Extensive Talks Result in Comprehensive Lawsuit Reform for Oklahomans

Senate President Pro Tem Glenn Coffee and House Speaker Chris Benge are announcing an agreement between all parties involved in negotiations on a landmark comprehensive lawsuit reform package.

“At first glance the agreement announced today looks very similar to the compromise bill from 2007 crafted by Governor Henry.

“We are pleased negotiators were able to take the crux of the 2007 proposal to include in the provisions of this agreement.

“After the bipartisan defeat of Senator Coffee’s far-reaching political and punitive attorney fee referendum bill he predicted this day would never come.

“Senator Coffee was wrong.

“Senator Laster’s response to today’s historic announcement on an agreement on comprehensive lawsuit reform smacks of ‘me-tooism,” yet doesn’t pass the smell test.

“The Democrats have been in control of the Oklahoma Senate for 101 years – the first 99 years were unfettered. If they had been truly interested in passing any reform – be it lawsuit reform, education reform, corrections reform or any other improvement for Oklahoma citizens, they could have passed it without Republican support.

A bill giving greater protection to Oklahomans who contract for construction work is on its way to the governor. Senator Debbe Leftwich is the author of Senate Bill 306. The bill requires contractors to provide proof that they have general liability insurance.

"We've seen too many cases of Oklahomans paying for work to be done on their homes, only to be left holding the bag when the work is substandard, or the contractor takes the money and runs," said Leftwich, D-Oklahoma City. "Requiring proof of liability insurance gives greater protection to consumers."
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Senate President Pro Tempore Glenn Coffee said he is encouraged by the signing of Senate Bill 622 that will make the process of organ donation more efficient and more accessible.

The Uniform Anatomical Gift Act, Senate Bill 622, mirrors similar laws in various states that help families throughout the nation receive vital organs for their loved ones. Families are often put through unnecessary waiting periods and paperwork from state to state in order to obtain an organ donation for a family member.

A concurrent resolution asking the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture to name their complex the “Clem Rogers McSpadden Agricultural Complex” was approved by the House of Representatives after winning unanimous approval in the Senate on Monday.

McSpadden was a former President Pro Tempore of the Senate, but had also won international acclaim as a professional rodeo announcer. He was a fifth generation rancher and the great-nephew of Oklahoma humorist Will Rogers. McSpadden, who was also a U.S. Congressman, died in 2008 at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston.
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State Sen. Randy Brogdon said he was extremely concerned about this week’s take over of Tulsa-based Williams Cos. Gas compression facilities by a Venezuelan government-controlled company. He also said there are direct parallels between that action and U.S. government bailouts and takeovers of American companies.

“Venezuela’s leader, Hugo Chavez, is a despotic dictator and an avowed enemy of America, and now he’s seized assets here in Oklahoma,” said Brogdon, R-Owasso. “People should be alarmed about what’s happening in our own state.”

Senate President Pro Tempore Glenn Coffee praised the passage of Senate Bill 932, which creates the Victims Rights to Protection Task Force.

The purpose of the task force is to study the needs and ability of victims to lawfully defend against harmful conduct and the right to self protection. One main objective during the study will be to determine the merit of allowing those who have sought protection from an emergency Victim’s Protective Order (VPO) to obtain an emergency concealed carry license for their protection.

The Governor recently signed two environmental bills that could help make Oklahoma a national leader on such issues. Sen. David Myers is the author of SB 679 which re-creating the Oklahoma Geological Storage of Carbon Dioxide Task Force. He also authored SB 953 which creates the Oklahoma Clean Energy Independence Commission.
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A bill strengthening penalties against parents caught driving drunk with their children in the vehicle has become law. Sen. Mary Easley is the Senate principal author of SB 1138 which amends the definition of child endangerment to include parents or guardians knowingly letting their children ride in vehicles operated by people who are under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
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