Issues ranging from judicial campaign finance reform to for-profit after school programs at public schools will be the topics of a series of interim studies conducted by the Oklahoma State Senate in the coming months.

Senate President Pro Tempore Cal Hobson announced the approval of the interim studies today and said the special committee work will help lawmakers prepare for the 2004 legislative session.
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Senator Robert Milacek, R-Enid, announced today that he will not seek re-election to the Senate District 19 seat in 2004. Senate District 19 includes Garfield, Kingfisher, and Logan Counties.

“After much thought, consideration and consultation with my family, I have decided not to seek a third Senate term in 2004. I will be working with our leadership and party officials to ensure that we keep this seat for the Republican Party,” said Senator Milacek.
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(Oklahoma City) -- The newly created Legislative Oversight Committee on State Budget Performance will hold its first meeting Monday, August 25, Senate Appropriations Chairman Mike Morgan announced Wednesday.

“Zero-based budgeting was a major issue in Governor Henry’s campaign a year ago. We established this committee through legislation last spring to change the way the Legislature approaches writing the budget. We’re going to examine every dollar appropriated to every state agency,” Morgan said.
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(Oklahoma City) Senate President Pro Tempore Cal Hobson has appointed Ada oilman Steven Michael “Mike” Cantrell to the Grand River Dam Authority.

“I am pleased to be able to add Mr. Cantrell to this important board. His contributions to the energy industry in Oklahoma and his volunteer efforts with organizations committed to making his hometown and this state a better place to live will make him an asset to the Grand River Dam Authority,” said Hobson, D-Lexington.
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(Oklahoma City) Senate President Pro Tempore Cal Hobson has appointed Anne M. Roberts of Norman to a four-year term on the governing board of the Oklahoma Health Care Authority.

Roberts is the executive director of the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy, a non-partisan statewide organization committed to improving the lives and life chances of children and youth through system change at the local and state level. She has held that position since 1989.
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State Capitol, Oklahoma City – Republicans in the state Senate announced a proposal for the use of $216 million in federal aid coming to Oklahoma as a result of President Bush’s historic tax relief and job growth package.

“The Senate Republican plan ensures these funds will be used wisely instead of being wasted on government pork or on the pet projects of Democrat legislators,” stated Senate Republican Leader James A. Williamson, R-Tulsa.

Governor Henry signed a measure last Thursday that clears the way for inpatient hospice care throughout the state, according to the bill’s author, Senator Daisy Lawler, D-Comanche.

Senate Bill 591 authorizes the Department of Health to create a licensing process and establishes set standards. The legislation also allows for regular inspections of inpatient hospice facilities.
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State Capitol, Oklahoma City – Governor Brad Henry’s veto of House Bill 1269 on Sunday makes it more likely that Oklahoma heart attack victims might lose their lives and puts Oklahoma-based health insurers at a competitive disadvantage, Senator Scott Pruitt said.

HB 1269 would have limited medical liability associated with Automatic External Defibrillator Systems (AED), allowing the placement of hundreds of defibrillators into public and private institutions.

(OKLAHOMA CITY) The Oklahoma Corporation Commission has been given a reprieve in its management of the state fund created to pay for the cleanup of leaking underground petroleum storage tanks, a key State Senator said today.

But that doesn’t mean it should be business as usual within OCC’s Petroleum Storage Tank Division, Senate Energy Environment and Communications Committee Chairman Kevin Easley said.

Easley told Commissioners in a letter today that he intends to make sure the Petroleum Storage Tank Division follows state statutes.
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(Oklahoma City) -- Senate Majority Whip Keith Leftwich has been appointed to a new commission dedicated to protecting Oklahoma’s military installations from being downsized or closed.

Senate President Pro Tempore Cal Hobson, D-Lexington, announced Leftwich’s appointment to the Oklahoma Strategic Military Planning Commission Thursday.

“All of Oklahoma’s bases are absolutely essential to our state’s economy. We want to do all we can to make sure we keep them,” said Leftwich, D-Oklahoma City.