Gov. Brad Henry, House Speaker Chris Benge and Senate President Pro Tempore Glenn Coffee announced a budget agreement today that protects the four core functions of government, including education, health care, corrections and transportation.

Those four areas are at least held harmless in this agreement, all while not tapping the state’s Rainy Day fund, leaving about $600 million in place for future needs if necessary.

A bill to offer enhanced incentives for job creation in Oklahoma is on its way to the House of Representatives for a final vote. That’s after the State Senate voted unanimously to approve Senate Bill 909 on Thursday. Sen. Mike Mazzei is the principal author of the measure.

“Following the oil bust in the 1980’s, Oklahoma began looking for innovative ways to diversify and grow our economy. One important component of achieving that goal was the passage of the Quality Jobs Act,” read more.

State Sen. Kenneth Corn said he was very disappointed that the budget agreement unveiled on Friday would eliminate all funding for the Rural Economic Action Plan, better known as the REAP program.

The state Senate on Monday approved a resolution praising the life and career of the late Sen. John Young. Young, who served as a state Senator from 1964 until 1986, died in January at the age of 85.

Sen. Brian Bingman authored Senate Resolution 55 praising Sen. Young for his numerous contributions to the state.

Sen. Randy Brogdon said he was extremely pleased that Gov. Brad Henry had signed legislation authorizing a Ten Commandments monument to be placed on the grounds of the State Capitol. Brogdon was principal Senate author of the legislation.

“I want to thank Governor Henry for signing this legislation,” Brogdon said. “It passed with bipartisan support, and I believe it is something the people of Oklahoma would like to see at their State Capitol.”
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Concerned Republicans are leaving behind rural Oklahoma, every Democratic member of the Senate General Conference Committee on Appropriations refused to give their nod of approval to the proposed state budget today. Specifically Senate Democrats say cutting Rural Economic Action Plan (REAP) funds completely out of the state budget will hurt rural fire departments, jeopardize senior nutrition programs and eliminate rural communities ability to make needed infrastructure improvements that supply clean drinking water to their citizens.
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“Senate Republicans realize the importance of rural Oklahoma and the critical need to fund REAP. For years, members of the Senate Republican Rural Caucus have worked tirelessly to bring quality reform to this state and protect such a vital asset like rural Oklahoma. Nothing has changed this year to detour their course of strengthening rural Oklahoma. Despite the many claims we are neglecting this most valued resource, Senate Republicans are continuing to look at additional revenue sources to fund REAP. read more.

State Sen. Kenneth Corn said the safety of Oklahoma’s citizens is too important to allow highway patrol troopers to be furloughed. He’s come up with a plan to prevent that. Currently the Department of Public Safety charges $5 for copies of driving records. That fee has not increased for several years. Corn, D-Poteau, said the state could keep the troopers on the job by increasing the fee to $10.
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Anyone convicted of injuring or killing someone while driving with a license that has been suspended or revoked now faces tougher penalties in Oklahoma. Governor Brad Henry signed House Bill 2263, enacting the “Gaje Jeffrey Florence Act.” Sen. Debbe Leftwich, D-Oklahoma City, and Rep. Mike Christian, R-Oklahoma City, were the authors of the measure.
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“Senator Corn’s proposed solution to the Department of Public Safety funding issue is a “quick fix” full of scare tactics to detract from the positive reforms Senate Republicans have accomplished for Oklahomans, specifically in the area of Public Safety,” said Senator Steve Russell, R- OKC, Vice-Chairman of the Senate Public Safety Committee. “This is a typical Corn solution to raise fees or taxes long-term to fund a temporary challenge. read more.