Another historic painting will soon grace the walls of the State Capitol following a dedication in the Senate Chamber Wednesday. The piece of art, by Timothy Tyler, depicts American Rough Rider and Territorial Governor Frank Frantz fighting in the bloodiest and most famous battle of the Spanish-American War, the Battle of San Juan Hill.
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State Sen. Harry Coates said he was outraged that his private correspondences had been taken and used online without permission. Coates, R-Seminole, said he has also been the target of blogs posted fraudulently using his name, as well as numerous phone calls to his office, home and to other relatives, of an abusive and sometimes obscene nature.
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Gumm Says Proposal Means Higher Taxes for Current Oklahomans

A rural leader with a successful background in economic development says a tax break for newcomers is a “backwards way” to grow rural Oklahoma.

Senator Jay Paul Gumm, D-Durant, said proposed amendments to the bill intended to help bring the Seattle SuperSonics to Oklahoma City would create a “grossly unfair” tax scheme in which current residents of the state pay more income tax than newcomers.

Healthcare, Insurance Reform, Education and Public Safety Legislation that has Stalled in Both Chambers Will be Discussed Including the Patient's Bill of Rights, Nick's Law, Steffanie's Law, and the OHLAP Enhancement Act

Democratic Legislators from across Oklahoma will be joined at a State Capitol Press Conference by advocates for health care and insurance reform on Monday, April 14th at 11 A.M. in Room 432-B to discuss the fate of several responsible measures that have been killed by Republican legislators paralyzed by the powerful insurance lobby.

Senate Education Co-Chair Kathleen Wilcoxson said she did not support the nomination of former House Speaker Larry Adair to the State Board of Education because that nomination was in violation of state law. The nomination failed on a tie vote of 7-7 to win the full support of the Senate Education Committee. Wilcoxson said the committee’s decision not to confirm the nomination was not about personality or politics, but was about public policy and the rule of law.

State Sen. Kenneth Corn said he was embarrassed that the Senate Education Committee had failed to approve the nomination of a former Speaker of the House. Monday morning, the nomination of Larry Adair to the State Board of Education died in a tie vote of 7-7 that fell along party lines.

A large-scale painting of “The California Road” by Oklahoma artist Wayne Cooper was unveiled today in the Oklahoma State Senate. The California Road was a trail through Indian Territory used by those heading west to California in search of gold. The painting was commissioned by the Oklahoma State Senate Historical Preservation Fund and sponsored by former State Senator Joe and Carol McGraw of Tulsa.

“The California Road” is one of many large-scale landscapes Cooper has done at the Capitol and it will hang on the second floor near the Supreme Court.

The full Senate approved a measure to review current adoption law and practices in the state of Oklahoma. House Bill 2749, by Sen. Mike Mazzei and Rep. Susan Winchester was approved unanimously on Monday, bringing it one step closer to consideration by Gov. Brad Henry.

Oklahoma has not had an in-depth examination of our adoption laws since 1994, said Mazzei, R-Tulsa. HB 2749 creates a task force that will examine those laws and ensure were doing the best job we can to encourage the adoption of infants and children into loving homes.

On the same day some Democrat senators held a news conference to complain that a few of their bills are not being heard in the House of Representatives, Democrat Lt. Gov. Jari Askins broke a tie to help Senate Democrats block consideration of a workers compensation reform amendment in the State Senate.

The amendment, authored by Senate Judiciary Committee Co-Chairman James A. Williamson, would have required Senate confirmation of gubernatorial appointments of judges to the Workers Compensation Court.
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