State Senate Democrat leaders have refused a request to help bring compromise language for a referendum on term limits for statewide officials to a vote in the State Senate. So, the Senate will have to vote on the existing proposal, the bill’s authors said Monday.

“It’s so sad Republicans seem to be so focused on political issues that do nothing to make health care more affordable for our citizens. If they would have done their homework they would know what Oklahomans want more than anything is access to affordable health care.

State Sen. Kathleen Wilcoxson’s efforts to promote education reform and innovation will long be remembered as her legacy in the Oklahoma Legislature. Wilcoxson was honored by the State Senate on Monday. She is completing her twelfth and final session in the Legislature due to term limits.

The State Senate passed Senate Joint Resolution 38 on Monday by a vote of 46-0, sending to a vote of the people Co-President Pro Tem Glenn Coffee's proposal to provide constitutional protections for the right of Oklahomans to hunt and fish.

SJR 38 adds a new section to the State Constitution giving all Oklahomans the right to hunt, trap, fish, and take game and fish. Under this legislation, state laws to prohibit anyone from engaging in such activities are not allowed.

Foster and adoptive parents along with child advocates gathered at the State Capitol Tuesday to rally for Oklahoma’s 12,000 foster children. Several hundred pairs of shoes dotted the south steps as a small representation of those children. The Foster Care Association of Oklahoma, Inc. (FCAO) collected the shoes throughout April as part of their “Heart and Soles” program to help raise awareness about the needs of the state’s foster care system.
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Senator Jay Paul Gumm, D-Durant, has sent House Speaker Chris Benge a letter asking for a proposal from the Speaker to help families struggling to provide services to children with autism.

Gumm is the primary author of “Nick’s Law,” a measure that would require health insurance policies to cover autism diagnosis and treatment. Last week, Speaker Benge announced he would not allow the bill to be considered by the House of Representatives.

Text of Senator Gumm’s letter, hand delivered to Benge’s Capitol office Tuesday, follows:

May 6, 2008

The state Senate dedicated another original painting Tuesday morning. “Tinker Field”, by Midwest City artist R.T. Foster, is sponsored by Senator Cliff and DeeAnn Aldridge and commissioned by the Oklahoma State Senate Historical Preservation Fund.

“DeeAnn and I are so honored to sponsor this beautiful piece of art,” said Aldridge, R-Midwest City. “Tinker has played a tremendous role not only in our state’s economy being the largest employer, but over the years and even today it continues to be a strong link in our country’s military system.”
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Republican state senators expressed their disappointment that Senate Democrats voted along party lines to kill a bill designed to stamp out election fraud by requiring voters to show a form of identification at the polls.

Senate Bill 1150 received 24 votes in favor, and 23 votes opposed, but 25 votes were required to pass the bill and send it to the governor’s desk.

Senator Jay Paul Gumm reacted with frustration to a letter sent to him by House Speaker Chris Benge.

The Speaker responded to a letter by Senator Gumm delivered Tuesday morning about what the House’s solution would be to the near epidemic incidence of autism in the state. Gumm wrote “Nick’s Law,” a measure that would require insurance companies to cover autism diagnosis and treatment for children.

In 1937 Ed Vandergriff was among the very first state troopers to serve the state when the Oklahoma Highway Patrol was first formed. At the age of 97, he is now the oldest living retired trooper in the state.
On Tuesday the State Senate honored Vandergriff with the passage of Senate Concurrent Resolution 86. Sen. Jeff Rabon was principal author of SCR 86. The measure was co-authored by Rep. R.C. Pruett, Rep. Paul Roan and Rep. Glenn Bud Smithson who are all former state troopers.

Rabon said Vandergriff had been a long-time family friend.
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