With the beginning of the 2007 session approaching, State Senate President Pro Tempore Mike Morgan and Co-President Pro Tempore Glenn Coffee Friday announced committee assignments for the 51st Oklahoma Legislature.

As a result of the November 7 elections, the Senate is now tied with 24 Democrats and 24 Republicans. As part of a power-sharing agreement announced by the leaders last week, each committee will be headed by co-chairsone from each partyand every committee will have an equal number of Republican and Democratic members.

State Capitol, Oklahoma City Senate Co-President Pro Tempore designate Glenn Coffee announced former State Rep. Fred Morgan will serve as Coffees Senior Policy Advisor and Legal Counsel for the 2007-08 legislative sessions.

Fred is an exceptional leader and is one of the sharpest political minds in our state. He will be a tremendous asset for Senate Republicans as we enter into this era of historic parity in the State Senate, Coffee said.

State Sen. Kathleen Wilcoxson has filed legislation declaring English as the official language of Oklahoma. Wilcoxson, R-Oklahoma City, said she filed the bill at the request of numerous citizens.

“The concern here is the need to recognize that English is the language in which we conduct state business,” Wilcoxson said. “This legislative proposal simply clarifies that need and places it in our statutes.”

Senator Johnnie Crutchfield (D-Ardmore): Todays revenue projections by the State Board of Equalization are a testament to a strong economy and shows that Oklahoma is truly on the move. These numbers are also a clear indication to anyone looking to relocate here, that Oklahomans work hard and our state is open for business.
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Statement from Republican Co-Floor Leader Owen Laughlin

“Mary Fallin has done a remarkable job serving Oklahoma as Lt. Governor for the past 12 years--the first woman ever elected to that post. She has fulfilled those duties with determination and grace. Now she leaves that office to become only the second woman since statehood to represent us in Congress. I know she will continue to be a source of pride for all of Oklahoma as she begins her new role in Washington D.C."

Senator Richard Lerblance knows all too well the devastating affects - physically, mentally and financially - that Alzheimer's can have on a family. His mother began showing symptoms of the disease in 1991 and has been totally incapacitated the past six years. For this reason, Lerblance wants to help bring awareness to this horrible disease and the fact that November is National Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month.
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Saying it’s time to put the contentious partisan politics of the election season in the past, Senate President Pro Tempore Mike Morgan announced Monday plans for a series of meetings with other state leaders to begin anew the work of moving Oklahoma forward.

“To govern effectively, we have to find common ground. The last two years have been marked by a bitter partisan divide and a number of hard fought campaigns only widened that gap,” Morgan said. “Our job now is to build bridges and come together to form a consensus to move Oklahoma forward.”

With groundbreaking for a permanent memorial for the USS Oklahoma slated for next month in Hawaii, the fundraising effort is now in full swing. As he pledged last May, Gov. Brad Henry presented a check from the Centennial Commission for $100,000 for the memorial at a State Capitol ceremony on Tuesday. The USS Oklahoma had the second-highest casualty rate of any American ship in the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.
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“I have served my entire legislative tenure with Representative Piatt and I have seen first hand his capable leadership skills and bi-partisan nature.

“Representative Piatt being named as Floor Leader is a victory for not only the people he represents in the Ardmore area, but for all Oklahomans.

“I truly believe Rep. Piatt will display his statesmanlike demeanor as he serves as Floor Leader, just as he has throughout his career.

Twenty-four members of the Oklahoma State Senate, including nine freshmen, will be officially sworn in at noon on Thursday, November 16, 2006, in the Senate chamber of the State Capitol. The Honorable Joseph M. Watt, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, will administer the oath of office on the 99th anniversary of Oklahoma’s statehood.
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