- Senate Democrat Leaders Deny Hearing for GOP Lawsuit Reform Bill

Trial lawyers have won an early victory in the lawsuit reform battle at the State Capitol, thanks to some help from their Democrat allies in the Oklahoma State Senate.

Sen. Charles Laster, the Democrat chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, did not hear the Republicans’ meaningful lawsuit reform bill, Senate Bill 1857, at Tuesday’s Judiciary Committee meeting, effectively killing the measure.

Tuesday the Senate Finance Committee passed a Republican-authored bill to eliminate Oklahoma’s estate tax, commonly referred to as the death tax. In past years, the Democrat-controlled State Senate has blocked GOP efforts to eliminate the death tax.

Senate Bill 334, authored by Republican State Senators Mike Mazzei and Glenn Coffee, provides immediate estate tax relief to non-linear heirs, like nephews and nieces, and completely eliminates the death tax on everyone over a three-year period.

“The Lawsuit Responsibility Act of 2006, which passed out of the Judiciary Committee last week, contains reforms that will save money for small businesses in Oklahoma by eliminating more frivolous lawsuits on the front end of the system.

“Senate Bill 1874 will make lawsuits move through the system in a timely manner. It includes added protections for doctors and prohibits those outrageous lawsuits against fast food chains by someone claiming that cheeseburgers made them fat.
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As the Senate Finance Committee completed its work on Senate bills assigned to it this morning, the panel’s chair, Senator Jay Paul Gumm said the work completed by the committee is responsible and shows a deep respect for Oklahoma’s middle class.

Senator Jay Paul Gumm said the committee considered and approved upwards of $523 million in tax cuts, many of which are targeted to middle class families or to grow Oklahoma’s economy.
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The full Senate Appropriations Committee has given its approval to a bill that could land meth importers behind bars for life. Sen. Charles Wyrick is principal author of Senate Bill 1713. Wyrick, D-Fairland, said his legislation will help the state enter a new phase in the war against methamphetamine.
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Sen. Debbe Leftwich and members of the Oklahoma Silver Haired Legislature are calling for a hearing on a bill to create a stand-alone Department of Aging before the clock runs out and the bill is dead for the session.
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Legislation that would ensure that Oklahoma taxpayers are getting their money’s worth from state agencies won approval of the Senate Appropriations Committee Wednesday.

Senate Bill 1341 by Senator Kenneth Corn would require independent performance review audits of state agencies to determine if the agencies are adequately carrying out the mission they have been assigned by the Legislature.

Senate Bill 1030 aimed at building an 800 MHZ Statewide Emergency Communication System

State Sen. Mike Mazzei wants the state to strengthen its retirement systems, particularly the Teachers Retirement System of Oklahoma (OTRS), before it is too late. Mazzei, R-Tulsa, said he began laying the groundwork to lower the unfunded liability of that system during the 2005 session. On Wednesday, the full Senate Appropriations Committee approved a comprehensive bill to continue that effort. Mazzei said it is critical to decrease unfunded liabilities as soon as possible.
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The Oklahoma State Senate Wednesday called on President Bush to delay the transfer of shipping terminals at six U.S. ports to a company controlled by the government of Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.
Senate Resolution 65 by Senator Earl Garrison, D-Muskogee, passed by a 38-7 vote.

Despite accusations to the contrary, Garrison closed Wednesday afternoon’s debate by saying the measure wasn’t intended to be partisan.
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