OKLAHOMA CITY - The leaders of the Oklahoma House and Senate have announced a final agreement on property tax reform legislation, saying the resulting package will provide Oklahoma homeowners with an additional layer of protection against "unfair and excessive property tax increases."

The legislation will be voted on this week, either Wednesday or Thursday.

OKLAHOMA CITY - After months of hard work and sometimes contentious debate, a permanent solution for the annual midterm funding problems has been enacted into law. Governor Keating officially signed HB 2055 today.

"Basically, we've done away with an annual headache that's plagued both our growing schools and state lawmakers," said Senator Don Williams, one of the chief architects of HB 2055. "We've created a system that will get our schools the money when they need it, making it easier for them to budget and meet the needs of their students."

OKLAHOMA CITY -The Oklahoma Legislature is making good on its promise to deliver targeted tax incentives to the state's energy industry, reaching final agreement on legislation that will help preserve Oklahoma's existing oil and gas infrastructure.

"We've made a concerted effort to keep one of Oklahoma's most important industries alive and profitable," said Senator Stratton Taylor, President Pro Tempore of the Oklahoma Senate. "We don't want to see any more energy jobs lost or another well plugged because of an unrealistic tax code."

OKLAHOMA CITY - Statement from Senator Cal Hobson, Vice-chairman of Senate Appropriations Committee:

"Governor Keating is just looking for excuses to veto the higher education budget. He's made it clear time and time again that he's no friend of public education, especially when it comes to our state colleges and universities. Everyone remembers that one of his first official duties in office was to propose a $15 million cut to higher education.

OKLAHOMA CITY -Oklahoma should concentrate on improving services such as education instead of cutting taxes if it wants to improve the state's economic fortunes, according to a visiting economist.

Dr. Steven Gold, a senior fellow at the Urban Institute and nationally known economist, testified before the Senate Education Committee today.

OKLAHOMA CITY -Statement from Senator Larry Dickerson, Senate Author of the state employee pay raise bill

"I want to congratulate our Governor on setting a new standard. Having mastered the art of double-talk, he's now employing triple-talk to try to explain his flip-flop on the state employee pay raise.

First, he said he was for pay raises, then he vetoed the funding for them, now he tells state employees not to worry because they'll get their money. He's done more flip-flops than Nadia Comenci and Bart Conner combined.

OKLAHOMA CITY -Governor Keating is itching to veto a record appropriation for higher education, but because he doesn't have the guts to pull the trigger, he's yanking pay raises from state employees, according to a Senate leader.

"Governor Keating has exhibited a hostile attitude toward higher education from the day he stepped into office. He would like nothing better than to veto the higher education investment approved by the Legislature, but he doesn't have the guts," said Senator Kelly Haney, Senate Appropriations Committee chairman.

OKLAHOMA CITY -Even though he proposed budget increases for the Attorney General's office and the Indigent Defense system in his executive budget, Governor Keating has vetoed those appropriations, an action that will further slow the death penalty process, according to a Senate budget leader.

"In effect, Governor Keating has given our death row inmates a new lease on life. That's the simplest way to explain the impact of his vetoes," said Senator Cal Hobson, Vice-chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee.

OKLAHOMA CITY - Governor Keating has vetoed his own budget again, killing additional agency appropriations that he proposed in his executive budget, according to a Senate budget leader.

The Governor has vetoed increases for the Attorney General, the ABLE Commission, Indigent Defense and the Oklahoma Tax Commission, even though he proposed increases for those agencies in his executive budget.

OKLAHOMA CITY - Hailing it as one of the most productive meetings in recent history, legislative leaders officially adjourned the 45th session of the Oklahoma Legislature today.

"This was the most pro-business, pro-education session that I've ever been involved with," said Senator Stratton Taylor. "We covered the waterfront on a variety of economic development initiatives, from tax cuts to education investments. The things we did this session will produce dividends for years to come.