(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.

The Republican transportation plan announced yesterday that seeks to increase appropriations to counties across Oklahoma will do so at the risk of Oklahoma school children, Senator Cal Hobson warned today.

“The dollars it will take to increase the county appropriation from 15 percent to 30 percent will have to come from somewhere because those dollars are designated for specific services that Oklahomans count on every single day,” Hobson (D-Lexington) said. “And that will mean less money for education-leaving Oklahoma school children behind.”
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In the wake of the Hurricane Katrina disaster, State Senator Kenneth Corn said he will ask Oklahoma’s Civil Emergency Management to examine emergency evacuation plans for population centers around the state to ensure that Oklahomans will not be left behind should a disaster occur in this state.
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Before state lawmakers start making plans for future tax rebates, cuts or other expenditures, they must repay millions of dollars owed to Oklahoma counties. That’s according to State Sen. Jeff Rabon who said repaying the counties must be a top priority in the 2006 legislative session.
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Senate President Pro Tem Mike Morgan, in his capacity as acting governor of Oklahoma, issued an executive proclamation today lifting the burn ban in five counties in Southeastern Oklahoma.

The order removes the burn ban in Choctaw, Latimer, LeFlore , McCurtain and Pushmataha Counties. Senator Morgan issued the order at the recommendation of Agriculture Secretary Terry Peach and the Forestry Division of the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture.

State Sen. Susan Paddack said friends and neighbors in her community of Ada were devastated by this past weekend’s kidnapping and murder of teenager Caitlin Elizabeth Wooten. The Ada high school student was abducted by her mother’s former boyfriend and was later found dead in an apparent murder/suicide. Now Sen. Paddack is looking at possible legislation to prevent similar crimes in the future.
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In a recent report by the Oklahoma Aging Partnership (OAP), the majority of Oklahoma State Senate Democrats were recognized for their perfect voting record on matters important to older Oklahomans. The report gave 20 perfect scores – 18 of which went to Senate Democrats.