Under current law, there may be times when Oklahomans want to extend messages of sympathy or compassion to another, but are advised by their lawyer not to for fear it could be used against them in a lawsuit. That would change under Senate Bill 1262 by Senator Glen Coffee.

Basically were saying that a court in civil action cant use a communication expressing sympathy, compassion or benevolence relating to the pain, suffering or death of an individual, explained Coffee, R-OKC.

Senator Nancy Riley said she would continue working to secure a tax break for a Sand Springs Employer of 350; that after her attempts to attach an amendment to another tax incentive bill were blocked in the State Senate.

Im very disappointed that Senator Brad Henry would not include this legislation in his bill to help Great Plains Airline. More people are going to be immediately impacted with whats happening to Sheffield Steel in Sand Springs. It is a crisis for the community, and a crisis for the state, explained Riley.

Legislation aimed at cleaning up neighborhoods overrun with prostitutes, pimps and customers has won the approval of both a Senate subcommittee and full committee and is headed to the full Senate for a vote. Thats according to Senator Keith Leftwich. The South Oklahoma City Senator said he and House of Representatives co-author Al Lindley are gratified their colleagues are taking this problem seriously.

Oklahoma City – State legislative leaders have announced an agreement to pass emergency funding to prevent pending cuts to health care programs for the elderly, disabled and children.

House Speaker Larry Adair and Senate President Pro Tempore Stratton Taylor said today that they plan to approve a $15.6 million supplemental appropriation for the Oklahoma Health Care Authority as quickly as possible. The OHCA was preparing to send out letters to 15,000 elderly and disabled health care recipients this Friday, informing them that their programs would soon be cut.

The Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Education has voted down a measure requiring Oklahoma high school students to take four years of math, science, social studies and English. Senator Kathleen Wilcoxson, a former educator is author of the bill. The former Oklahoma City Teacher of the Year said she was very disappointed with today's vote.

"The soul purpose of a high school education is to assure that every student has the necessary prerequisites to go to college, Career-tech or into the workforce without the need for remediation," explained Senator Wilcoxson.

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Legislative concern about tight revenues this year has prompted the leaders of the House and the Senate to assemble the joint committee that will write Oklahoma's state budget.

The bipartisan House/Senate General Conference Committee on Appropriations must reconcile state funding requests with available tax revenues for Fiscal Year 2003, House Speaker Larry E. Adair and Senate President Pro Tempore Stratton Taylor said. The budget writers must finish their task before the Legislature adjourns in late May.

Senate Minority leader Jim Dunlap said he and members of his caucus would ask Governor Frank Keating for an audit of the Oklahoma Health Care Authority, after the agency threatened to send out some 15,000 letters to Oklahomans telling them that without additional funding their services would be terminated. Before that could happen, House Speaker Larry Adair and Senate President Pro Tempore Stratton Taylor announced an agreement to approve a $15.6 million supplemental appropriation to the agency. Senator Dunlap said the action by the OHCA was nothing short of extortion.

Statement by Senator Stratton Taylor,
Senate President Pro Tempore

This will make an already difficult budget situation even more difficult. I will continue to advocate that we shield education, health care and other vital services from any budget cuts. Because those programs make up a major share of the state budget, it will probably require us to make significant cuts in other state agencies in order to balance the budget.

(Oklahoma City) Governor Keatings proposal to radically alter Oklahomas two largest state retirement systems may not be in the best interest of current or future teachers and state employees, according to State Senator Larry Dickerson.

The Poteau legislator said the plan could also hurt Oklahomas effort to recruit new teachers to address a statewide teacher shortage.

A bill to make sure more WWII veterans will finally get their long delayed high school diploma has passed its first test. Senator Johnnie Crutchfield, D-Ardmore is author of Senate Bill 900, which seeks to correct a technicality in the law approved last year which inadvertently disqualified some veterans from obtaining their diplomas. The legislation has won approval from the Senate Education Committee.