Senate leaders warned Wednesday that Republicans are setting Oklahoma up for a fiscal crisis with a recent rash of irresponsible tax cut bills, geared heavily toward rich Oklahomans and giant corporations that, if enacted, will cripple the state’s ability to provide critical state services upon which all Oklahomans depend, including education, healthcare and rural fire protection.

- Republicans seek tax relief to bring ‘jobs, people, and investments’ to state

State Senate Democrats are sending signals that they are about to flip-flop on key measures that would eliminate the death tax and cut the state income tax, Senate Republican Leader Glenn Coffee said Thursday. Both bills passed the Senate with strong bipartisan support earlier this year.

Following is a statement from Senator Jay Paul Gumm, D-Durant, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee. The statement is in response to the news release by Senate Republicans on tax bills being considered by lawmakers:

“The Senate Finance Committee gave hearings to dozens of tax cut bills – including the two mentioned by the minority leader – to allow them to be part of final budget and tax negotiations. All the bills passed by the Finance Committee, regardless of whether they were proposed by Republican or Democratic members, are worthy to be part of the final negotiations.

Senate President Pro Tempore Mike Morgan called on House Speaker Todd Hiett today to allow a hearing for Senate Bill 1993, which would expand eligibility for the Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program.

The measure passed the Senate on a 37-10 vote on February 28. It has been assigned to the Appropriations and Budget Committee in the House but has not yet been considered.

The State Senate on Monday passed a resolution honoring the exceptional life and work of Gloria Farley of Heavener, a teacher, researcher, author and caseworker for the state welfare system.

Senator Kenneth Corn, author of Senate Resolution 87, said Farley’s tireless work and efforts have produced a wealth of historical knowledge and ultimately resulted in her research area being transformed into the Heavener Runestone State Park.

First elected to the State Legislature nearly 28 years ago, Sen. Frank Shurden was honored by his fellow members, family and friends on the floor of the State Senate on Tuesday afternoon. The Henryetta Democrat is completing his final year in the Senate due to term limits.

Senate President Pro Tempore Mike Morgan said Tuesday’s show in the House makes it clear that the House Republican leadership has placed tax cuts for the wealthy above the education of Oklahoma’s children.

“House leaders continue to stump for a package of tax cuts that will cost Oklahoma nearly $650 million and which will benefit the wealthiest in Oklahoma far more than the middle class. Yet today, they voted to short-change Oklahoma’s teachers,” Morgan said.

For his work to ensure Oklahoma’s neediest high school students have a chance at a higher education, Senator Jay Paul Gumm was recently declared a “Champion of TRIO.”

TRIO is a series of programs that help students from disadvantaged backgrounds – especially students whose parents did not attend college – prepare for higher education. The program provides services that include: academic advice and assistance; tutorial services; help with college admission and financial aid applications; as well as mentoring and counseling.

A bill authored by Senator Susan Paddack, an Ada Democrat, that will give Oklahoma families a tax credit for rebuilding their homes that were destroyed or damaged by the recent wildfires won the approval of the full Senate today. House Bill 2121 enacts a tax credit for the difference between the ad valorem paid on the property in the year prior to the wildfire damage and the ad valorem taxes paid in the first year the property is rebuilt.

The State Senate on Monday approved legislation to place restrictions on the sale of violent video games to Oklahoma children.

House Bill 3004, by Sen. Glenn Coffee and Rep. Fred Morgan, would add violent video games to the list of products termed “harmful to minors” under state law, making it a crime to sell them to children under the age of 18.