State Sen. Roger Thompson has been appointed to the Budgets and Revenue Committee for the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL).  Thompson, who chairs the Oklahoma State Senate’s Appropriations Committee, was appointed by NCSL leadership.

The committee’s jurisdictional areas include federal and state policies with fiscal implications, including funding for services and programs, budget processes, tax and revenue systems, legislative oversight, unfunded mandates and state-local fiscal relations.  

In his first legislative session as Senate Appropriations Chair, Sen. Roger Thompson helped carve out priorities for the 2020 fiscal year budget and determine how best to fund and support key agenda items aimed at moving Oklahoma forward—the end result is a balanced budget that made new investments in core services of government, increased emergency savings and accomplished it all without a tax increase.

Sen. Roger Thompson has been named Rural Legislator of the Year by an organization that advocates for rural schools.  The Organization of Rural Oklahoma Schools (OROS) was formed in 1984 and represents 330 school districts and over 400 individual schools across the state. Funding and the opposition of forced consolidation of school districts are among the issues OROS has prioritized for rural education.

OKLAHOMA CITY— State Senator Roger Thompson, R-Okemah, was recently appointed to serve on the Education Committee of the Southern Legislative Conference.  Thompson was chosen to serve earlier this month by Senate Pro Tem Brian Bingman.

Family, friends and supporters looked on Wednesday as Sen. Roger Thompson was sworn in to serve another four years in the State Senate.  The ceremony was held in the Senate Chamber a week after Thompson was reelected to the District 8 seat. During Thompson’s second term he will hold one of the most powerful positions in the Capitol, serving as Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee.

OKLAHOMA CITY— Senator Roger Thompson, R-Okemah, was recently appointed to serve on the National Conference of State Legislature’s Education Committee.  Thompson was chosen to serve earlier this month by Senate Pro Tem Brian Bingman.

Sen. Wayne Shaw has officially begun his second term after being officially sworn in during a special oath of office ceremony at the Capitol on Wednesday.  

“I am honored to be able to continue my service in the Senate on behalf the citizens of District 3,” Shaw said.  “While we have many challenges ahead, we also have the opportunity to strengthen our public policies so that when our economy does rebound, Oklahoma will be able to build on that growth, creating jobs and building a better future for citizens.”

OKLAHOMA CITY –   A criminal reform package containing four bills aimed at allowing the state to be smart on crime without jeopardizing public safety was signed by Gov. Mary Fallin on Wednesday.  

Senator Wayne Shaw, author of HB 2753, one of the four bills in the package, said these reforms were overdue and needed to alleviate excessive and growing strain in the state’s prison system.

OKLAHOMA CITY – The State Election Board has appointed Cathy Harrison of Stilwell to become the next secretary of the Adair County Election Board, according to State Senator Wayne Shaw.

Harrison will be replacing Marilyn Hill-Russell, who has served as Adair County Election Board Secretary for eight years.

“I am pleased with the experience Ms. Harrison brings to this position,” said Sen. Shaw, R-Grove.  “I am confident she will do an excellent job as Adair County Election Board Secretary.”

OKLAHOMA CITY –  Rachel Carlile, a student at Carl Albert State College (Poteau Campus) was recognized on March 7 at the state Capitol by Sen. Joseph Silk, the Oklahoma Council of Two-Year College Presidents, and the Oklahoma Association of Community Colleges for academic excellence during her two year college program.
Rachel was among 40 students nominated by their college president to be on the All Oklahoma/ USA Coca-Cola Academic Team. This prestigious recognition is given to outstanding students who maintain a 3.5 cumulative G.P.A. read more.