With a legislative career spanning four decades, Sen. Cal Hobson is completing his final term in the Oklahoma Legislature this year due to term limits. His colleagues on both sides of the aisle honored him on the floor of the Senate on Tuesday. Senate President Pro Tempore Mike Morgan praised Hobson for his superior intellect, an unmatched work ethic and purity of purpose.
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Measure Includes Additional $87 Million Investment in Colleges

(Oklahoma City) State Senators Wednesday approved a $976.4 million appropriation measure for Higher Education on Wednesday. The measure includes $87 million in new funding for Oklahoma’s colleges and universities.

State Sen. Debbe Leftwich and Rep. Rebecca Hamilton are continuing their push to get a hearing for a bill to help victims of rape and domestic violence, but said with each passing day the measure comes closer to dying in the House of Representatives.

OKLAHOMA CITY – A measure by Senator Jay Paul Gumm that will allow law enforcement to track money used to finance criminal activity won the approval of the Oklahoma Senate Tuesday.

Gumm, a Democrat from Durant, said House Bill 2483, also known as the “Oklahoma Financial Transaction Reporting Act.” The bill is part of Gov. Brad Henry’s “Mission MethNet” and would cut off drug dealers’ cash pipeline used to smuggle “Mexican Ice” into the state.

The State Senate on Wednesday unanimously approved legislation to protect the images of service members of the United States Armed Forces from being used for purposes of advertising or solicitation without the consent of those individuals or their families.

House Bill 2643, by Senator Jim Wilson and Representative Mike Brown, would make the unauthorized use of an armed service member’s name, portrait or picture a misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in prison or a fine of up to $1,000.
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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.
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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.