Sen. Don Barrington has asked Senate staff to examine possible legislative and/or administrative solutions that would allow college and university students displaced by Katrina to relocate to Oklahoma schools.

“The short-term and long-term impact of Katrina is almost unimaginable. Many people may not realize that several major universities have been virtually destroyed. It may be years before they can be totally rebuilt, but their students can’t wait that long,” said Barrington, R-Lawton.
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Senate President Pro Tempore Mike Morgan applauded the efforts of Georgia Governor Sonny Purdue today to “relieve some of the financial burden” being experienced by residents of his state by suspending the tax on gasoline there through September.

And Morgan renewed his call for Governor Brad Henry to act so that the Oklahoma Legislature could enact the Senate Democrats proposal to suspend the gas tax in Oklahoma for a three-month period.
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Senate Republican Leader Glenn Coffee said he was extremely proud of one Oklahoma church’s efforts to directly assist victims of Katrina. Victory Church in Norman was making its shelter ministry in Oklahoma City available to evacuees. As of mid-afternoon, the shelter at 1900 N.E. 36th Street was already providing housing to some two dozen evacuees and was preparing for the arrival of more than 80 additional refugees later in the day.
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State Senator Johnnie Crutchfield and State Representative Wes Hilliard are working closely with federal, state and local officials to ensure a smooth transition for Hurricane Katrina victims who will temporarily be placed at Falls Creek Baptist Camp in Davis.

“We don’t know exactly when the evacuees will be here,” Crutchfield said. “But we want to ensure the transition is as smooth as possible for these families who literally have nothing but the clothes on their back.”

Senator Earl Garrison and Representative Barbara Staggs announced today that Tahlequah and Muskogee Schools are making room for the children of the evacuees from hurricane ravaged Gulf Coast area.

The plan announced by the two Muskogee Democrats also includes educational opportunities for pre-school children and adults seeking job training or a high school equivalency diploma.

State Senator Daisy Lawler said she will work with Senate leaders to conduct an energy summit where stakeholders can share ideas at a state level on how to address the skyrocketing energy costs.

“I believe it is imperative that we expand refinery capacity here in Oklahoma,” Lawler said. “The energy summit will allow experts to come together and roll up their sleeves to help bring solutions to working families in Oklahoma.”

(Oklahoma City) – Senate President Pro Tempore Mike Morgan announced today that copies of the “Emergency Fuel Tax Relief Act” were distributed this morning to the offices of Governor Brad Henry, House Speaker Todd Hiett, Senate Republican Leader Glenn Coffee and House Democratic Leader Jari Askins.

“The Emergency Fuel Tax Relief Act,” as contained in Senate Bill 2X, includes Morgan’s plan to save Oklahomans $1 million a day for the final three months of the year by suspending the 17-cent per gallon state tax on gasoline from October 1 through December 31.

RAINN recognizes Senator Nichols for his work on SB 646 to expand the State
DNA Database to include all convicted felons

State Senator Jonathan Nichols was presented with the “Crime Fighter Award” from the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN). The RAINN Crime Fighter Award is a national honor bestowed on individuals for leadership in fighting crime and helping victims.

Sen. Patrick Anderson has proposed using funds from the Department of Commerce budget to help Oklahoma communities provide economic incentives to relocate gulf coast area businesses and industries destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. Anderson suggested the initiative in a letter to Gov. Brad Henry sent on Thursday.

“Last May Gov. Henry vetoed intent language for $3,155,000 in funds specified for economic development projects in communities throughout the state. The money itself is still in the Department of Commerce budget,” said Anderson, R-Enid.

Senate Republican Leader Glenn Coffee called on Democrats in the State Senate Wednesday to denounce a “wacky” ruling by a Democrat-appointed federal judge that the Pledge of Allegiance is unconstitutional – and demanded that they call their liberal Democrat allies in Washington and ask them to stop putting liberal activist judges on the federal bench.