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The Senate Finance Committee approved legislation Tuesday which may eventually allow Oklahomans to vote on a proposed increase in the state tax on tobacco products. The measure was reported “do pass” by the committee on a 12-0 vote.

House Bill 2660 currently does not include a tobacco tax increase, but Senate President Pro Tempore Cal Hobson, Senate author of the measure, says he hopes to work out details in a Senate-House conference committee that will allow a statewide vote on a tobacco tax increase later this year.
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Stillwater Senator Mike Morgan was elected President Pro Tempore of the Oklahoma State Senate Wednesday.

“I am humbled by the awesome responsibility of this job and the challenges that lay ahead. I’m thankful to my Senate colleagues for their support and I know I can count on each and every one of them – both Democrats and Republicans – to put aside petty political differences in the coming weeks as we seek to move Oklahoma forward,” Morgan said.
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Stillwater Senator Mike Morgan was elected President Pro Tempore of the Oklahoma State Senate Wednesday.

“I am humbled by the awesome responsibility of this job and the challenges that lay ahead. I’m thankful to my Senate colleagues for their support and I know I can count on each and every one of them – both Democrats and Republicans – to put aside petty political differences in the coming weeks as we seek to move Oklahoma forward,” Morgan said.
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Senate Republican Leader Glenn Coffee, R-Oklahoma City, made the following statement regarding the resignation of Sen. Cal Hobson as President Pro Tempore.

“First and foremost, our prayers and thoughts are with Sen. Hobson during this difficult time for him and his family. My disagreements with Sen. Hobson have always been over policy issues – not personal issues.

The State Senate has given unanimous approval to legislation that would make it harder for methamphetamine manufacturers to get ingredients needed to make the drug. Senator Dick Wilkerson is author of House Bill 2176. He called it the most proactive step the legislature has ever taken to address this growing problem.
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Oklahoma was embarrassed on the national television program “60 minutes” Sunday evening when commentator Andy Rooney ridiculed Oklahoma for its high rate of divorce.

“This is another national embarrassment for the State of Oklahoma. What makes this one really sting is that the Democrat leaders of the Oklahoma Senate have killed numerous bills to strengthen marriage in Oklahoma,” stated Sen. Owen Laughlin, R-Woodward.

Cimarron Equality Oklahoma, a radical homosexual organization, is deliberately misleading the public about the Marriage Protection Constitutional Amendment that is scheduled for a public vote this November.

“Cimarron is misleading the public about the Marriage Protection Amendment in an attempt to scare Oklahoma voters into voting against it. They know that 80 percent of Oklahoma voters oppose legalizing same-sex marriages, so they’re trying to dupe the public in order to advance their radical agenda,” said Senate GOP Leader James Williamson, the author of the amendment.

Cimarron Equality Oklahoma, a radical homosexual organization, is deliberately misleading the public about the Marriage Protection Constitutional Amendment that is scheduled for a public vote this November.

“Cimarron is misleading the public about the Marriage Protection Amendment in an attempt to scare Oklahoma voters into voting against it. They know that 80 percent of Oklahoma voters oppose legalizing same-sex marriages, so they’re trying to dupe the public in order to advance their radical agenda,” said Senate GOP Leader James Williamson, the author of the amendment.

Senator Charles Ford, R-Tulsa, has seen many things during his 38 years in the state Legislature.

One thing he has never seen is Democrat legislative leaders abandon their trial lawyer allies – and he doesn’t expect them to start now by allowing meaningful lawsuit reform and workers compensation reform legislation to pass the Senate.

Art Treasures of the Oklahoma State Capitol has been nominated for two 2004 Oklahoma Book Awards. State Senator Charles Ford headed the project to document the original paintings and sculptures of the State Capitol. read more.