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Legislation to encourage more Oklahomans to purchase long-term care insurance has been signed into law. Senator Kathleen Wilcoxson, R-OKC, is author of Senate Bill 1547, a measure aimed at helping Oklahomans meet their long-term care needs without forcing them into poverty.
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State Sen. Jeff Rabon, D-Hugo, said he was outraged by a national ad sponsored by Cimarron Equality Oklahoma. The ad, printed in USA Today, discouraged businesses from locating in Oklahoma because of a proposed constitutional amendment protecting traditional marriage.

“Any individual or group certainly has the right to disagree with a policy decision—but to run ads in a national newspaper that could do economic harm to our state is going to hurt everyone in Oklahoma, even those belonging to Cimarron Equality Oklahoma,” Rabon said. “They are waging economic terrorism.” read more.

Tuesday, Senate Republicans offered an alternative to Gov. Brad Henry’s “last, best” plan to raise the tobacco tax to pay for various health care initiatives.

“The governor’s ‘last, best offer’ is not what’s best for Oklahoma, and it has little chance of obtaining a three-fourths majority in the Senate and the House,” said Senate Republican Leader James A. Williamson of Tulsa.

“The Senate Republican alternative makes it clear that Republicans support improving both the health and the prosperity of Oklahomans,” he said.

State Sen. Harry Coates applauded Gov. Brad Henry for signing Senate Bill 1561 and said it will help Oklahoma businesses and families alike. The Seminole Republican is principal author of Senate Bill 1561, which creates the “Fair Pay for Construction Act.” The bill ensures contractors working with the state will be paid in a more timely way.
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State Senate Appropriations Chairman Mike Morgan, D-Stillwater, has kept his word—the state’s Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program (OHLAP) will be fully funded in the 2004-2005 school year.

“Last November, Sen. Herb Rozell and I pledged this would be one of our top priorities for this session. The 9,000 Oklahoma students who are counting on these scholarships this fall can rest assured that promise has been kept,” Morgan said.

Rozell, D-Tahlequah, is chairman of the Senate Appropriations Sub-Committee on Education. read more.

Legislative leaders today announced plans to seek a statewide vote on the State-Tribal Gaming Act by introducing a new proposal that would repeal Senate Bill 553 and put the issue on the November General Election ballot.

Senate President Pro Tempore Cal Hobson and House Speaker Larry Adair said new language will be inserted in Senate Bill 1252. The amended bill will combine Senate Bill 553 and provisions that had been slated for a trailer bill.
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Senate Republican leaders said the announced plan by Democrat legislative leaders to delay consideration of lawsuit reform legislation until the final week of the legislative session is “terrible public policy.” Republicans also demanded that the final version of the bill be written in an open conference committee, and made available for public review at least one week before the end of the legislative session.