation and then found out it was later sold without any notification to him. This would just give people in similar circumstances the ability to repurchase land that was taken from them by eminent domain." Sen. Ally Seifried, R-Claremore is the Senate author of the bill. “This common-sense legislation gives original property owners the right of first refusal if land taken from them is later offered for resale,” Seifried said. “By allowing landowners the chance to reclaim their property at a fair price, this bill enhances property rights and promotes transparency. Above all, this is about doing what's right for those displaced by eminent domain and giving them the chance to recover what was taken from them.” Gann explained this measure extends the window of time that previous landowners have to reclaim their land – from 30 to 90 days - and specifies notification requirements by the Commission. The measure also removes the five-year time period the Commission now has to notify previous owners of the sale of the property. Rep. Mark Lepak, R-Claremore, is a coauthor of the bill and the author of identical legislation that did not previously advance.  "The five-year requirement, if it were to remain, would act as an incentive for the Commission to hold the property for five years so it could be sold at market value, resulting in increased revenue," he explained. "By removing the time limit, it incentivizes the department to more quickly offer the land back to the previous owner." Gann said the changes "add transparency to the process by requiring online publication of the land sale. This also clarifies eligibility and ensures fair offers to the original landowner rather than allowing the Department of Transportation to profit off of land they've taken." The notice is to contain an offer to sell the property back to the previous owner at no greater than the original price, provided the previous owner did not use federal funds to purchase the property. Notices must be sent by registered mail and posted on the Department of Transportation's website. The act becomes effective Nov. 1.