Senator Dickerson Comments on House Roads Plan:

"I'm glad the House has joined the debate and expressed support for additional road construction in Oklahoma. I haven't had time to review the details of the House program yet, but I think the obvious first reaction is that it doesn't build as many miles of highway as the Senate plan. Our $750 million program is just more extensive.

A Weekly Update on all of the Good News about Oklahoma

Because much of the good news about our state is sometimes overlooked by state leaders and others, many positive developments and success stories in Oklahoma go unreported. It is our hope that "Oklahoma Pride," a weekly publication of the Oklahoma Senate, will ensure that the best stories about Oklahoma are told.

For example, this week in Oklahoma, did you know that......

OKLAHOMA CITY - Citing the impact of recent reforms and other market factors, a state legislator is preparing to file a "friend of the court" brief with the State Board on Property and Casualty Rates, urging it to implement a workers compensation insurance rate cut.

"All of the evidence indicates that workers comp rates should be reduced, not just by a little, but by a lot," said Senator Jim Maddox, chairman of the Senate Small Business Committee. "The market conditions are right for what could be the biggest rate cut in recent history.

OKLAHOMA CITY - In an effort to keep Oklahoma's current economic growth on track and boost the personal income of individual Oklahomans, Senate leaders will be pursuing a stimulus package this legislative session that will cut business taxes and encourage higher wage jobs.

OKLAHOMA CITY - Just two days after Senator Kelly Haney initiated an inquiry into skyrocketing propane prices, Governor Frank Keating has joined the growing chorus of voices calling for action to protect Oklahoma consumers.

"I'm glad to have the Governor on board," said Senator Haney, chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee. "If we present a united front, I think we'll stand a much better chance of getting Oklahoma consumers the relief they deserve."

A letter from a state appeals court judge indicates a gubernatorial veto handed down last May is causing a case backlog in the criminal courts that could delay executions and result in charges being dismissed against some accused criminals. For that reason and others, legislative leaders are contemplating a supplemental appropriation to the Oklahoma Indigent Defense System.

The latest revenue report from the Office of State Finance confirms what legislative leaders have suspected for years: the state's economic policies are stimulating strong and steady growth across Oklahoma.

"All of the numbers point to one, indisputable conclusion. Oklahoma is on an economic roll," said Senator Kelly Haney, chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee.

"Our economy is growing so fast that even the budget experts can't keep up with it. The economic plan for Oklahoma is right on track."

Senate budget leaders have announced an extensive road building program that will double Oklahoma's highway construction budget and create more than 21,000 spin-off jobs in the process. The $750 million program employs a "lease-back" mechanism that will allow the state to build roads and highways immediately, but pay off the construction cost over a period of years.

OKLAHOMA CITY -Today the Chairman of the State Senate's Business and Labor Committee called for Governor Frank Keating's reconsideration of the ongoing state hiring freeze.

Senator Lewis Long pointed to a Senate study he requested on the implications of the freeze which shows that savings from the freeze have been offset by a 65 percent increase in contracts with temporary workers.

OKLAHOMA CITY - A Senate leader is urging Governor Keating to join the growing chorus of voices calling for a significant cut in workers compensation rates. The State Board of Property and Casualty Rates will consider rate cut requests at a meeting later this month.