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.

Saying it was important to create an environment that would encourage capital investments and economic growth, Senator Mark Snyder has won committee approval for his legislation phasing out capital-gains taxes.

Our current taxation of long terms capital gains discourages the kind of investment and economic growth Oklahoma must have to become prosperous. My legislation calls for a gradual reduction over the next several years until weve finally eliminated the tax altogether, explained Snyder, R-Edmond.

Statement by Senator Brad Henry,
Chairman, Senate Judiciary Committee

"My reason for not hearing the covenant marriage bill is pretty simple. I don't think the government should be sticking its nose any further into the private lives of Oklahomans, especially when it comes to marriage. Government shouldn't be in the business of telling people who they should marry or how long they should stay married. That is a personal and private decision that should be left to a husband and wife in consultation with their families and their pastor, not the legislature or the governor.

Saying it's time to do something big for Oklahoma, education and economic development, Senator Brad Henry is preparing to take his proposal for a statewide lottery vote to the full Senate Floor.

SJR 40 cleared a major hurdle late Wednesday when it received the approval of the full Senate Appropriations Committee.

OKLAHOMA CITY Saying he has accomplished all his goals as a state legislator and is looking forward to spending more time with his family, State Senator Paul Muegge announced today that he is retiring from the Oklahoma Legislature.

The veteran legislator from Tonkawa said he would step down at the conclusion of legislative business this year and would not seek re-election to his Senate District 20 office in November. The 65-year old farmer and rancher has represented citizens in Alfalfa, Grant, Kay, Major and Woods counties for the past 12 years.