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With the beginning of the 2007 session approaching, State Senate President Pro Tempore Mike Morgan and Co-President Pro Tempore Glenn Coffee Friday announced committee assignments for the 51st Oklahoma Legislature.

As a result of the November 7 elections, the Senate is now tied with 24 Democrats and 24 Republicans. As part of a power-sharing agreement announced by the leaders last week, each committee will be headed by co-chairsone from each partyand every committee will have an equal number of Republican and Democratic members.

Democrats and Republicans in the Oklahoma State Senate have reached a historic agreement to share power, Senate leaders announced Tuesday. The 48-member Senate has an unprecedented tie of 24 Republicans to 24 Democrats.

The leaders said the historic agreement will ensure that the Senates business can be conducted in an orderly fashion, and follows several weeks of intense negotiations. A tentative agreement was reached by negotiators last Friday, and it was formally approved by both parties caucuses Tuesday morning.