Press Releases

State Capitol, Oklahoma City – State Sen. Jim Reynolds, R-Oklahoma City, said Friday that Gov. Brad Henry should consider asking his appointees to the Oklahoma Lottery Commission’s board to resign.

“We should start over with a new board that isn’t bent on taking advantage of Oklahoma’s poor in an effort to meet Gov. Henry’s lofty projections for lottery revenues,” Reynolds stated.

State Senator Daisy Lawler Thursday encouraged members of the Oklahoma Education Lottery Commission to move quickly to ban the sale of lottery tickets at pawn shops and payday loan companies and vowed to push for legislation next year to prevent such sales.

“Allowing the sale of lottery tickets in pawn shops and over the counters at payday loan companies is nothing more than preying on the poorest among us,” said Lawler, D-Comanche. “There’s right and wrong and that’s just wrong.”

State Sen. Cliff Aldridge, R-Midwest City, said the decision by the Oklahoma Lottery Commission’s oversight board – which was appointed by Gov. Brad Henry – to allow lottery ticket sales at pawn shops, check-cashing businesses, and payday loan companies amounts to profiting from Oklahoma’s neediest citizens.

Statement from Randy Brogdon, R-Owasso
State Senator Dist 34

“More than two thirds of Oklahoma taxpayers approve of holding the growth of state government to a reasonable level. Unfortunately the other third, the big spenders, are trying to stifle very good legislation by portraying a dishonest view of the Taxpayer Bill of Rights initiative (TABOR).

State Senator Daisy Lawler Thursday encouraged members of the Oklahoma Education Lottery Commission to move quickly to ban the sale of lottery tickets at pawn shops and payday loan companies and vowed to push for legislation next year to prevent such sales.

“Allowing the sale of lottery tickets in pawn shops and over the counters at payday loan companies is nothing more than preying on the poorest among us,” said Lawler, D-Comanche. “There’s right and wrong and that’s just wrong.”

With friends, family and supporters gathered in the Senate Gallery, Oklahoma City Democrat Constance N. Johnson was officially sworn in to be the next District 48 Senator. Federal District Judge Vicki Miles-LaGrange, who held the District 48 seat from 1986 until 1993, administered the oath of office.

“This is a proud day for my family and for me,” said Johnson. “I am very humbled by the trust that the citizens of District 48 have placed in me and I pledge to do the best job I can.”
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