Keating not looking toward Washington?

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- As Christmas nears, Oklahoma Gov. Frank Keating says he's concentrating on in-state business -- specifically the upcoming legislative session -- and not another job in Washington.

But in an interview with The Associated Press, Keating said he would return to the nation's capital if President-elect George W.

Bush asks him to succeed Janet Reno as attorney general.

"Obviously, if he offered me attorney general, I would be thrilled," Keating said. "But absent that, I have no interest whatsoever. I've already been to Washington. I've already done those things and I came back here to be an Oklahoman."

"And, besides, it's expensive to live in Washington and I don't know anybody," he joked.

Democratic officials have been predicting, if not counting, on the popular Republican governor taking a job with Bush. Despite Keating's declarations to the contrary, they say it would be hard for him to turn down a presidential request to fill any important post.

Keating, 56, has a law-and-order background as a former FBI agent, U.S. attorney and high-ranking official in the Justice Department in Washington. But he says his heart is now in Oklahoma, no matter what Democrats think.

Keating left the nation's capital with a bitter taste in his mouth after Democrats derailed his nomination by Bush to a federal judgeship so incoming President Clinton could make a different appointment.

In the last few weeks, Keating said he has thought a lot about the outcome of the presidential election, but not a choice appointment from his fellow governor from Texas.

"Personally, I love what I'm doing," he said. "So I'm very conflicted about helping him beyond helping him get elected."

In addition, he said that while he is a friend, he is not a confidant of Bush and the Texas governor may have someone else in mind for attorney general.

Turning to the New Year and the upcoming legislative session, Keating was optimistic that some of his programs that had been sidelined by the Democratic majority will finally pass.

He made an outright prediction that 2001 will be the year that the volatile right-to-work issue will finally go to a statewide vote through a legislative referendum.

As far as it passing, he said: "I think it will be competitive but I think it's going to happen."

Republicans picked up eight state House seats in the November general election and now trail Democrats by only a 53-48 margin, compared to a 20-vote difference only a few years ago.

The GOP also added three seats in the 48-member Senate, a sufficient number to block bills with emergency provisions and sustain Keating vetoes.

For much of his six years as governor, Keating has used the stick and not the carrot to try and elect more Republicans and get his legislative program through.

But he indicates he will have a softer tone in 2001 and predicts it will be a bipartisan legislative session.

"Contrary to initial impressions and expectancies, the fact that there is increasing parity between Republicans and Democrats in the Legislature indicates the likelihood of both Democratic and Republican ideas being well and competitively presented. I think that's healthy.

"So, you're going to see, I suspect, an initiative on right to work, and initiatives again on workers compensation reform and tax policy.

"I may propose an initiative on an entrepreneurial package to encourage entrepreneurs to remain in Oklahoma and not sell their countries and flee to a no-tax state like Texas."

Keating said he is considering another income tax cut and a capital gains tax.

"I think you'll see more strengthening of the curriculum to make schools tougher," he said. "And obviously I want to continue to build the roads to provide the infrastructure to save rural Oklahoma."

The Oklahoma Legislature convenes Jan. 2 for a one-day organizational session, when its leaders will be formally elected.

Lawmakers will be in recess until Feb. 6, when they starts a work schedule that will end at 5 p.m. on the last Friday in May.

Rep. Larry Adair, D-Stilwell, has been nominated by Democrats as the next speaker, succeeding Rep. Loyd Benson, D-Frederick. Sen.

Stratton Taylor, D-Claremore, will return as president pro tempore of the Senate.

Rep. Fred Morgan, R-Oklahoma City, will be back as minority leader in the House and Sen. Jim Dunlap, R-Bartlesville, will succeed Sen. Mark Snyder, R-Edmond, as minority leader in the Senate.