(OKLAHOMA CITY) Although the beginning of the next session of the Oklahoma Legislature is still more than three months away, Senate Appropriations sub-committees have already begun preliminary work on the Fiscal Year 2005 budget, the Senate’s chief budget framer said Tuesday.

Senate Appropriations Chairman Mike Morgan said the meetings, which began last week and will continue over the next six weeks, are part of the Legislature’s new zero-based budgeting initiative.
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Oklahoma's right-to-work law could be eliminated by a vote of the people under a Senate joint resolution filed today by Sen. Frank Shurden, D-Henryetta.

SJR 27, which is co-authored by Rep. M.C. Leist, D-Morris, and Rep. Jerry Ellis, D-Valliant, seeks to allow Oklahoma voters an opportunity to repeal the Constitutional right-to-work provision that was approved during the 2001 special election.

Sen. Shurden said that if his right-to-work repealer measure is approved by the legislature, it will appear as a state question on the 2004 general election ballot. read more.

State Senator Sam Helton, D-Lawton, and Representative Ray McCarter, D-Marlow, announced the dedication of I-40 to be known also as the "Purple Heart Trail" today. Senator Helton and Representative McCarter, along with Director of the Department of Veterans Affairs Phillip Driskill, officially dedicated the interstate under the provisions of Senate Bill 380, which was signed into law by Governor Brad Henry during the 2003 legislative session.

Study Shows Large Scale Suppression of Abortion Research

State Capitol, Oklahoma City – Senator Scott Pruitt, R-Broken Arrow, and Rep. Kevin Calvey, R-Del City, will redouble their efforts to pass an “informed consent” law in Oklahoma following the release of a study published in the Summer 2003 issue of the Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons (click here for the study).

State Capitol, Oklahoma City – Senators Mike Johnson, R-Kingfisher, and Owen Laughlin, R-Woodward, have filed legislation to repeal a controversial and confusing new sales tax provision that places burdensome new filing requirements on small businesses.

(Oklahoma City) - Senators across the state will once again be traveling to schools in their districts to personally meet with students, answer questions and share ideas from the students in the public school system.

The Senators will also provide the students with a greater understanding of the legislative process through explaining how a bill is drafted and the steps a bill goes through to become law.

(OKLAHOMA CITY) The show will go on.

Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Mike Morgan said Friday that funding approved by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education will keep the doors of the Pollard Theatre in Guthrie open through June.

“I’m pleased that the Regents recognized the important role the Pollard plays in the arts community Oklahoma and its historical significance in our Territorial Capital and saved this cultural treasure,” said the Stillwater Democrat, whose district includes parts of Guthrie.

Senate President Pro Tempore Cal Hobson said Friday that Majority Whip Keith Leftwich leaves a “lasting legacy of courage and public service.”

Leftwich died peacefully Friday morning at his home in south Oklahoma City after a long fight with cancer

“Keith Leftwich was the bravest man I have ever known. He maintained his grace and dignity throughout his courageous battle. Everyone in the Senate is grieved by his passing and his family will be in our prayers,” said Hobson, D-Lexington.

State Capitol, Oklahoma City – Senate Republican Floor Leader James A. Williamson, R-Tulsa, made the following statement:

“On behalf of the Senate Republican Caucus, I would like to express our heartfelt condolences to the Leftwich family in their time of loss. Keith Leftwich was a principled public servant, and we commend him for his commitment to and love for the state of Oklahoma. Senator Leftwich will be deeply missed by his Senate colleagues.”
 

Although Senator Keith Leftwich lost his battle with cancer on Friday, the South Oklahoma City Democrat left the state an important legacy of public service and legislation that made Oklahoma a better place to live, work and raise a family. The 49-year-old lawmaker died at approximately 10:30 this morning. He was initially diagnosed with cancer in January 2002. He is survived by his wife Debbe and their sons, Kurt and Kevin.
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