Audio

The full Senate has given approval to a measure that would repeal an economic trigger that would lower the state's top income tax rate from 5 percent to 4.85 percent. Sen. Roger Thompson, R-Okemah, is the author of Senate Bill 170 which was approved by a wide margin in the Senate on Monday.

"I believe with this vote the Senate is saying we need to quit digging. We need to stabilize our income," Thompson said. "At this point in time, we need to pay our bills and let future legislatures deal with the decision of whether to reduce taxes further."

(For digital audio, go to www.oksenate.gov and select Media)

A bill aimed at reducing the number of individuals fraudulently claiming to be disabled veteran has cleared the full Senate. Sen. Joe Newhouse is principal author of Senate Bill 456, which directs the Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs (ODVA) to create and administer a registry of 100 percent service-disabled veterans. The agency would also be charged with verifying all information provided through the registry.