State Sen. Randy Brogdon said Attorney General Drew Edmondson’s office has agreed to compromise legislative language on a term limits referendum. The language ensures that the proposed 12-year term limits for statewide elected officials would not apply retroactively.

“General Edmondson made some suggested changes to the bill’s language. I merged his language with my amended language, and I heard back from his office this morning that he has no additional changes,” said Brogdon, R-Owasso.

State Sen. Mike Johnson, the Republican co-chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, commented on Gov. Brad Henry’s signing of a $7.068 general appropriations bill that contains the state’s budget for fiscal year 2009.

The Oklahoma State Senate approved a measure Tuesday aimed at tackling the growing epidemic of childhood obesity. Senate Bill 1186, by State Senator Mary Easley, (D-Tulsa) increases the physical activity requirement in grades kindergarten through fifth grade from 60 minutes each week to 120 minutes each week.

Easley explained those minutes could include physical education, exercise programs, fitness breaks, recess, classroom activities, and wellness and nutrition education.

NOTE TO EDITORS: Earlier today Senator Brodgon issued a news release stating he would like the Senate Democratic Caucus to send his term limit bill to a conference committee for further review and study. Senator Morgan, leader of the Senate Democratic Caucus, issued the following statement in response to Senator Brodgon.

“We would be pleased to accommodate Senator Brogdon’s request to send this bill to a conference committee. A conference committee is the perfect place for members to bring their ideas forward and iron out differences in proposed language.”

Members of the Oklahoma State Senate paid tribute Wednesday to Sen. Owen Laughlin for his 12 years of service in the Oklahoma Legislature. Laughlin, R-Woodward, is one of five members elected in 1997 who are serving their final session due to term limits.

Members of both parties from all parts of the state rose to say their farewells to Laughlin, and praised his work as Republican Co-Floor Leader in the Senate, including Republican Co-President Pro Tempore, Senator Glenn Coffee.
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The Oklahoma State Legislature on Wednesday honored an Oklahoma family-owned and -operated company that has been putting smiles on Oklahomans’ and others’ faces for the past 40 years. Sen. Ron Justice and Rep. Susan Winchester introduced Senate Concurrent Resolution 85 congratulating Braum's Ice Cream and Dairy Stores on their 40th anniversary and designating April 30, 2008 as "Braum's Day" at the Oklahoma State Capitol.

Republican state senators unanimously voted to designate Sen. Glenn Coffee, R-Oklahoma City, to be the next President Pro Tempore of the Oklahoma State Senate. The President Pro Tem is the Senate’s top leader.

“I am honored and humbled by the confidence my colleagues have shown by entrusting me with the leadership of our caucus,” stated Coffee.

“I appreciate the Oklahoma veterans who join me today as we attempt to gain Senate passage of the Oklahoma Veterans Health Insurance Program. These veterans represent thousands more Oklahoma veterans who believe they have earned access to quality health care.”

“Some will say that Oklahoma cannot afford to help uninsured veterans gain access to health care. But, I don’t think those people realize the unfairness in their argument. How many of these veterans, when they were ordered into battle, looked at their commander and said: ‘how much is it going to cost me?’.”

If only half of all Oklahoma health care providers would participate in an existing electronic medical data sharing network, within five years the state could save more than $145 million and avoid more than 400 deaths. That’s according to Sen. Jim Wilson and Rep. Mike Brown who are advocating greater participation in the program. The network, called SMRTNET for “secure medical records transfer network,” was created through federal grants.
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The state Senate on Monday approved legislation that would increase appropriations to the Rebuilding Oklahoma Access and Driver Safety (ROADS) Fund.

Senate Bill 1141 by Sen. Kenneth Corn would increase appropriations to the fund from $70 million to $120 million beginning June 30, 2009. Established in 2005, all monies dedicated to the ROADS Fund are used for the construction and maintenance of state roads and bridges. The bill would remove a three-percent growth trigger that has previously prevented annual appropriations increases to the fund.