The Oklahoma State Senate honored Senator Scott Pruitt Tuesday who is completing his second and final term of service in the Senate to the citizens of Senate District 36. Unlike the many other senators who have to leave office this year because of term limits, Pruitt will not seek reelection in order to run for Lieutenant Governor.
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With family, friends, supporters and fellow lawmakers gathered in the Senate Chamber, Altus Republican Mike Schulz took the official oath of office, becoming the newest member of the Oklahoma State Senate. Sen. Schulz won the District 38 seat in a special election one week ago.

"This is a great day for my family and all our friends and supporters who share our vision for District 38 and for our state," said Schulz. "I am honored and humbled, but most of all I am excited to be on the job here in the State Senate."

State Sen. Jonathan Nichols, a former prosecutor, said he is concerned that Gov. Brad Henry’s proposed budget compromise does not properly fund Oklahoma’s district attorneys.

“From what I have heard of the governor’s proposal, I am concerned that district attorneys would not receive the additional funding they have requested to ensure that criminals are prosecuted and punished for their crimes. Public safety should be a priority at the State Capitol, not an after-thought,” stated Nichols, R-Norman.

Senate President Pro Tempore Mike Morgan today rejected the state budget proposal agreed to by Governor Henry and Speaker Hiett.

After two days of negotiations and review, the Senate Leader said: “There is no deal.”
The Henry-Hiett tax cut proposal cuts too deep and disproportionately benefits the wealthy. The spending proposals are long on giveways and set-asides for special interests and short on funding for essential services, he said.

“I’m not willing to throw the people of the state of Oklahoma under the bus,” Morgan said. read more.

State Senate Republican Leader Glenn Coffee said Senate Republicans do not support the Senate Democrats’ big-spending budget proposal unveiled Wednesday.

“Senate Republicans are not supportive of this bloated budget proposal,” Coffee said. “Senate Democrats may be angry about the budget agreement between the speaker and the governor, but they shouldn’t take it out on Oklahoma taxpayers by blowing through the surplus like they just won the Oklahoma lottery.”

The budget needs of the state's District Attorneys have not been adequately addressed by Governor Brad Henry and Speaker Todd Hiett. Sen. Todd Lamb said he was terribly concerned that public safety will ultimately suffer for it.
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State Sen. Mike Schulz, R-Altus, has joined the Senate Republican Rural Caucus. The group was formed in 2005 by GOP senators who represent rural districts so they could provide a united voice for rural issues in the Oklahoma State Legislature.

A measure to protect Oklahoma's children from Internet predators is on its way to the Governor's desk after receiving final approval from the State Senate Wednesday. Senate Bill 1479 is authored by Senator Jim Wilson, D-Tahlequah, and Rep. Purcy Walker, D-Elk City.
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With the Senate’s liberal Democrat leadership threatening to shut down the state government if they don’t get their way on the state budget, State Senate Republican Leader Glenn Coffee announced he wants to work with moderate Democrat senators to support the compromise budget and tax relief package.

The Oklahoma State Senate passed a Republican-authored pro-life bill Thursday, which included legislative language from several pro-life bills that were killed by the Senate’s Democrat leadership earlier this year.

The Senate Democrat leadership had indicated earlier this week that they did not want to allow Senate Bill 1742 to be brought to the floor for a vote. But the bill had overwhelming bipartisan support, and Democrat leaders reversed course and allowed the vote to occur Thursday.

Senate Bill 1742 passed the Senate on a 38-8 vote, and now goes to Gov. Brad Henry.