Legislation aimed at making sure teachers or other school employees who have abused children cant cover up their past behavior when looking for a new job has cleared the full Senate. An amendment to Senate Bill 1471 also requires public schools to have a moment of silence each day during which time a child may pray or meditate.

Senator Kathleen Wilcoxson is principal author of SB 1471. She said the main purpose of her initial legislation was to make school districts arent withholding critical information about a teacher who had been involved in child pornography or child abuse.

(Oklahoma City) State Senator Brad Henry announced Wednesday that he is exploring the possibility of an initiative petition drive that would ultimately let Oklahomans decide whether to create a state lottery to help fund education.

All of the polls indicate that there is overwhelming support for a statewide lottery in the name of public education. If we can get it on the ballot, I dont have any doubt that it would pass, said Henry, D-Shawnee.

OKLAHOMA CITY – High-speed rail service connecting Oklahoma's two largest metropolitan areas will be at the top of the discussion list at an April 2nd joint meeting of the House and Senate Transportation Committees, announced Senator Dave Herbert, D- Midwest City.

The meeting is expected to focus on a high-speed rail corridor study between Tulsa and Oklahoma City, allowing passengers to travel at speeds in excess of 150 mph.

Oklahomas bid to create a world class Native American Museum and Cultural Center cleared an important funding hurdle Friday when the U.S. Senate authorized $33 million federal construction funding.

I am very pleased to see that the Senate has passed this authorization bill, said State Senator Kelly Haney, a leader in creating the state and local partnership to build the center. We anticipate the center will become the number-one tourist attraction in all of Oklahoma.

OKLAHOMA CITY Making a move to help keep a one-cent gas tax bill that would fund the future of high speed rail for Oklahoma alive, Senator Dave Herbert is shifting the legislation to a different committee.

According to the Midwest City legislator, Senate Joint Resolution 4 will move out of the House Revenue and Taxation Committee when the gas tax language is changed into a new piece of legislation. The new legislation will becomes SJR 36 and will be moved to the House Rules Committee where Herbert has been assured a hearing next week.

OKLAHOMA CITY - A bill moving through the legislative process that is intended to boost the calcium-fortified foods offered in Oklahoma school cafeterias may be confused with another bill aimed at curbing vending machine in schools, according to Senator Paul Muegge, D-Tonkawa.

Senate Bill 1229, authored by Muegge and Representative Al Lindley, emphasizes the importance of dairy and calcium consumption in young Oklahomans.

Statement by Senator Stratton Taylor,
Senate President Pro Tempore

Passing meaningful tax relief hinges on identifying new revenue sources for state services. That's according to Senator Jerry Smith, R-Tulsa, who has called on Governor Frank Keating to take a close look at how new tribal gaming agreements could generate a significant portion of the dollars needed to eliminate the state income tax and the sales tax on groceries.

OKLAHOMA CITY A plan proposed by Texas Governor Rick Perry to build a gigantic new transportation system across the Lone Star state has caught the attention of Oklahoma State Senator Dave Herbert (D-Midwest City).

Governor Perry recently announced his plan for the Trans Texas Corridor, which would consist of a 4,000 mile system for border-to-border transportation, complete with toll roads, railroads and underground utility tunnels.

Senator Keith Leftwich and Representative Al Lindley have extended their thanks and the thanks of a south Oklahoma City neighborhood to the Oklahoma County Sheriffs office. Thats after Sheriff John Wetsel fulfilled his pledge to help step up police presence in an area that has been over-run with prostitutes, pimps and customers.