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Showing: April, 2007

Medical professionals and members of the Legislature held press conferences in Oklahoma City and Tulsa on Monday, urging Gov. Brad Henry to sign Senate Bill 714 into law. Sen. James A. Williamson, principal author of the measure, said the press conferences were necessary to counter misinformation from opponents of the measure.
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Sen. Williamson, along with medical professionals, urges Gov. Henry to sign SB 714.

On Monday, the evenly divided Oklahoma Senate passed a bipartisan immigration reform bill by a 41 to 6 vote. If the House of Representatives accepts the Senate’s amendments to House Bill 1804, the legislation could be on Gov. Brad Henry’s desk by the end of the week.

Sen. James A. Williamson is the Senate author of HB 1804, “The Oklahoma Taxpayer and Citizen Protection Act of 2007.” He said the bill is designed to protect jobs for citizens as well as addressing concerns about taxpayer supported benefits.
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Sen. Williamson reax after passage of immigration bill.

Calling Senate Bill 714 “outrageous,” Sen. Jim Wilson has urged Gov. Brad Henry to veto the measure. The bill was given final approval in the Senate on Wednesday and is now headed to the governor for his consideration. Wilson said the legislation would forbid the use of state funds, facilities or employees to terminate pregnancies and impose further restrictions as well.
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Sens. Wilson, Leftwich and Rice speak out against SR 714 along with physicians and others from the medical community.
Republican Co-Floor Leader Sen. Owen Laughlin and Appropriations Vice Chair David Myers visit with press about the past week in the Senate and the budget.

The evenly divided Oklahoma Senate voted Wednesday to send a bipartisan pro-life bill to Gov. Brad Henry’s desk. The legislation prohibits state funds or facilities from being used to perform abortions.

Wednesday, the Senate adopted the House of Representatives’ amendments to Senate Bill 714, authored by Sen. James A. Williamson, and then voted 32 to 16 for the bill with 8 Democrats joining all 24 Republican senators to pass the legislation.

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Senator James A. Williamson debates for passage of SB 715.

Tulsa is the fifth largest metro in the United States without Amtrak service. That’s something Sen. Bill Brown wants to change in the near future. Brown, R-Broken Arrow, is the principal author of Senate Joint Resolution 14, which urges the U.S. Department of Transportation to include a Tulsa to Springfield, Missouri rail line in its existing Missouri Amtrak feasibility study. Gov. Henry voiced his support for the concept when he signed SJR 14 on Sunday.
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Sen. Brown hopes SJR 14 will expand Amtrack to Tulsa.

Democratic and Republican legislative leaders in the House and Senate Tuesday announced they will immediately pass a $1.5 million supplemental appropriation for the state's military department to help replace aging and dilapidated National Guard armories.

The Senate will take up the supplemental appropriation later Tuesday in House Bill 1184, and the measure could be on the governor’s desk by the end of the week.

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Speakers: Rep. Chris Benge, House Appropriations & Budget Committee Chair; Sen. Johnnie Crutchfield, Co-Chair Senate Appropriations; Major General Bud Wyatt, Commander of the Oklahoma Army & Air National Guard; Ken Miller, House A & B Committee Vice-Chair.

The State Senate on Wednesday honored the public service career of former Senator Gary Gardenhire, passing a resolution wishing him well upon his retirement.

Gardenhire’s most recent role in public service concluded in February, when he retired from his position as General Counsel for the Oklahoma Health Department. Sen. Jonathan Nichols authored Senate Resolution 28, praising the distinguished veteran and lifelong public servant for his numerous contributions to the state.

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Former Senator Gary Gardenhire addresses the State Senate on Wednesday.