Dear Friends,

Watching the Oklahoma City Thunder play with such heart and intensity during the last two playoff games with the Los Angeles Lakers brought back memories of my own underdog battle to win the 2008 election for Oklahoma Corporation Commissioner. Just as the fans in Oklahoma have made such a difference in these games (the noise and energy have been incredible!), so many of you made the difference in electing me! These games have been a reminder to me of how great it feels to overcome the odds and have so many believe in you!

I filed my campaign contribution report early and thanks to so many of you, it was a strong contribution report for the reporting period from January 1 to March 31, especially since the time window for me as a sitting Commissioner to begin raising money was just a few days prior to this past quarter's reporting deadline period. I am still working hard to raise money and earn support for re-election and I would greatly appreciate your financial contribution to support my re-election efforts. You can print a contributor slip directly from the website or make a donation directly on-line at: http://www.danamurphy.com/donate-supportdana-42.html

I am also grateful that my most recent editorial piece, "Game Changers" was published in various newspapers across the State this past week including the Oklahoman and the Edmond Sun. http://www.newsok.com/bottom-up-approach-needed-on-energy/article/3455016 and http://www.edmondsun.com/opinion/x563626971/Game-changers-needed-for-state-growth You can also catch the internet broadcast of the PBS program I participated in while at the Natural Gas Nation conference in Dallas at: http://www.ideasinactiontv.com/episodes/2010/04/natural-gas-nation.html

I continue to travel across the State speaking and attending events in various communities. From April 15 to April 21, I spoke to Rotary Clubs in El Reno, Ponca City and Oklahoma City and also to the Best Biz business group in Edmond. This past Saturday, I traveled to Weatherford to attend the Oklahoma Federation of Republican Women's Quarterly Board meeting and then on to Clinton to speak to the annual meeting of the Oklahoma Mineral Owners Association.

The Corporation Commission continues to deal with budget issues while doing its best to manage the increased number of complicated matters in the utility and oil and gas sectors amidst furloughs, reduced staff and shrinking appropriations. Over the past months and this past week, I continue to meet with legislators to discuss the importance of establishing stable funding for the Commission's oil and gas conservation division and returning funding to this division from the excise tax assessed on oil and natural gas. For over 60 years, the Commission's oil and gas division was funded with a portion of such monies and with the taxes that are paid by the oil and gas industry, it only seems to make sense that a portion of these taxes be used to fund the agency that regulates this industry (this funding was removed about 13 years ago).

Ongoing challenges continue to be made at the federal level for regulation (especially in the area of emissions and an oil and gas completion technique called hydraulic fracturing) to come in the form of a one-size-fits-all federal standard as potentially proposed by the EPA. It is more important than ever that producing states like Oklahoma can show they have sufficient field staff, technology and funding at the state regulatory level to locally regulate this industry by promoting proper development, protecting the environment and balancing the divergent interests of those involved.

I know I mentioned this in my last Murphy Mail, but people continue to be amazed at how much the Commission regulates, so I thought it bears repeating that with 440 employees, in 6 offices, the Commission regulates over 120,000 oil and gas wells, almost 3,000 oil and gas operators, 500 public utilities, 10,000 trucking companies, permitting for over 150,000 tractor trailers and calibration of over 31,000 gasoline pumps across the entire state. The Commission is one of the few agencies that actually create jobs and has a direct economic impact on the state. In contrast, the Department of Human Services has almost 8,000 employees, the Department of Transportation has almost 5,000 employees, the Department of Corrections has 4,661 employees and the State Health Department, over 2,000 employees. It is easy to see that the Commission does a lot with the 440 employees we have. Under current budget difficulties, it becomes more clear than ever that we will be expected to do more with less!

I want to express my special thanks for your ongoing support and your contributions to help my re-election efforts! As many of you know, if you do not have a plan to win, it is likely you won't! My plan for re-election involves continuing to give my best efforts to do the job as your Corporation Commissioner, traveling the State to speak about the Commission and working hard to raise money for my campaign.

Especially in these economic times, I appreciate your donations and support more than ever! I hope this week as the playoffs continue that you will find yourself cheering GO THUNDER GO!

God Bless,

Your Commissioner, Dana