Concerned Republicans are leaving behind rural Oklahoma, every Democratic member of the Senate General Conference Committee on Appropriations refused to give their nod of approval to the proposed state budget today. Specifically Senate Democrats say cutting Rural Economic Action Plan (REAP) funds completely out of the state budget will hurt rural fire departments, jeopardize senior nutrition programs and eliminate rural communities ability to make needed infrastructure improvements that supply clean drinking water to their citizens.
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“Senate Republicans realize the importance of rural Oklahoma and the critical need to fund REAP. For years, members of the Senate Republican Rural Caucus have worked tirelessly to bring quality reform to this state and protect such a vital asset like rural Oklahoma. Nothing has changed this year to detour their course of strengthening rural Oklahoma. Despite the many claims we are neglecting this most valued resource, Senate Republicans are continuing to look at additional revenue sources to fund REAP. read more.

State Sen. Kenneth Corn said the safety of Oklahoma’s citizens is too important to allow highway patrol troopers to be furloughed. He’s come up with a plan to prevent that. Currently the Department of Public Safety charges $5 for copies of driving records. That fee has not increased for several years. Corn, D-Poteau, said the state could keep the troopers on the job by increasing the fee to $10.
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Anyone convicted of injuring or killing someone while driving with a license that has been suspended or revoked now faces tougher penalties in Oklahoma. Governor Brad Henry signed House Bill 2263, enacting the “Gaje Jeffrey Florence Act.” Sen. Debbe Leftwich, D-Oklahoma City, and Rep. Mike Christian, R-Oklahoma City, were the authors of the measure.
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“Senator Corn’s proposed solution to the Department of Public Safety funding issue is a “quick fix” full of scare tactics to detract from the positive reforms Senate Republicans have accomplished for Oklahomans, specifically in the area of Public Safety,” said Senator Steve Russell, R- OKC, Vice-Chairman of the Senate Public Safety Committee. “This is a typical Corn solution to raise fees or taxes long-term to fund a temporary challenge. read more.

The Oklahoma State Senate voted Tuesday to send Workers’ Compensation reform to Oklahoma polls next year.

House Joint Resolution 1041 by Senator Clark Jolley requires Senate confirmation of appointments to the Workers’ Compensation Court. Senate President Pro Tempore Glenn Coffee said Jolley’s legislation brings reform to a Workers’ Comp system in much need of overhaul.

The State Senate passed House Bill 1949 by Senator Brian Bingman, R-Sapulpa, which received overwhelming bipartisan support and includes tax credits for compressed natural gas (CNG) use in Oklahoma.

House Bill 1949 extends the duration of existing tax credits available on the purchase of qualified clean-burning and electric motor vehicles. A 50% tax credit is available for originally equipped and converted qualified clean-burning and electric motor vehicle property.

Many Democrats in the Senate are more obsessed with politics than they are in producing results for Oklahoma citizens, according to members of the Republican Senate Rural Caucus. “Disgruntled members of the Senate minority are more concerned with lobbing bombs than they are in moving Oklahoma forward,” said Ron Justice, R- Chickasha, Chairman of the Senate Republican Rural Caucus and the Senate Agriculture Committee.

A current example is the Democrat grandstanding on REAP funding in the recently announced state budget.

The state Senate on Tuesday honored the life and accomplishments of athlete and musician Wayman Tisdale. Tisdale played basketball at the University of Oklahoma from 1983-1985, where he was the first player in collegiate history to be named a first-team All-American by the Associated Press in his freshman, sophomore and junior seasons. He was the first athlete in Sooner history to have his jersey number retired.

Oklahoma voters will make the final decision next fall on reform of the Judicial Nominating Commission.

The Oklahoma State Senate voted late Tuesday to send Senate Joint Resolution 27 to a vote of the people. If approved by voters, SJR 27 will bring several reforms to Oklahoma’s Judicial Nominating Commission.