An interim committee looking at ways to encourage oil and gas exploration while protecting the environment held its first meeting at the State Capitol today. Senator Kevin Easley, D-Broken Arrow, requested the study and is hopeful it will help the state develop a more comprehensive energy plan.

State Senator Mike Morgan was in Guthrie Friday afternoon, October 3, to present three-time national champion fiddler Byron Berline with a Citation of Appreciation on behalf of the State Senate honoring the Oklahoma International Bluegrass Festival.

“Bluegrass is truly American music and our state has many, many talented bluegrass musicians. This festival brings them together along with musicians from around the world for thousands of fans to enjoy—and it helps provide college scholarships for young musicians,” said Morgan, D-Stillwater.

“After two years of almost dreading the next report on the state’s revenue picture, the first quarter numbers are certainly welcome news.

“But we can’t lose sight of the fact that we have a long ways to go and a couple of sizeable hurdles still in our way. We utilized more than $200 million in one-time money to bridge last year’s budget gap – money we won’t have next session.

“And while our first quarter numbers are good, the growth in state revenues is based largely on increases in gross production taxes resulting from higher than anticipated energy prices.

(OKLAHOMA CITY) An energy company executive and an Oklahoma City businessman have been selected to lead a new state task force that will examine the potential financial savings related to reorganizing or consolidating the administrative functions of Oklahoma’s public schools.

(OKLAHOMA CITY) Although the beginning of the next session of the Oklahoma Legislature is still more than three months away, Senate Appropriations sub-committees have already begun preliminary work on the Fiscal Year 2005 budget, the Senate’s chief budget framer said Tuesday.

Senate Appropriations Chairman Mike Morgan said the meetings, which began last week and will continue over the next six weeks, are part of the Legislature’s new zero-based budgeting initiative.

State Senator Sam Helton, D-Lawton, and Representative Ray McCarter, D-Marlow, announced the dedication of I-40 to be known also as the "Purple Heart Trail" today. Senator Helton and Representative McCarter, along with Director of the Department of Veterans Affairs Phillip Driskill, officially dedicated the interstate under the provisions of Senate Bill 380, which was signed into law by Governor Brad Henry during the 2003 legislative session.

Study Shows Large Scale Suppression of Abortion Research

State Capitol, Oklahoma City – Senator Scott Pruitt, R-Broken Arrow, and Rep. Kevin Calvey, R-Del City, will redouble their efforts to pass an “informed consent” law in Oklahoma following the release of a study published in the Summer 2003 issue of the Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons (click here for the study).

State Capitol, Oklahoma City – Senators Mike Johnson, R-Kingfisher, and Owen Laughlin, R-Woodward, have filed legislation to repeal a controversial and confusing new sales tax provision that places burdensome new filing requirements on small businesses.

(Oklahoma City) - Senators across the state will once again be traveling to schools in their districts to personally meet with students, answer questions and share ideas from the students in the public school system.

The Senators will also provide the students with a greater understanding of the legislative process through explaining how a bill is drafted and the steps a bill goes through to become law.

(OKLAHOMA CITY) The show will go on.

Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Mike Morgan said Friday that funding approved by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education will keep the doors of the Pollard Theatre in Guthrie open through June.

“I’m pleased that the Regents recognized the important role the Pollard plays in the arts community Oklahoma and its historical significance in our Territorial Capital and saved this cultural treasure,” said the Stillwater Democrat, whose district includes parts of Guthrie.