The State Senate has given final approval to a measure intended to make sure more World War II vets who left high school to join the service are eligible to finally receive their diplomas. Senator Johnnie Crutchfield is principal author of Senate Bill 900.

"The original measure required World War II veterans to have 18 months of consecutive service in order to be eligible for a high school diploma. Unfortunately that inadvertently caused some very worthy heroes to be left out of the program. SB 900 corrects that," explained Senator Crutchfield, D-Ardmore.

(Oklahoma City) Governor Keatings congressional redistricting plan would disenfranchise voters in southeastern Oklahoma, preventing them from receiving adequate representation from the state congressional delegation in Washington, DC, according to a coalition of southeastern Oklahoma state legislators.

Statement by Senator Stratton Taylor,
Senate President Pro Tempore

"Two days ago, we formally asked Governor Keating and Republican legislative leaders to present us with a budget proposal that reflected the most current revenue situation so that we could begin budget negotiations.

"Judging from the governor's press statement, that request was far too difficult and complex for them to comply with.

(Oklahoma City) Governor Frank Keating should intervene on behalf of an anti-sexual harassment bill now stalled in the State House, according to the State Senate author of the legislation.

Senator Brad Henry believes that SB 1594 could be revived if Governor Keating would urge House Republicans to support the measure, instead of voting against it as they did on Monday.

The bill was defeated on a 43-55 vote, but remains alive on a motion to reconsider. The vast majority of the "no" votes were cast by Republican legislators.

(Oklahoma City) In an effort to get budget talks moving, the leader of the Oklahoma State Senate is offering to hold a floor vote on a Republican-sponsored retirement bill that would make major changes in the pension systems for teachers and public employees.

Although he vehemently opposes the proposed legislation, Senate President Pro Tempore Stratton Taylor said Governor Keating and GOP legislative leaders have told him it is one of their top priorities and a key to their yet-to-be-made-public budget plan.

Statement by Senator Stratton Taylor,
Senate President Pro Tempore

"I guess this means that Governor Keating doesn't want us to debate his retirement proposal or his consolidation plans. If he wasn't really interested in pursuing those issues, he could have saved us all a lot of time by not requesting a hearing in the first place.

"This is a perfect illustration of why it is so frustrating to try and conduct budget negotiations with Governor Keating and his Republican colleagues. They request something, we comply and then they say they really didn't want it.

Statement by Senator Stratton Taylor,
Senate President Pro Tempore

"In order for Governor Keating's budget plan to balance, whether it is his original proposal or his revised one, he has to pass his 401(k) state employees/teacher retirement program. It's the linchpin of his budget. The sooner that we vote on the Republican retirement program, the sooner that we will know whether Governor Keating's overall budget plan will work. If it fails, the governor will be back to square one.

Statement by Senator Stratton Taylor,
Senate President Pro Tempore

(Oklahoma City) Because Governor Keating has apparently abandoned his pursuit of a controversial state pension overhaul, both his original and revised state budget plans are hopelessly out of balance, according to the leader of the Oklahoma State Senate.

Statement by Senator Stratton Taylor,
Senate President Pro Tempore

Senator Grover Campbell has asked State Attorney General Drew Edmondson for an official opinion on whether transferable tax credits are in violation of the state's constitution. The answer could have a direct impact on legislation such as a bill recently signed into law giving Great Plains Airlines $9 million in transferable tax credits. That's in addition to another $18 million in transferable tax credits previously given to Great Plains.