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The state Senate on Tuesday welcomed Oklahoma State University head football coach Mike Gundy and Cowboy football stars Justin Blackmon and Dan Bailey.

The Cowboys finished the 2010 season with an 11-2 record. Gundy was honored as the Big XII Coach of the Year and was a finalist for the Eddie Robinson National Coach of the Year award and the Liberty Mutual National Coach of the Year award. The Senate on Monday approved three resolutions congratulating Gundy and his players on their accomplishments.

The state Senate on Tuesday approved a measure that would allow voters to approve an amendment prohibiting discrimination and preferential treatment in state government.

Authored by Sen. Rob Johnson, Senate Joint Resolution 15 would ban programs that allow discrimination against, or that give preferential treatment to, any individual or group on the basis of race, color, sex, ethnicity or national origin. The law would prohibit such considerations in public employment, public education and public contracting.

The full Senate has voted 42-2 to end a long-standing retirement formula that enables elected officials in Oklahoma to receive twice the retirement benefit as state employees. Sen. Mike Mazzei is principal author of Senate Bill 794.

“At a time when we’re downsizing government because of less revenue and tighter budgets, we need to send a message to the voters that the days of special treatment for elected officials are coming to an end,” said Mazzei, R-Tulsa.
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The State Senate recognized and honored the country’s oldest federal law enforcement agency Monday. Sen. Kim David authored Senate Concurrent Resolution 7 commending the U.S. Marshals and their role in Oklahoma history.
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Senate Bill 970 passed the full Senate today, a bill from the newly created Joint Committee on Appropriations and Budget. The committee was created upon the enactment of joint rules within the legislature, something Oklahoma has not had since 1999.
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The chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee said legislation approved on Monday would help address critical needs in the Department of Corrections (DOC) without adding to the $500 million gap facing the state in the coming budget year. Sen. David Myers, R-Ponca City, said the bill authorizes DOC to use existing funds to reduce employee furloughs. The measure was approved by the full Senate on a bipartisan vote of 37-7.

Oklahoma County homeowners who have recently received their property tax bill need to file an appeal before the clock runs out. That’s according to State Sen. Jim Reynolds, R-Oklahoma City, who said one out of three homeowners in the county is being overcharged. He said that’s just one problem in a system that is clearly broken and needs to be fixed.

Following a U.S. Supreme Court decision upholding the free speech rights of funeral picketers, State Sen. Josh Brecheen said Wednesday he would ask for an Attorney General’s opinion on his legislation which would double the time moratorium and distance such protests can be held at Oklahoma funerals.
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