OKLAHOMA CITY - Senate President Pro Tempore Stratton Taylor has appointed a bipartisan delegation to the General Conference Committee on Appropriations (GCCA) that will help write the final Oklahoma state budget for Fiscal Year 2002.

"We have always tried to be as inclusive as possible on the budget, seeking as many viewpoints and generating as much discussion as we can. By involving as many members as we can, I've found that we ultimately get a better product," said Senator Taylor.

2001 GCCA SENATE ASSIGNMENTS

OKLAHOMA CITY - The average Oklahoma family would save hundreds to thousands of dollars each year if voters opt to replace the state tax system with the Texas tax code, according to an analysis by the State Senate staff.

Senate President Pro Tempore Stratton Taylor said the findings should bolster support for the Texas Plan - his proposal to adopt the Texas tax code in Oklahoma. Texas doesn't have an income tax or a sales tax on groceries.

OKLAHOMA CITY-State Senator Scott Pruitt, R-Broken Arrow, called on the CEO of the Oklahoma Health Care Authority to better explain why last March he mailed letters to Medicaid recipients notifying them that their services would be terminated. Pruitt delivered a letter signed by the entire Senate Republican Caucus to the Health Care Authority Wednesday to request the explanation.

Statement by Senator Ben Robinson,
Chairman, Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Social Services

"When I heard about Sen. Pruitt's comments, I thought that they were some kind of belated, bad April Fool's joke. To suggest that the Health Care Authority acted improperly when it mailed out the termination letters is not just laughable - it's ludicrous."

(Oklahoma City) By trying to kill an amendment designed to protect the rights of hunters, anglers and other Oklahoman sportsmen, Representative Russ Roach is threatening the sporting pastimes of hundreds of thousands of Oklahomans, according to the Senate author of the legislation.

Voters may soon get to decide whether they would like to replace Oklahoma's state tax code with a system that is even better than the state of Texas, according to the leader of the Oklahoma State Senate.

Statement by Senator Stratton Taylor,
Senate President Pro Tempore

"Governor Keating was mistaken when he suggested that the Democratic legislative leadership was working on its own redistricting plan. We're working with all Senators, Republicans and Democrats, to ensure that we draft a redistricting plan that best serves the interests of every Oklahoma citizen."

"As part of that process, we will be happy to examine the information that Governor Keating has compiled. We appreciate his interest in this issue."

In light of last week's Supreme Court's ruling regarding seat belt usage, State Senator Jeff Rabon, D-Hugo and State Representative Terry Matlock, D- Garver have renewed their commitment to protecting the citizens of Oklahoma.

Statement by Senator Penny Williams,
Chairman, Senate Education Committee

"Frank Keating saying that he's looking out for poor people is like Colonel Sanders saying he's looking out for the chickens. If he were truly interested in helping working families, he wouldn't be pushing a tax cut that disproportionately helps the wealthiest people in Oklahoma."

A political consultant who was handed a $400,000 public relations contract through the state marriage initiative hasn't complied with the terms of the agreement, prompting a state lawmaker to call for suspension of the contract.

The contract for Mary Myrick, a Republican political consultant, stipulates that she provide quarterly reports to Department of Human Services, including "itemization of the costs paid and the costs incurred," but the first report filed by her Oklahoma City public relations firm contains no such information.