State Senate Co-President Pro Tempore Glenn Coffee, R-Oklahoma City, issued the following statement regarding Gov. Brad Henry’s veto of appropriations bills for 5 state agencies.

“The budget numbers in these non-controversial bills exactly matched the funding levels contained in both the bipartisan general appropriations bill and Gov. Henry’s executive budget,” stated Coffee.

“I am pleased that Governor Henry has vetoed Senate Bill 507. The governor has shown great courage in vetoing this bill and proven once again he is the governor for all of the people of our state.

“Senate Bill 507 would have severely limited access to the courts for most Oklahomans, leaving civil justice as a commodity only the wealthy could afford. It would have tipped the scales heavily in favor of large corporations and against working families and royalty owners.

“Those are my principles, and if you don't like them... well, I have others.” – Groucho Marx

Gov. Brad Henry flip-flopped on the issue of lawsuit reform by vetoing Senate Bill 507, bipartisan legislation that contains most of the areas of lawsuit reform the governor himself called for in 2004.

The state Senate on Monday honored the accomplishments of the University of Oklahoma Women’s Basketball team and head coach Sherri Coale, passing a resolution commending the team on another championship season.

Sen. John Sparks authored Senate Resolution 34 to recognize Coale and the Sooner women, who in 2006-07 became the first Big XII program to win back-to-back regular season and post-season conference championships.

A painting of one of the Oklahoma Panhandle’s historic sites will soon be dedicated at the Oklahoma State Capitol. The painting of “Robber’s Roost” by artist Wayne Cooper was commissioned by the Oklahoma State Senate Historical Preservation Fund and is sponsored by Senator Owen and Charlette Laughlin.
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Legislation to address the growing crisis in the Teachers’ Retirement System of Oklahoma (TRS) is now on its way to Gov. Brad Henry for his consideration. That’s after the full Senate gave final approval to Senate Bill 357 on Monday. Sen. Mike Mazzei and Sen. Kenneth Corn co-authored the measure. They agreed passage of the bill was a critical move toward addressing the system’s $7 billion unfunded liability.
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A group of legislators from southwest Oklahoma are planning a special homecoming celebration at the State Capitol for Miss America Lauren Nelson. The delegation includes Nelson’s hometown legislators from Lawton, Senator Don Barrington and Rep. Ann Coody along with Senator Randy Bass also from Lawton and Reps. T.W. Shannon of Lawton, Joe Dorman of Rush Springs, Dennis Johnson of Duncan, David Braddock of Altus, Ray McCarter of Marlow and Don Armes of Faxon.
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Senate Co-Floor Leader Charlie Laster announced Wednesday that he has been selected the designee of the Senate Democratic Caucus to become the next President Pro Tem of the Oklahoma State Senate.
Laster, D-Shawnee, said he secured the support of a majority of his Democratic colleagues in the Senate Tuesday. Laster will succeed Senate President Pro Tempore Mike Morgan, when the current Senate leader leaves office in November 2008.
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Two lawmakers who co-authored a measure on behalf of Gov. Brad Henry to keep teens in school until they graduate say they are gratified that the full Senate has now approved that measure. Sen. Kathleen Wilcoxson and Sen. Kenneth Corn agreed that passage of SB 519 sends an important message.

“This says that we cannot afford to lose a single child—that we understand how important it is to keep them in school and make sure they earn their high school diploma,” said Sen. Wilcoxson, R-Oklahoma City.
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The full Senate has voted unanimously in favor of legislation that will help Oklahomans see exactly how their tax dollars are being used. Senate Bill 1, by Sen. Randy Brogdon, would create an online database to show where every single penny of the public’s money is being spent.

“It is important to remember that every dollar that gets appropriated comes from our citizens,” said Brogdon, R-Owasso. “The public should have the ability to track how each and every single dollar is spent, because the bottom line is that it’s their money.”
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