Senate President Pro Tempore Mike Morgan Thursday praised the Fiscal Year 2008 appropriations agreement reached by legislative leaders this week as a “responsible budget that meets the obligations of the state and prioritizes the use of our resources.”

Morgan, D-Stillwater, said the agreement represented a “current services budget” which will ensure that state agencies can continue to provide the services Oklahomans count on in their daily lives.

Education, health care and public safety, the Senate leader said, remain at the top of that list.

The leaders of the Oklahoma Senate and House of Representatives announced that legislators have reached a historic, bipartisan agreement on a wide range of budget and tax issues.

The accord includes supplemental funding for education and the Department of Corrections, a package of tax cuts, and a general appropriations bill to fund state agencies in FY 2008.

The leaders of both chambers in the Oklahoma Legislature issued the following joint statement regarding ongoing discussions over the state budget:

“We have made tremendous progress in budget negotiations and are very close to an agreement. We expect to make an announcement early next week regarding the details of a bipartisan agreement on numerous budget-related issues.”

Ken Burns, director and producer of documentary films including “The Civil War” and “The West”, was welcomed to the Senate Chamber on Thursday.

Burns was introduced to the Senate before visiting the Oklahoma History Center as a guest of the Oklahoma Educational Television Authority (OETA).

Sen. Andrew Rice authored Senate Resolution 16 to welcome Burns to the Oklahoma State Capitol. The resolution designates March 15, 2007, as “Ken Burns Appreciation Day”.

Rice commended Burns for his efforts to bring American history to life through film.

The full Senate has given its approval to a measure aimed at tightening the rules for using state issued purchase cards. Sen. Charlie Laster said he filed Senate Bill 831 after hearing reports of the cards being used in inappropriate ways.

The full Senate has approved a measure to set a graduation goal of 100 percent for Oklahoma high school students. Senate Bill 985, by Sen. Kathleen Wilcoxson, would also establish guidelines to give a more accurate picture of graduation rates that will enable an “apples to apples” comparison with other states.

The Senate on Wednesday approved a measure that would create a task force to study the redistricting of district attorney and judicial districts.

Sen. Kenneth Corn, author of Senate Bill 990, said the bill was needed to ensure that areas throughout the state are receiving adequate judicial representation.

A measure that would enact a back-to-school sales tax holiday in Oklahoma was approved on Tuesday by the full Senate.

The two authors of the bipartisan proposal said the bill will help keep consumer dollars in the state. Under Senate Bill 861, the Oklahoma sales tax holiday would be held on the same days as the Texas holiday.

The bill was authored by Democratic Sen. Jay Paul Gumm and Republican Sen. Don Barrington.

State Capitol, Oklahoma City – The evenly divided Oklahoma Senate made history Tuesday by passing a pro-life bill that prohibits state funds, facilities, and employees from being used to perform abortions.

Senate Bill 714 is authored by Sen. James A. Williamson, R-Tulsa. The bill passed on a bipartisan 34 to 13 vote Tuesday, with 10 Democrats joining Republican senators to pass the legislation.

The State Senate on Tuesday approved a measure that would require the installation of carbon monoxide detectors in structures such as hospitals, nursing homes, apartments, houses and nurseries.

Sen. Richard Lerblance, author of Senate Bill 133, said the measure would protect Oklahomans from harmful levels of carbon monoxide omissions. From January 2006 to September 2006, the Oklahoma Poison Control Center responded to 84 instances of carbon monoxide poisoning, including two fatalities.