With state revenue collections slumping in the first quarter of Oklahoma's fiscal year and an uncertain economic outlook facing the country, the leader of the State Senate is warning fellow policy makers to be prepared for a standstill budget or even budget cuts next year.

Senate President Pro Tempore Stratton Taylor pointed out that if current trends continue, Oklahoma will generate little in the way of growth revenue and could actually find itself facing a shortfall when the next state budget is drafted in 2002.

OKLAHOMA CITY-Governor Frank Keating today agreed to amend his call for the special legislative session to include enacting a sales tax holiday. State Senator Jonathan Nichols, a leader in the fight to establish a sales tax holiday in Oklahoma, applauded the governor's decision.

(Oklahoma City) In an effort to end a stalemate over the Multiple Injury Trust Fund, Senate President Pro Tempore Stratton Taylor and House Speaker Larry Adair are appointing a new joint committee to continue work toward compromise legislation.

The two legislative leaders announced their plan to name a special bipartisan committee Friday, saying it was important to continue discussions on the issue.

(Oklahoma City) Nearly 60 years after leaving Capitol Hill High School to serve their country in World War II, a group of 17 veterans will finally be receiving their long delayed high school diplomas. That's thanks to a bill approved last session by the state legislature.

State Senator Larry Dickerson is asking Governor Keating to publicly release the results of his promised review of two controversial state contracts involving the Governor's Marriage Initiative and Safe and Drug Free Schools program.

Last month, the Poteau legislator asked that the contracts not be renewed, citing a series of questionable expenditures that have been documented in news reports.

(Oklahoma City) A joint legislative committee charged with solving the financial problems of the Multiple Injury Trust Fund has forged a compromise, according to Governor Frank Keating and legislative leaders.

The agreement clears the way for the Legislature to reconvene in special session next week. The State House and Senate will return on Tuesday, October 23rd to consider the MITF legislation.

The compromise legislation was the product of a week of discussions by a joint panel of Republican and Democratic legislatorsand representatives of the governor's office.

OKLAHOMA CITY- Broken Arrow State Senator Scott Pruitt, a leader in the effort to reform Oklahoma's workers' compensation system, today commented on the legislative agreement to fix the ailing Multiple Injury Trust Fund.

(Oklahoma City) Legislative leaders are preparing to appoint a special task force to examine security issues in Oklahoma, namely the state's ability to protect its citizens from a terrorist attack.

Senate President Pro Tempore Stratton Taylor and House Speaker Larry Adair announced the creation of the Joint Homeland Security Task Force today, saying the panel would be charged with assessing Oklahoma's level of vulnerability and its ability to respond to such a crisis.

A special interim task force on children's health issues is looking at the potential health risks facing overweight youth in Oklahoma, and at possible ways to fight that trend. That's according to Senator Bernest Cain, who along with Representative Darrell Gilbert authored SB 708 creating the task force.

Because legislative leaders and Governor Keating have not been able to reach an agreement on legislation that would fix problems with the Multiple Injury Trust Fund, state lawmakers will not be returning for a special session on Friday, September 7th as scheduled, according to Senate President Pro Tempore Stratton Taylor.