The 2000 class of the Oklahoma State Senate is officially in place today.

New Senators and incumbents who won re-election bids were formally sworn-in Tuesday morning at the State Capitol by Oklahoma Supreme Court Chief Justice Hardy Summers.

The lawmakers were administered the oath of office during ceremonies in the Senate Chamber. Senate President Pro Tempore Stratton Taylor presided over the occasion.

State Senator Dave Herbert will be seeking a statewide vote on Right to Work when the Oklahoma Legislature convenes in February. The Midwest City Democrat is currently drafting legislation that would call a special election to decide the issue as an amendment to the state constitution.

"This issue has divided the state for far too long. It's time to end all of the fussing and the fighting, and let the people decide," said Senator Herbert.

Statement by Senator Stratton Taylor,
Senate President Pro Tempore

"I agree that this is a critical issue, but I'm just not sure that a special session is the best way to address it. I'm certainly willing to discuss the matter, but I think it's important to examine every possible alternative before we commit to a special session. If we can address the problems caused by the drought and the wildfires without spending tax money on a special session, I think that would be a more prudent course of action."

OKLAHOMA CITY - Senator Paul Muegge, D-Tonkawa, is again urging Oklahoma officials to take a closer look at the second of recent agreements on hog farms and the environment reached by government and industry officials in North Carolina.

A Senate leader is offering some remedial education to one of Governor Keating's education appointees, reminding him that the Governor has been less than supportive of the Legislature's efforts to improve school funding and protect education revenue sources.

Senator Cal Hobson was responding to remarks made by Luke Corbett at a State Board of Education meeting Tuesday. Corbett, a board member appointed by Governor Keating, complained that Legislature had not appropriated enough money for school needs, but failed to mention the Governor's role in the process.

Statement by Senator Angela Monson

"I appreciate the Attorney General's hard work on this important issue and his speedy response to my request. I'm very pleased that the opinion affirmed the Senate's stance on this issue."

"The opinion confirms that the Governor did not have the authority to create a new cabinet office and circumvent the Senate's advise and consent process. It also confirms that Mr. Perry does not hold a
cabinet office because his nomination was properly rejected."

OKLAHOMA CITY - Having been selected to sculpt the statue that will top the new State Capitol Dome, Five Tribes Master Artist Enoch Kelly Haney has now met with architects and engineers to finalize the dimensions of the sculpture.

"Obviously, there are the artistic, esthetic considerations involved, as well as the engineering and architectural demands regarding height and weight," noted Senator Haney.

Haney said it has been determined that the bronze sculpture will be 17 feet high, and weigh approximately 4 to 4 ½ tons.

Warnings about the pitfalls of corporate control of farming that previously fell on uninterested ears may soon be taken seriously, according to one state Senator.

Senator Paul Muegge, D-Tonkawa, expects the controversy will gain momentum and have a snowball effect with the recent findings that farmers planted a variety of Aventis' StarLink bioengineered corn that was not approved for human consumption. More than 1,300 acres of StarLink seeds were planted in Oklahoma fields this year.

Citing the report of an independent actuary, the State Senate is pressing its call for another reduction in workers compensation rates. Senator Brad Henry, who authored workers compensation reform legislation this year, will make the Senate's case for a rate cut when the State Board for Property and Casualty Rates holds its annual rate hearing on Thursday, September 7th.

If state regulators follow the advice of the actuarial study, it will result in the fifth reduction in workers comp rates in the last six years.

OKLAHOMA CITY - A recent study by a nationally recognized research group concludes that national test scores were actually higher in states with greater per-pupil expenditures. That's according to Senator Cal Hobson, Chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Education.

"Recent comments by Governor Keating's Education Secretary claiming Oklahoma's decade long ACT increases can't be attributed to funding are typical, but they are just plain wrong," said Senator Hobson.