As lawmakers entered the next to last day of the Second Session of the 49th Oklahoma Legislature, the leader of the State Senate Thursday morning proclaimed this session as the most successful in his 26 years of legislative service.

“We have addressed in a positive way more significant issues in this session than in any other since I first came here in February 1979,” Senate President Pro Tempore Cal Hobson said. “We’ve given the people of Oklahoma the chance to rescue our state’s ailing horse racing industry and regulate tribal gaming for the first time in history.
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A measure that could lead to “historic improvements” at Lake Texoma Resort Park has cleared the Legislature and is on its way to the governor.

The measure would allow the Commissioners of the Land Office – also known as the School Land Commission – to invest in real property held by the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department. read more.

Senate Republican leaders said that Oklahoma trial lawyers won a major victory in their fight against meaningful lawsuit reform this session, with passage of House Bill 2661 by the Senate and House of Representatives this week.

“The very fact that every senator who has publicly opposed lawsuit reform voted for this bill proves that HB 2661 is a sham,” stated Sen. James A. Williamson, Senate Republican Floor Leader. “The trial lawyers have won a major victory.”

Senators Ted Fisher, Ben Robinson, Mike Morgan, President Pro Tem Cal Hobson,
Governor Brad Henry and House House Speaker Larry Adair met with the press Friday
following Sine Die to discuss this year's legislative session.

Senate Republican Leader James A. Williamson gave the just-completed 2004 legislative session a grade of “D.”

“The 2004 legislative session is one of the worst examples of missed chances I have ever seen,” said Williamson, R-Tulsa.

“This session started with so many positive opportunities to create jobs and promote economic development. Instead, the governor’s program to raise taxes and expand gambling dominated the debate and our time. Even those issues were referred to a vote of the people instead of being dealt with directly by the Legislature,” he said.

Senator Debbe Leftwich said she is hopeful the full Senate will support her efforts to ensure all Oklahoma women have access to breast and cervical cancer treatment. House Bill 2552 won approval by the Senate Appropriations Committee on Wednesday.

“The American Cancer Society has a map of the United States showing all the states that provide breast and cervical cancer treatment to women who are under-insured or have no insurance. Oklahoma is the only state that offers no such program,” said Senator Leftwich, D-OKC.
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House Speaker Larry Adair and Senate President Pro Tempore Cal Hobson announced Friday the formation of a 23-member bipartisan joint committee on lawsuit reform.

The committee, which will be led by Representative Jari Askins and Senator Mike Morgan, will conduct a series of open hearings beginning April 15, to examine the myriad of issues surrounding lawsuit reform. Members of the joint committee are also expected to serve as members of the conference committee that will write the final version of lawsuit reform legislation this session.
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Senator Angela Monson and House Speaker Pro Tempore Danny Hilliard were joined by trauma survivors and physicians Monday for a special presentation on the state of Oklahoma’s trauma care network.

The legislative leaders hosted the presentation in the State Senate Chamber in an effort to educate other lawmakers and the public on the need for an infusion of funding to keep the state’s only Level 1 Trauma Center open at University Hospital in Oklahoma City and to ensure the existence of reliable statewide trauma care network
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Senator Mike Morgan and Representative Jari Askins announced a schedule Wednesday of four issue-oriented hearings on tort reform.

Morgan, D-Stillwater, and Askins, D-Duncan, are co-chairs of a special 23-member joint House-Senate committee that will examine the state’s civil justice system. The co-chairpersons outlined the process the committee will follow in the hearings during Thursday’s meeting.
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"Helen Cole was a woman of great dignity and character and was admired by members of both parties. She was very proud of her Native American heritage and her state. She loved public service and worked tirelessly on behalf of the people of her district. Her service on the Ethics Commission underscored Senator Cole’s commitment to making government in Oklahoma something of which our citizens could be proud. Her son Tom continues the family tradition of service in the U.S. Congress and our thoughts and prayers are with Congressman Cole and the entire Cole family."
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