Following is a statement by Sen. Jay Paul Gumm, D-Durant, following an announcement by House Republicans that several interim studies will focus on autism. Gumm wrote “Nick’s Law,” which would have required health insurance to cover diagnosis and treatment of autism, a measure killed repeatedly by House Republican leadership.

Senator Jay Paul Gumm, D-Durant, released the following statement after the U.S. Supreme Court issued its opinion in the case of Kennedy v. Louisiana. A 5-4 decision of the court overturned a Louisiana law that allowed the death penalty to be imposed on a man convicted of raping his eight-year-old stepdaughter.

Gumm was the chief legislative advocate of Oklahoma’s law – found in 2006’s SB 1800 – that provides the death penalty for child molesters on a second or subsequent offense.

On Wednesday, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down laws in several states, including Oklahoma, that allow the death penalty for the crime of child rape.

The ruling drew a sharp rebuke from Oklahoma State Senator Jonathan Nichols, who in 2006 authored Oklahoma's law subjecting repeat child molesters to the death penalty.

"This is a heartless decision by the U.S. Supreme Court that guts Oklahoma’s efforts to protect children from violent predators," said Nichols, R-Norman.

State Senator Don Barrington of Lawton praised Thursday’s decision by the U.S. Supreme Court to protect individuals’ Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms.

“The U.S. Supreme Court got this one right. The founding fathers intended the Second Amendment to protect the rights of individual Americans to own guns, and we finally have a ruling from the high court that the liberal gun-grabbers have gone too far in trying to take away our gun rights,” said Barrington, who is a member of the Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus and a card-carrying member of the National Rifle Association.

A proposal to add more licensed Anesthesiologist Assistants in Oklahoma that passed the State Senate with bipartisan support on Wednesday will help relieve the state’s labor shortage among medical providers, it’s co-author, State Senator Andrew Rice (D-Oklahoma City), said today.

“This is a responsible and prudent policy for Oklahoma,” Rice said. “We have an opportunity to address a problem with our medical labor pool and provide more healthcare services to the people of Oklahoma.”

A bill to get communities more involved in the fight against youth obesity was approved Thursday by the Senate. Senate Bill 1612, by Chickasha Republicans Sen. Ron Justice and Rep. Susan Winchester, now goes to the Governor for his approval.

Following is a statement by Senator Jay Paul Gumm, D-Durant, following the announcement by Speaker Benge that the House of Representatives will not hear “Nick’s Law,” a measure that would require health insurance to cover autism diagnosis and treatment:

“It is regrettable the Speaker has closed his door on ‘Nick’s Law’ for this legislative session – without so much as a hearing in what is supposed to be ‘The People’s House.’ For the fourth time this year, House Republican leadership has turned its back on Oklahoma’s children with autism and their families.

Portraits of Oklahoma’s seven territorial governors were dedicated Monday by officials of the Public Service Company of Oklahoma (PSO) and Governor Brad Henry at the State Capitol.

State Senate Democrat leaders have refused a request to help bring compromise language for a referendum on term limits for statewide officials to a vote in the State Senate. So, the Senate will have to vote on the existing proposal, the bill’s authors said Monday.

“It’s so sad Republicans seem to be so focused on political issues that do nothing to make health care more affordable for our citizens. If they would have done their homework they would know what Oklahomans want more than anything is access to affordable health care.