Representative T.J. Marti

R

District 75

Hi, I’m T.J. Marti and I represent the people of Oklahoma’s 75th District.


representative

News & Announcements

May 14, 2024
Recent Posts

Marti Applauds AG Drummond's Lawsuit Against Drug Makers and PBMs for Unfair Pricing

 Rep. T.J. Marti, R-Broken Arrow, released the following statement applauding Attorney General Gentner Drummond's recent lawsuit against major diabetic drug manufacturers and pharmacy benefit managers (PBMS) for unfair pricing. "I commend General Drummond and his office for advocating for Oklahomans struggling to make ends meet while PBMs and health insurers continue to boast record profits year after year. Since the Attorney General's office took authority over PBMs, we have seen progress in curbing their anti-competitive and monopolistic practices. "The Oklahoma Legislature has been at the forefront of the battle against PBMs and their lack of transparency in the United States. This lack of transparency has resulted in higher drug prices and poorer health outcomes. Despite misinformation from these companies and the state chamber of commerce, the Oklahoma House and Senate have remained steadfast in fighting PBM abuses." Marti serves as the chair of the Alcohol, Tobacco and Controlled Substances Committee. According to the petition Drummond filed Tuesday, in the past decade alone, manufacturer defendants have increased the prices of their insulins up to 1000%.

Aug 25, 2023
Recent Posts

STATEMENT: Marti Condemns Threats Against Tulsa-Area Schools

Rep. T.J. Marti, R-Tulsa, condemned the recent bomb threats made against several schools in the Union Public Schools district this week. “These threats against our schools must stop. Law enforcement must do everything in their power to track down those responsible for making them and our judicial system must prosecute these perpetrators to the fullest extent of the law. The rhetoric spurring these threats has been tolerated long enough and must end today. We know that our education system needs improvement, but there is a process in place to do that. These threats and hateful rhetoric have no place in Oklahoma Oklahoma is home to some of the best teachers in the nation, and they are doing everything they can to help students achieve academic and personal success. Our focus should be on helping students across the state succeed, not villainizing our hard-working educators and administrators or terrorizing innocent students and their families." Marti's legislative district includes a portion of Union Public Schools.

Sep 28, 2022

ARPA-Funded Opioid Addiction Research Lab to be Considered by Legislature

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Contact: Rep. T.J. Marti Phone: (405) 557-7356 The Legislature reconvened the Second Extraordinary Session of the 58th Legislature on Wednesday, Sept. 28, to consider bills allocating American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, including a project to help Oklahomans suffering from opioid addiction. Legislators will consider directing $50 million to create a Pharmaceutical Development Lab at the National Center for Wellness & Recovery at Oklahoma State University (OSU) Center for Health Sciences, located in Tulsa. The lab would pursue research into non-opioid pain management therapeutics, less addictive pain management drugs, new ways of determining levels of pain and drug overdoses reversals. Following the historic settlement between the State of Oklahoma and Purdue Pharma in 2019, OSU received decades of data from Purdue Pharma. The center will work with addiction recovery clinics and in partnership with the University of Arizona on the research. Additionally, the center also receives around $4.5 million annually from the National Center for Addiction Studies and Treatment (NCAST) Foundation. Deaths from drug overdoses, including opioids, rose nationally during the pandemic. Rep. T.J. Marti, R-Broken Arrow, said this need is especially important because of the federal government's crackdown on prescription narcotics, which has led to an exponential increase in fentanyl-related overdose deaths. Additionally, many Oklahomans continue to suffer symptoms of long COVID, including pain, which Marti said could lead them to seek out medication for their pain in the coming years. ""Deaths from opioid overdoses are devastating, but they are an unfortunate reality for many families in our state, and we may see that statistic increasing in the future,"" Marti said. ""The Legislature has a unique opportunity now to invest in a program that could save thousands of lives."" Sen. John Haste, R-Broken Arrow, was co-chair of the Joint Committee on Pandemic Relief Funding Health and Human Services working group. “Opioid addiction and overdose deaths increased by 30 percent nationwide during the pandemic, but skyrocketed by 62 percent in Oklahoma,” Haste said. “I’m also extremely concerned about our country’s increasing reliance on medications manufactured in China and India. Being able to develop safe, effective drugs here in Oklahoma will help better address the opioid crisis and meet other critical medical needs.”