Democrats violate State Constitution

In flagrant disregard of the Oklahoma Constitution, Senate President Pro Tempore Mike Morgan ignored Lt. Gov Mary Fallin’s presence in the presiding officer’s chair of the Oklahoma Senate Monday.

Senate Democrats continued to ignore the Oklahoma Constitution Tuesday in their effort to protect trial lawyers from real workers’ compensation reform.

Senate President Pro Tempore Mike Morgan and Senate Democrats again ignored Lt. Gov Mary Fallin’s presence in the presiding officer’s chair of the Oklahoma Senate Tuesday – but Fallin gaveled down Morgan, whom she ruled out of order, as the Democrat leadership ordered her microphone to be turned off.

Senate President Pro Tempore Mike Morgan said Wednesday that he was able to reach a resolution to the stand-off with Republican Leader Glenn Coffee and Lt. Governor Mary Fallin by keeping the lines of communication open.

Under the agreement that ended the stalemate, Morgan consented for Fallin to preside over a single vote during Wednesday’s session before handing him back the gavel.
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Senate dispute ends

State Capitol, Oklahoma City – Senate Democrats backed down Wednesday from their efforts to keep Lt. Gov. Mary Fallin from presiding over Senate proceedings and avoid a vote on real workers’ compensation reform.

Democratic Senator Daisy Lawler called on House leaders today to pass House Bill 1686, the historic pro-life measure that passed off the Senate floor more than a week ago.

“I am not sure what the hold up is in the House,” Lawler, a Democrat from Comanche said. “This bill could already be sitting on the Governors desk awaiting his signature if the House would simply allow the bill to be heard.”
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House Republicans who claim to be fiscally responsible have killed a bill that would require county jails to show they are financially sound before entering into a contract with the state. Senate Bill 687, authored by Senator Kenneth Corn and Representative Joe Dorman, passed the Senate with bi-partisan support but failed to receive a committee hearing in the House, rendering the measure dead for this legislative session.
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Senate Republican Leader Glenn Coffee said Democrat State Sen. Daisy Lawler is a “late-comer” to the pro-life movement at the state Legislature and should stop her criticism of pro-life House Republicans, who have a long history of promoting and supporting pro-life legislation.

“Sen. Lawler is a latecomer to the pro-life movement at the Capitol, and she has very little credibility to criticize anyone on the life issue given her voting record,” stated Coffee, R-Oklahoma City.

Members of the Senate and the House will represent their respective chambers as the two sides go head to head for the second annual House vs. Senate baseball game. About half the members of each chamber have signed up to play in the Tuesday afternoon event. State Sen. Scott Pruitt, Managing General Partner of the Oklahoma RedHawks, said all are welcome to cheer on the team of their choice.
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A bill that would bring an end to so called “drown nights” is on its way to Gov. Brad Henry. Sen. Kathleen Wilcoxson, R-OKC, is principal author of the measure, which won final Senate approval on Monday. The House author of Senate Bill 518 is Rep. Thad Balkman, R-Norman.

Drown nights are special events that allow customers to purchase unlimited amounts of 3.2 beer for a flat rate or for a sharply discounted price. SB 518 would bring an end to those promotions.
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Senator Jeff Rabon stated today that Oklahoma’s retired educators need legislative support to ensure the Oklahoma Teachers Retirement System and the Oklahoma State and Education Employees Group Insurance Board (OSEEGIB) do not have their funds depleted.