“Governor Henry and his bi-partisan task force spent months developing a comprehensive package of workers compensation reform. In the end this diverse group unanimously approved a progressive plan which will reduce costs for business without compromising the rights of injured workers.

Dem Freshmen Adelson, Bass, Garrison and Wyrick vote in favor of bill

This week, the six Republican members of the Senate Committee on General Government – joined by just a single Democrat senator – defeated Senate Bill 662, by Sen. Judy Eason McIntyre, D-Tulsa, that would have legalized voting in Oklahoma for convicted felons who are on parole or probation.

The measure was defeated on a 7 to 4 vote.

A bill to expand a prescription assistance program has cleared the Appropriations Subcommittee on Human Services, Senator Susan Paddack, author of the measure said.

“Governor Henry is right. We have tremendous transportation infrastructure needs in Oklahoma. I applaud his willingness to devote additional growth revenue in the next fiscal year to transportation issues, including the Heartland Flyer, but I think we need to do more.

The $500 million Higher Education Bond Issue cleared another legislative hurdle today, passing out of the Appropriations Committee with a bi-partisan unanimous 46-0 vote.

“Today’s vote puts us a step closer to making a critical investment in education that will make a better tomorrow for our children,” Appropriations Chairman Mike Morgan said. “We anticipate a vote on the Senate Floor as early as next week.”

Morgan, D-Stillwater, said swift action is needed on the bill in order to save money on low interest rates and avoid rising construction costs.

Fighting for the rights of the 703,000 Oklahomans who are without health insurance, Senator Tom Adelson won passage of a bill requiring hospitals to extend discounts for certain income eligible patients. Under the “Hospital Discount for Qualified Self-Pay Patients Act,” a family of four at or below 400% of the federal poverty level will not be charged more than the insured population for their hospital care.

State Senator Debbe Leftwich, D-OKC, and Representative Rebecca Hamilton, D-OKC, have co-authored legislation to give families more peace of mind when looking at nursing homes for loved ones.

Sen. Leftwich is principal author of Senate Bill 870. Her legislation would require local law enforcement officials to provide nursing homes with copies of the state’s sex offender registry. Those facilities would then be required to display the list in an area accessible to residents, employees and visitors.

Senate Leaders Friday pledged once again to fully fund the Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program and said that they are insulted by suggestions that the program is floundering.

“No qualifying student has ever been turned down for an OHLAP scholarship and no qualified student ever will be,” said Senate Appropriations Chairman Mike Morgan, D-Stillwater. “My commitment and the commitment of Senate Leadership to this vital program has been unwavering from its inception and we remain committed to expanding the opportunity for higher education to even more Oklahoma students.”

Senator Cal Hobson, a long-time champion of education, has been appointed the Senate Education Committee and the Appropriations Sub-Committee on Education, Senate President Pro Tempore Mike Morgan announced Thursday.

“Education must truly be our first priority as a state. Investing in our school children and our college students is a very real investment in the future of Oklahoma,” Hobson said

Hobson, D-Lexington, has also been assigned to the Judiciary, Energy and Retirement and Group Health Committees.

State Senators Monday overwhelmingly approved a $2.152 billion budget for public schools two days before the “Fund Education First” deadline of March 16.

Senate Bill 217, which represents a funding increase for K-12 schools of $144.7 million over Fiscal Year 2005, passed on a 43-0 vote.

“This legislation mirrors the common education appropriation in the governor’s executive budget very closely. More importantly, it includes the funds necessary to keep the promises we made to our teachers last year,” said Senate Appropriations Chairman Mike Morgan, D-Stillwater.