A $500 million Higher Education Bond Issue cleared its first legislative hurdle today, passing out of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Education, Senator Johnnie Crutchfield, chairman of the committee said.

“Today we accomplished the first step in passing the biggest economic development program Oklahoma has seen in more than a decade.” Crutchfield, a Democrat from Ardmore said. “Our goal is to get this bill through the Senate and over to the House for action as quickly as possible.”
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Twenty-five newly-elected and returning members of the Oklahoma State Senate were officially sworn in during a ceremony Tuesday afternoon in the Senate chamber. The oath of office was administered by Oklahoma Supreme Court Chief Justice Joseph M. Watt.

The 2004 Senate class includes 15 new members and 10 members who were re-elected. This marks one of the largest groups of new members in recent years, with 14 of those seats open during the election cycle due to the state’s constitutionally mandated term limits.
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OKLAHOMA CITY - Saying he wanted Oklahomans to be able to take advantage of federal tax changes, Senator Grover Campbell announced he had filed a bill to help those who are saving for retirement.

"In the Tax Relief Act of 1997 passed by Congress, there was a four year window established for Americans to roll their regular IRA's into what is called a Roth IRA," explained Campbell, R-Owasso.

State Senate Republicans will be given the freedom to implement one of their education reform ideas in their home school districts if an amendment approved by the full Senate ultimately becomes law. The measure in question, originally proposed by the Senate GOP caucus last week, will require twelve pilot school districts to spend at least 90 percent of their education funding in the classroom.

Governor Keating's continued use of misleading education statistics is jeopardizing public school reform in Oklahoma, according to a Senate leader who is pushing for education improvements this legislative session.

OKLAHOMA CITY - Citizens interested in providing input on how state agencies should spend federal block grants are encouraged to attend public hearings scheduled this July, according to State Senator Bruce Price (D-Hinton).

Senator Price serves as Chair of the Joint Committee On Federal Funds. As required by state and federal law, the special panel holds hearings at least once a year to gauge the public's interest in how federal block funds should be used. State agencies also are required to report on how they spend federal funds.

MONDAY

Business & Labor
Leftwich, Chair
Coates, V-Chair
Brogdon
McIntyre
Myers
Shurden
Wilson