State Capitol, Oklahoma City – Lieutenant Governor Mary Fallin, Senate Republican Floor Leader James Williamson, and House Republican Floor Leader Todd Hiett issued the following statement on the tort plan issued by Governor Henry’s medical liability task force on Friday:

There is a single purpose to passing medical lawsuit reform in Oklahoma: To lower the cost of skyrocketing medical malpractice insurance for doctors and medical providers, thereby lowering the overall medical costs for Oklahoma families.

Senate President Pro Tempore Cal Hobson and House Speaker Larry Adair announced Tuesday that lawmakers will return after the Memorial Day holiday weekend to complete the work of the First Session of the 49th Oklahoma Legislature.

Sine die adjournment will come sometime after Tuesday, May 27.

Senator Charles Ford announced the dedication of another original painting commissioned by the Oklahoma State Senate Historical Preservation Fund, Inc. The painting, titled “Nathaniel Pryor and Sam Houston at Three Forks” by nationally renowned artist Mike Wimmer of Norman, was unveiled during a ceremony in the Senate Chamber this afternoon.
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State Capitol, Oklahoma City – Thursday the state Senate adopted HB 1256 requiring zero-based budgeting for state government. Zero-based budgeting is a key Republican reform proposal that was part of the bipartisan budget agreement reached earlier this year.

“Zero-based budgeting will require state agencies to justify every dollar they spend from the first to the last, and will help the Legislature better analyze the effectiveness and performance of state agencies and programs,” said Sen. Scott Pruitt, R-Broken Arrow. Pruitt is a leading Senate advocate for zero-based budgeting.

Senate President Pro Tempore Cal Hobson said Tuesday that he has never suggested dismantling the state fund dedicated to cleaning up the environmental threats from leaking underground petroleum storage tanks.

Hobson, D-Lexington, said his only desire is to ensure proper stewardship of both the environment and the taxpayer’s money by reforming management of the Underground Storage Tank Indemnity Fund.
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State Capitol, Oklahoma City – On a straight party-line vote late Wednesday evening, Senate Democrats rammed through a controversial education bill that reverses important education reforms and reduces the control of local school boards over the state’s public education system, Senate Republicans said today.

“HB 1767 is very bad news for every Oklahoman who wants to improve our public education system, and is a sellout to the liberal OEA leadership,” said Senate Republican Floor Leader James Williamson, R-Tulsa. Williamson is a former teacher.

A bill intended to restructure the State Board of Career and Technology Education has passed the Senate. HB 1068, co-authored by Senator Herb Rozell, D-Tahlequah and Representative Ray Miller, D-Quinton, would do away with the current Career Tech board and require the governor to appoint new members from each Congressional district.
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Senate President Pro Tempore Cal Hobson joined House Speaker Larry Adair and other members of the Legislature Tuesday in honoring Oklahoma’s 45th Infantry Division at the State Capitol Tuesday.

“The men and women of the ‘Fighting 45th’ have always served their country and state with distinction. They are shining examples of the courage and resolve of both our nation and the great state of Oklahoma,” said Hobson, D-Lexington.

Members of the 45th were honored as lawmakers met in joint session in the chamber of the Oklahoma House of Representatives.
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When the State Senate voted to exempt small restaurants from a proposed law banning smoking in most public places, Senator Nancy Riley made sure that veterans’ clubs would be exempt.

“These Oklahomans put their lives on the line for their country. When they are together in these clubs, they should be able to smoke if they want to,” said Senator Riley.

Riley’s comments came in response to a media report that her amendment would actually ban smoking in veterans clubs.
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Senate President Pro Tempore Cal Hobson officially released Senate assignments for the General Conference Committee on Appropriations Wednesday – one day after Legislative leaders and Governor Brad Henry announced an agreement on the Fiscal Year 2004 Budget.

“Our global budget agreement was certainly a big step, but there is still much work to be completed on what I have always called the toughest job in this building – writing a balanced budget for state government,” said Hobson, D-Lexington.