OKLAHOMA CITY – With almost annual attempts to force rural schools to consolidate against their will, one rural lawmaker says it is time for Oklahoma to settle the issue “once and for all.”

Senator Jay Paul Gumm, a Democrat from Durant, filed a measure that would end the concept of forced school consolidation. The proposed constitutional amendment would put the power to consolidate rural districts solely in the hands of local voters.

(State Capitol, Oklahoma City) The Chairman of the Senate Republican Rural Caucus said his group would fight any effort by urban legislators Democrats or Republicans to forcibly consolidate rural public school districts.

The members of the Senate Republican Rural Caucus strongly oppose forced school consolidation, and we will oppose any effort to do so in the Oklahoma State Senate, stated Sen. Owen Laughlin, R-Woodward.

Note to Editor: Earlier today Senator Gumm issued a press release stating he has filed legislation to end the threat of forced school consolidation

I welcome rural Senate Republicans to this fight and look forward to their support for SJR 35.

Further, I expect them to encourage leaders in their own party especially those in the House of Representatives to end their incessant and repeated attempts to destroy rural public education and the communities we call home.

State Senator Jeff Rabon urged the Oklahoma Attorney General on Wednesday to coordinate a statewide investigation into the “hijacking of democracy” by out-of-interests seeking a statewide vote on TABOR.

Rabon pointed to the arrest last week of a teenage TABOR petition circulator who was in alleged violation of his parole from Massachusetts and two incidents in Tulsa Tuesday where petition circulators attempted to gather signatures inside polling places on Election Day. One of the TABOR supporters was a precinct worker who was relieved of her duties.
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Senator Kenneth Corn said today that Republicans in the House are looking for nothing more than political cover with their latest press release that falsely accuses Senate Democrats of stalling on funding for Oklahoma prisons. Corn said the refusal by Republican Speaker of the House Todd Hiett to address the issue during a special session shows Republicans have taken a do-nothing approach to public safety.
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A Democratic Senator will file a pair of bills that will bring greater financial responsibility to state government. State Senator Kenneth Corn said the measures will be considered when session begins on February 6, 2006.

State Senate Republican Leader Glenn Coffee expressed skepticism Friday that a Democrat state senator is serious about two proposals he purports would implement reforms to make state government more fiscally responsible.

“Senate Democrats practically invented fiscal irresponsibility, so I am highly skeptical that Sen. Corn is serious about his proposals,” stated Coffee, R-Oklahoma City.

“It is amazing to me the lengths to which Senator Coffee and members of the Senate Republican Caucus will go to sling mud at policies proposed by Democrats – proposals that could clearly be seen as a bi-partisan effort to move Oklahoma forward.

“If the Minority Leader would spend more time trying to conduct the business of this state and less time grandstanding for political gain perhaps then we could all come together and do what’s right for Oklahoma.

House and Senate Republican leaders today announced meaningful lawsuit reform as the top priority for the upcoming 2006 legislative session.

Speaker of the House Todd Hiett and Senate Republican Leader Glenn Coffee said enacting meaningful lawsuit reform is a must if the state wants to attract and keep good jobs.

A pair of Oklahoma City lawmakers is calling on the Oklahoma Department of Human Services to halt plans to create a group home for five unwed teen mothers and their children in a Southside neighborhood.

Senator Debbe Leftwich and Representative Al Lindley met with residents of the area Tuesday night and vowed to do everything they can to keep DHS from going forward with the proposed group home at 1329 S.W. 71st Circle.
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