Senate author of the original Stand Your Ground law and co-author of the amended version extending protection to businesses, Sen. Harry Coates is concerned about the misinformation being promoted by advocates pushing for Jerome Ersland’s release. Advocates have stated there was a “loophole” in the law that failed to protect the rights of the pharmacist, but Coates says this is not the case.

Claremore lawmaker Sean Burrage has been chosen to serve as the next Senate Democratic Floor Leader. Members of the caucus held a vote on Tuesday to decide who would follow Sen. Andrew Rice in the leadership post. Rice, D-Oklahoma City, recently announced he would resign from the Senate effective January 15.
Burrage said he was honored to lead the Senate Democrats in 2012.
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"I want to offer my heartfelt congratulations to my friend Senator Burrage on his election as the next Minority Leader in the Oklahoma State Senate. I have had the privilege of working with Sean for several years and have seen first hand his thoughtfulness and temperament. Though we may not agree on every issue, I believe Senator Burrage to be a man of integrity who will facilitate a healthy and honest public debate as the Senate works to move Oklahoma forward."

“I am shocked and saddened by the untimely death of Judy Copeland, General Counsel to the Governor. The times that I had the pleasure of working with her she was very professional, open and friendly. It's unfortunate any time someone’s life is cut short by stroke, but it’s particularly disturbing when it’s someone as young and healthy as she.

President Pro Tempore Brian Bingman, R-Sapulpa, released the following statement Monday in response to the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to take up a challenge by small businesses and 26 states to President Obama’s unconstitutional health care law:

“Oklahomans know President Obama overreached when he forced his unconstitutional government healthcare takeover through Congress. That’s why our state voted overwhelmingly to keep Obamacare, and its individual mandate to buy government-sanctioned health insurance, from becoming law.
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Each year, hundreds of children in Oklahoma are the victims of sexual abuse and many more suffer in silence. Sen. Harry Coates wants to help better protect the state's youngest citizens by strengthening punishments against those who witness sexual abuse of a minor but do not report it.

Senate Democratic Leader Sean Burrage said the State School Board failed to get any input from local school board members, educators or school administrators before adopting emergency rules last month on supplemental online courses. Burrage, D-Claremore, said Gov. Mary Fallin should reject the rules.

“The State School Board and Superintendent Barresi finally got it right when they met today and rescinded the emergency rules on the supplemental online courses they handed down three weeks ago. Our local school boards have a great deal of insight to offer the bureaucrats in Oklahoma City and it is my hope that in the future the State Board will reach out to educators on the ground and join in a cooperative effort to do what’s best for our children.”

"As with all Oklahomans we were deeply saddened to learn of Thursday’s fatal plane crash. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of former State Senator Olin Branstetter and his wife Paula as well as the families of coach Kurt Budke and assistant coach Miranda Serna.
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Sen. Constance N. Johnson joined with Oklahoma State Senate staff Tuesday to collect food and supplies to fill sackpacks for the children at Positive Tomorrows, an Oklahoma City School for homeless children. Each year in August, the Senator partners with the Office Depot Foundation and the National Foundation for Women Legislators (NFWL) to distribute backpacks to school children. This year, however, the organization sent more items than expected so the legislator was able to help multiple schools as well as organizations that help adults receive educational services.
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