Twenty-six survivors of the USS Oklahoma are returning to the Sooner State this week. State Sen. Jim Reynolds, who has been working with the group to secure a permanent memorial at Pearl Harbor, said the survivors held their reunion here in 2004 and voted unanimously to hold their 2005 gathering here as well.
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“If you care about quality healthcare in Oklahoma then you can be sure the tobacco tax approved by voters in last year’s election is successfully lowering the number of smokers in our state and providing millions of new dollars to help small business owners provide health insurance for working families throughout Oklahoma.

“For those that care only about selling more cigarettes which will lead to an unhealthy Oklahoma, then I guess you could say the tobacco tax is indeed flawed and is hurting the deeply lined pockets of big tobacco.

Constance N. Johnson Officially Takes Office November 26

Senate President Pro Tempore Mike Morgan announced Friday that the newest member of the Oklahoma State Senate, Senator-elect Constance N. Johnson, will serve as chairwoman of the Appropriations Sub-Committee for Select Agencies.

The Oklahoma City Democrat won a special election in September to succeed Senator Angela Monson, who is being forced from office by Oklahoma’s Constitutional term limits. Johnson will officially take office at midnight Saturday, November 26, when Monson’s term expires.

General Motors decision to close its plant in southeast Oklahoma City is in no way a reflection on the business climate in our state or the outstanding workforce at the plant. Over the last 30 years, Oklahoma has provided millions of dollars in tax incentives to entice General Motors to locate here, encourage the company to retool its plant and then to rebuild it when a tornado struck the facility in 2003.

The result is that Oklahoma City is home to one of the most modern auto assembly plants and some of best-trained automakers in the country.

State Sen. Jonathan Nichols announced he would file legislation to give Oklahomans greater protection against identity theft. Nichols, R-Norman, said his measure would allow consumers to freeze their credit files and give the State Attorney General jurisdiction to investigate and prosecute identity theft. Nichols said the bill would be called The Oklahoma Identity Theft Act, and noted it has the support of Attorney General Drew Edmondson.

General Motors Steals Christmas from Working Families;

OKC Senator calls for special review of GM incentives

to ensure taxpayers dont lose money

Extremely poor leadership at the top of General Motors Corporation and out-of-control fuel costs have left thousands of central Oklahoma families out in the cold, a South Oklahoma City State Senator said today.

Members of the State Senate heard testimony Tuesday about the many benefits of a program known as Farm-to-School. Sen. Daisy Lawler, D-Comanche, requested the interim study on the program which helps local farmers sell fresh produce to area schools.

Lawler requested the study after learning about a pilot Farm-to-School program involving the sale of Oklahoma-grown watermelons to six state school districts.
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Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Daisy Lawler said Wednesday that Oklahoma ranchers have lost thousands of acres of pasture lands and stored bales of hay in the recent rash of wildfires that have swept across the state.

The loss leaves ranchers with an immediate need to buy hay and some are being asked to pay extremely high prices in their local markets, the Senator said.
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Republicans of the Oklahoma State Senate unveiled their legislative agenda for the 2006 legislative session Wednesday at news conferences in Lawton, Tulsa, and Oklahoma City.

“Today Senate Republicans are unveiling a positive plan for Oklahoma to make our state a better place to live, work, start a business, get a quality education, and raise a family in health, safety and security,” stated Senate Republican Floor Leader Glenn Coffee, R-Oklahoma City.

“I look forward to working with Republicans to learn the details of the agenda as presented by the minority party today. As always, their plan is big on promises and short on details and it looks like the same, tired old rhetoric we’ve heard from them for years.

“Oklahomans are looking for new ideas that promote personal and corporate responsibility. They want policies that actually help all Oklahomans, in particular working families and the middle class, rather than just a privileged few.