“The Senate’s review of agency budgets by the appropriations subcommittees is already well underway. We will have the information from these hearings ready in time for a discussion with the Governor preceding a January special session.

“With the state looking at the possibility of a shortfall of up to a billion dollars, it is a high probability that agencies will face deeper cuts, even if a portion of the Rainy Day Fund is accessed in a special session.

"I believe Governor Henry is taking a responsible approach to dealing with the current budget crisis by asking legislative leaders to conduct hearings with agency officials to determine how further cuts are going to affect Oklahoma families.

It is prudent we keep a level head and work together, leaving our political differences at the door as we proceed with any decision to come back for a special session. The Governor has done that, and it is my hope Republican leaders will follow suit.

Time for Tough Decisions to be Made

A bill filed last week by Democratic Sen. Andrew Rice will give Oklahoma voters the choice to increase the amount of money that can be deposited in the rainy day fund each year from 10 percent of prior year collections to 15 percent. Rice said doing so will guard critical state services which all Oklahomans depend on from the chopping block in times of economic crisis.

Although the 2010 elections are still a year away, State Sen. Jim Wilson wants to make sure the campaigns take the high road. Hes filed legislation that would make it illegal for anyone to intentionally lie or spread misinformation in a political campaign.

Every year it seems like the lies and the mudslinging just gets worse and worse. It would be laughable if it wasnt such a serious issuethese lies can and do impact the outcomes of our electoral process, and yet nothing is ever done to hold those responsible accountable, said Wilson, D-Tahlequah. Its got to stop.

Sen. Corn's letter to state lawmakers

State Sen. Kenneth Corn is seeking the signatures of state lawmakers on a petition that would enable the Oklahoma Legislature to call itself into an emergency special session to deal with life-threatening cuts to the states senior nutrition programs and any other problems being caused by a massive state budget shortfall.

State Sen. Debbe Leftwich said it was unconscionable for the Department of Human Services (DHS) to pass out nearly $200,000 in pay hikes at a time when the agency has cut $7.4 million from senior nutrition programs. Leftwich said while many employees at DHS and other state agencies are underpaid, raising salaries while cutting senior nutrition is the wrong thing to do. She applauded House member Randy Terrill, R-Moore, for bringing attention to the situation on Wednesday.

State Sen. Steve Russell said the recently signed federal hate crimes legislation oversteps the Constitution. He’s authored a bill that will be introduced in the State Senate in 2010 to protect Oklahomans from encroachments on speech, assembly and religious beliefs.

Says Minority Leadership Knows Reality of DHS Cuts;
Are Disingenuous, Considering Their Past Inactions on Budget Issues

Senator Mike Johnson (R-Kingfisher), suggested Senate Democrats might have considered camping out on the Capitol grounds in 2003 to protest their own leadership’s inaction on the DHS budget cuts at that time, and offered a civics lesson on how state government works.

Unfunded Mandates Will ‘Blow Up’ State Budget

Saying the health care reform bill working its way through Congress would break the bank in Oklahoma state government, Oklahoma Senate President Pro Tem Glenn Coffee and House Speaker Chris Benge called on Oklahoma’s Congressional delegation to vote against the bill.