State Senate Democrats today announced plans to file legislation that will penalize companies that knowingly employ illegal immigrants and measures that would force drug companies to divulge how much they spend on advertising, lobbying and the salaries for top executives.

In announcing an “Agenda for a More Accountable Oklahoma,” Senate President Pro Tempore Mike Morgan also called for annual performance review audits of state agencies to “make sure Oklahoma taxpayers are getting what they paid for.”

State Senate Republican Floor Leader Glenn Coffee, R-Oklahoma City, made the following statement in reaction to the Senate Democrats’ proposed legislative agenda.

“The proposals that Senate Democrats have put forward during the past two weeks are weak and reactionary. The Senate Democrats are scrambling to propose quick fixes to problems that have been created by their own failed policies,” Coffee stated.

Current and former members of the Oklahoma State Senate gathered along with friends and family members of the late Sen. Robert M. Kerr for a “Celebration of Life” ceremony held in the Senate Chamber on Monday.

When roll call was taken, Sen. Kerr’s grandchildren answered for him. The children were seated at his desk, which was adorned with 20 white roses, one for each of the years he was a member of the State Senate.

Former Senator Dick Wilkerson recalled his friend, Bob Kerr, as a gentle man who always thought the best of everyone.
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The Hokkaido Aerospace Science Technology Incubation Center (HASTIC) of Japan was recognized today by State Senator Gilmer Capps, D-Snyder, and the Oklahoma State Senate for signing an agreement with Rocketplane Ltd. to become the first commercial microgravity research experiment user of the Oklahoma Spaceport.

Following several hours of meetings with Medicaid officials and policy experts, Senator Tom Adelson announced that he has discovered $540 Million in Medicaid savings over three years.

“It’s really quite simple,” said Adelson, chairman of the Senate Appropriations Sub-Committee on Health and Social Services. “All I did was take a sentence or two from a previously published Oklahoma Healthcare Authority Report and claim it as my own.

Statement from Senate President Pro Tempore Mike Morgan

“We heard from Governor Henry today a positive message for Oklahoma. I was especially encouraged by the Governor’s recognition that this session provides a great opportunity for us to invest in the future of our state.

“I honestly believe that we have to make this session about more than just the next election. We must, instead, turn our focus to the next generation. I believe, from what we heard today, the governor understands that.
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Senate Republican Leader Glenn Coffee, R-Oklahoma City, made the following statement in response to Gov. Brad Henry’s State of the State address.

“It was very disappointing that the governor didn’t mention the most critical health and jobs issue facing our state today – lawsuit reform – and that he didn’t come out in support of the full elimination of the death tax and reducing the state’s high income tax rate. Passing these proposals in 2006 is critical if we want to make Oklahoma a national leader in attracting and keeping good jobs,” Coffee stated.

Legislation that will keep tickets to Oklahoma City Hornets games among the lowest in the league and complete the incentive package that helped lure the National Basketball Association team to the Ford Center earlier this year passed out of the Senate Finance Committee Tuesday.

Senate Bill 1022 is authored by Senate President Pro Tempore Mike Morgan. The measure exempts tickets to NBA and NHL games in Oklahoma from sales tax.
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Just days after the State Senate’s Democrat President Pro Tem Mike Morgan said he has “great fear and trepidation” about reducing taxes this legislative session, the Democrat chairman of the Senate Finance Committee left the two most important tax reform issues off the schedule at the committee’s first meeting on Tuesday, February 7.

Senate President Pro Tempore Mike Morgan announced the selection Tuesday of Senator Jeff Rabon to serve as the new vice chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee

Rabon is chairman of the Senate Appropriations Sub-Committee on Natural Resources and Regulatory Services.