Senator David Holt, R-Oklahoma City, has introduced Senate Joint Resolution 75, which proposes an amendment to the Oklahoma Constitution that would give local taxpayers or their elected representatives the final approval before any local tax dollars are spent. If approved by the Legislature, the amendment would appear on the November, 2012 ballot for consideration by the voters of Oklahoma. The proposal is dubbed the “Lincoln Amendment” after the President who declared that the American government was “by the people” and “for the people.”

Sen. Harry Coates is frustrated by recent suggestions that the legislature have the citizens of Oklahoma vote to pass a bond issue to fix the State Capitol building. Coates, who has been fighting for Capitol repairs for years, believes this is an issue that needs to be addressed by the legislature and quickly, not by the people in November.
read more.

State Sen. Darrell Weaver has been appointed to four Senate committees for the 57th Legislature. Weaver, R-Moore, will serve on the Senate Judiciary Committee, Energy, the Public Safety Committee and the Appropriations Subcommittee on Public Safety and Judiciary.

As a mark of respect for the memory and legacy of former South African President Nelson Mandela, Sen. Connie Johnson asked Gov. Mary Fallin on Wednesday to order all American and Oklahoma flags on state property to be flown at half-staff from 5:00 p.m., Friday, December 13, until 8:30 a.m. on the morning of his state funeral and interment, Sunday, December 15.
read more.

Sunday, Dec. 15, will mark the 222nd anniversary of the adoption of the Bill of Rights to the U.S. Constitution. In recognition of that anniversary, numerous Oklahoma lawmakers have joined as co-authors of a non-partisan effort to recognize the significance of the Bill of Rights through the filing of Senate Bill 1159.
SB 1159 would allow a monument recognizing the importance of the Bill of Rights to be placed on the grounds of the State Capitol. Costs associated with the project would be paid for with private donations.
read more.

On Monday, the Oklahoma Supreme Court ruled that Senate Bill 1062 “is not unconstitutional as a multiple-subject bill” and further stated “the Legislature has exercised proper authority in a matter over which it has power to act by adopting a code for future execution of workers’ compensation law.”

State Sen. Brian Crain, R-Tulsa, issued the following statement after the State Supreme Court ruled Monday on the challenge of the workers compensation reform bill approved during the 2013 legislative session.

Senate President Pro Tempore Brian Bingman released the following statement in response to the Oklahoma Supreme Court’s ruling that House Bill 2032 violates the single subject rule in the Oklahoma Constitution.

“We are disappointed in the ruling and stand ready to act legislatively as needed in the upcoming session.”

Sen. Josh Brecheen released the following statement Thursday in response to the Commissioners of the Land Office voting to sue Oklahoma City-based private developer Pointe Vista Development LLC, which was tasked with building a hotel on Lake Texoma.

Sen. Patrick Anderson is urging state leaders to think outside the box when considering ways to lower the income tax. Hes advocating passage of Senate Bill 240 which would replace the current state income tax with a 2.95 percent flat tax. Anderson originally introduced the bill in the 2013 legislative session. The bill can still be considered in the 2014 session when it begins in February.