Note to Editors: Senator Jay Paul Gumm, author of the original Nick’s Law that would have required insurance companies to provide coverage for the diagnosis and treatment of Autism, issued the following statement on the passage of Senate Bill 135 today.

Noting that Republicans have held the majority in the State Senate for fifty legislative days of the 101-year history of the state of Oklahoma, Senate Republicans marked the occasion with a news conference to shine light on their many accomplishments in a very short time.

Calling the latest press conference by Senate Republicans nothing but chest pounding and political cover, Democratic Leader Charlie Laster said Oklahomans should be outraged with the outcome of the GOP’s first 50 days.

Beginning November 1, trucking companies will finally be able to purchase oversize and/or overweight annual vehicle permits to replace the current permits which have to be requested with each delivery. The new annual permit was created by House Bill 2054, which was recently approved by the Governor. Sen. Bryce Marlatt is the Senate principal author of the measure.
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The State Senate gave final passage to Senate Bill 834 – the School District Empowerment Program sponsored by Senator John Ford (R-Bartlesville) today. The bill now heads to the Governor’s desk for his approval.

If signed by the Governor, the School District Empowerment Program will remove many of the unfunded state mandates currently restricting the ability of local school districts to best decide how to use resources to benefit their students.
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Senate President Pro Tem Glenn Coffee named the 23 members of the Senate Appropriations Committee to the General Conference Committee on Appropriations today.

“I’m very proud of the conferees on this panel,” Coffee said. “We’ve streamlined the process this year, naming members who bring direct experience in this year’s appropriations process, and we anticipate a productive path toward moving the budget forward in the coming days.

Senators named to the GCCA include:

Senator Mike Johnson - Chair

After receiving bi-partisan support from both chambers, Senate Bill 1111 by Senator Clark Jolley was vetoed by the Governor late last night.

The “Educational Accountability Reform Act” would have provided greater accountability and transparency in public education if enacted into law.

Jolley says while he is disappointed with the veto, he is encouraged by the Governor’s call for the parties to meet and work together to correct problems currently faced in Oklahoma’s education system.

“We knew in January when Senate Republicans changed the rules to include special protection for one specific industry—the powerful insurance industry—we would be faced with a barrage of bills that would make it harder to make health care more affordable for Oklahoma families.
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The State Senate honored the 2008 Big 12 champions, the University of Oklahoma Sooners and their outstanding quarterback, 2008 Heisman winner Sam Bradford.

The team and Head Coach Bob Stoops were welcomed with cheers and applause as they lined up to listen to the reading of two resolutions recognizing their many accomplishments.
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The people have spoken. "Do You Realize??" by Oklahoma City alternative rock band, the Flaming Lips, has been named the official Oklahoma State Rock and Roll Song. The winning song was certified Monday in the State Senate with the passage of Senate Joint Resolution 24 by Sen. Mike Schulz and Rep. Joe Dorman.

"We have an official state folk song and a state country song. With as many outstanding rock artists as we have in Oklahoma, it was time to recognize this music as well," said Schulz, R-Altus. "What's really special is that the people of this great state selected it."