State Senator Randy Brogdon announced Wednesday that he will introduce a constitutional amendment to limit the future growth of the state government’s budget, known as the “Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights” or TABOR.

“Over the past ten years, state government has grown at an unsustainable rate of 89%, while the private sector has only grown 65%,” stated Brogdon, R-Owasso. “The TABOR amendment would limit the annual growth in the state budget to the level of inflation plus the state’s population growth, ensuring that the state’s budget does not grow faster than the family budget.”

A group of Oklahoma school children think it is high time one of the state’s naturally occurring gems gets official recognition—and State Senator Kathleen Wilcoxson is working to make sure the gem and the students have a chance to shine. She’s filed legislation to make Selenite Crystal the state’s official gemstone.

A state senator called on Gov. Brad Henry to conduct comprehensive background checks of potential commissioners on the state’s new Lottery Commission.

“With the potential for corruption in gambling enterprises, we must ensure that Oklahoma’s new Lottery Commission is composed of individuals of unquestionable character and integrity,” stated Sen. Owen Laughlin, R-Woodward.

Senate President Pro Tempore Cal Hobson announced Thursday that Senator Ted Fisher will serve a second term as Majority Floor Leader. Hobson also named the other Senate members who will make up his leadership team for the 50th Oklahoma Legislature.

Senate President Pro Tempore Cal Hobson and Appropriations Chairman Mike Morgan named chairpersons Friday for the seven Appropriations Subcommittees that will write the Fiscal Years 2006 and 2007 state budgets in the 50th Oklahoma Legislature.

“In my opinion we’ve assembled an extremely talented team who will make sure that state government is providing critical services to the people of Oklahoma in an efficient and effective manner,” said Hobson, D-Lexington.

Senate President Pro Tempore Cal Hobson announced the assignment of e chairpersons and vice chairpersons for standing committees for the 50th Oklahoma Legislature Friday.

With 15 new members, more incoming Senators will be called on to serve in committee leadership roles than ever before, Hobson said, and the role of senior members will be more important over the next two years than at any time in history.

All total 21 Senate committees and subcommittees will have new chairpersons when the Legislature convenes again in February.

While voters were agreeing last week to raise $150 million to invest in health care services in Oklahoma, the federal government was quietly slashing matching funds, which jeopardizes healthcare coverage for more than 100,000 Oklahomans, State Senator-elect Tom Adelson said Friday.

Adelson called on the state’s congressional delegation to intervene by demanding that the Department of Health and Human Services restore the state’s federal matching funds for Medicaid.

“I honestly believe that Speaker Draper was the most intelligent legislator that I ever had the pleasure to serve with in the Oklahoma Legislature. He understood the statutes better than anyone who has served in the House or the Senate in the 26 years that I’ve been here.

“He was a brilliant man and a very effective leader.

“When Dan Draper was Speaker there was no question who was running the House. At the same time I always found him to be extremely fair, informed and compassionate.”

Churches, schools, fire departments, senior citizens groups and other non-profit organizations can once again use raffles for fundraising without fear of breaking the law according to Senator Frank Shurden, a Democrat from Henryetta.

“I’ve been working for years so that non-profit groups could use raffles for fundraising. The only way we could make raffles legal again was to tie the legislation to State Question 705, The Oklahoma Educational Lottery Act,” he said.