Senate Republican Floor Leader James A. Williamson, R-Tulsa, made the following response to Gov. Brad Henry’s State of the State address:

“We know Gov. Henry likes to talk the talk about bipartisanship, but his State of the State address left many Republicans wondering if he will walk the walk. He adopted many Republican proposals like tax relief and lawsuit reform, but then failed to mention some of the most important issues facing our state.

A painting depicting two of Oklahoma’s most famous sons, Will Rogers and Wiley Post, has been dedicated at the State Capitol. State Senator Charles Ford, President of the Oklahoma State Senate Historical Preservation Fund Inc., unveiled the artwork during a ceremony in the State Senate Chamber on Tuesday morning.

Sen. Charles Ford, R-Tulsa, announced the dedication today of two more original paintings commissioned by the Oklahoma State Senate Historical Preservation Fund, Inc. The oil portraits of Oklahoma’s first territorial House Speaker, Arthur N. Daniels, and Oklahoma’s first statehood House Speaker, “Alfalfa Bill” Murray, were unveiled during a ceremony this afternoon in the House of Representatives Chamber.
read more.

State Capitol, Oklahoma City – A brand new decision by the activist Massachusetts Supreme Court that “only full, equal marriage rights” for gays is constitutional puts Oklahoma at further risk that same sex marriages will be forced on our state. The ruling is a follow-up by the court to its controversial ruling last year.

Senate Republican Leader James A. Williamson said recent actions by Gov. Brad Henry and Senate President Pro Tempore Cal Hobson, D-Lexington, have added to the risk that Oklahomans could soon have same sex marriages forced on them by activist courts. read more.

For the first time ever, Oklahomans from across the state can now listen to the legislature live on the internet. The webcasts began this week with the first day of the 2004 legislative session and Gov. Brad Henry’s State of the State Address.
read more.

The leader of the State Senate said Thursday he doesn’t believe that recent decisions by the Massachusetts Supreme Court make gay marriage one of the most pressing issues facing Oklahoma.

Senate President Pro Tem Cal Hobson said Senate Minority Leader James A. Williamson’s assertions that Oklahoma’s 1996 Defense of Marriage Act is on the verge of being overturned are ill conceived.
read more.

Senator Debbe Leftwich, D-OKC, praised former University of Oklahoma cornerback and Jim Thorpe Award recipient Derrick Strait today on the Senate floor by presenting him with Senate Resolution 36.

The Austin, Texas, native was presented with the nation’s best defensive back award at the ESPN-Home Depot College Football Awards show in early December 2003. The outstanding defensive player also received the Bronko Nagurski Trophy as the nation’s best defensive player just days before receiving the Thorpe Award. Strait was also named to the Walter Camp All-American Team.

A painting depicting a woman whose U.S. Supreme Court case helped to break the racial barrier in Oklahoma’s higher education system will now grace the walls of the State Capitol, according to Sen. Charles Ford, R-Tulsa.

The painting of Ada Lois Sipuel Fisher, the first woman of color to be admitted to the University of Oklahoma law school, was dedicated today in the Senate Chamber. Artist Mike Wimmer of Norman created the painting, which was sponsored by Sen. Penny Williams, D-Tulsa.

Oklahoma City – State Senate Republicans unveiled their agenda for the 2004 legislative session, saying the Legislature’s top priorities in 2004 should focus on strengthening Oklahoma’s economy, improving Oklahoma’s education system, defending Oklahoma’s traditional values, and promoting rural economic development – while holding the line on taxes and spending.

A bill that would boost purses at Oklahoma’s four pari-mutuel horse racing facilities, allow the state to regulate the more than 80 tribal casinos in Oklahoma and provide millions of dollars for education passed the State Senate on a 30-18 vote Wednesday.

Senate President Pro Tempore Cal Hobson, author of the bill, said he was pleased with the outcome of the vote.
read more.