The Leader of the Senate today said while there is still unfinished business to attend to during a special session, he believes the Senate Democrats accomplished great things for the people of Oklahoma during the Second Session of the 50th Oklahoma Legislature.

Senate Republican Leader Glenn Coffee of Oklahoma City said the 2006 legislative session saw some successes, but overall was average at best.

“The 2006 legislative session shows that a change in leadership is needed in the Oklahoma State Senate. We had a chance for an A+ session, but we ended up with an average session, at best,” Coffee said.

“On the one hand, the strong Republican minority in the Senate helped push through meaningful pro-life legislation, Medicaid reform, and more funding for roads and bridges in the Democrat-controlled Senate.

“Every year at this time, leaders of the Legislature are asked to assign a grade to the session. Unfortunately, there is only one grade I can give to this session – an Incomplete.

“The most important job we have every year is to write the budget and fund government. This year, we haven’t managed to get that done yet. I am confident we will get the job done. There will not be a government shutdown. But I wouldn’t be telling you the truth if I didn’t say I was disappointed.

Beginning this year, cities and towns throughout Oklahoma will be required to develop emergency evacuation plans. State Sen. Kenneth Corn is author of Senate Bill 1709. Corn says the legislation, which was signed into law by Governor Brad Henry on Friday, will better protect Oklahoma citizens in the face of a large-scale disaster.
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Thanks to the efforts of two state legislators, Oklahoma's elderly and disabled will now be better protected from financial scams and solicitations. Governor Henry has signed Senate Bill 1793, by Senator Ron Justice and Representative Phil Richardson, into law. It will now be a felony to knowingly, through deception or intimidation, obtain or use the funds, assets or property of individuals 62 years of age or older or those who are disabled.
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A bill to protect students and victims of violent crime from their attackers was signed into law by Gov. Brad Henry on Tuesday.

Senate Bill 1597 by Sen. Charlie Laster, will protect the rights of juvenile victims by limiting contact between attackers and school-age victims of violent crime.

“This law ensures that victims of violent crime will be notified if an adjudicated juvenile offender returns to school, and gives the student the option of telling the school they wish to avoid contact with their attacker,” said Laster, D-Shawnee.

Statement by Senate President Pro Tempore Mike Morgan

“I, too, believe Oklahomans deserve to know where their leaders stand on critical issues – like the issues of making significant investments in education, healthcare and public safety.

“In the Senate we are going to focus on these crucial policy issues that are important to every Oklahoman and we won’t allow ourselves to get bogged down in an ideological debate.”

Senator Clark Jolley on Monday praised the Senate's unanimous passage of a measure that would prohibit public utilities from distributing the social security numbers of their customers.

Jolley noted public utilities are currently forced to release social security numbers when requested, adding that a recent local newscast indicated they had obtained the social security number of a House member by simply requesting the information.
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The latest attack news release from the Speaker of the House is “deceptive at best” about actions of the Senate Finance Committee, the panel’s chairman said Wednesday.

In a news release, Republican Speaker Todd Hiett lamented the Senate Finance Committee’s defeat of the so-called “Come Home Oklahoma” act, a tax giveaway to individuals who may have never set foot in Oklahoma – part of the REDI initiative.
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Two key members of the Senate budget team said Wednesday that the General Appropriations bill passed by the Oklahoma House of Representatives last week would lead to another severe funding shortfall at the Oklahoma Department of Corrections and the furloughing of Oklahoma Highway Patrol Troopers.
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