State Sen. Randy Brogdon said Tuesday that President Barack Obama’s executive order creating the Presidential council of Governors is just one more example of the federal government’s ongoing erosion of states’ rights. Brogdon offered a Senate Concurrent Resolution to fellow members denouncing the panel and asking Gov. Brad Henry to decline his appointment to the Council.
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The Oklahoma Legislature honored NBC’s 2009 Biggest Loser Danny Cahill today with a resolution recognizing his record-breaking weight loss. Sen. Bill Brown and Rep John Trebilcock presented Cahill with Senate Concurrent Resolution 38 applauding him for losing 239 pounds in seven months – a record in itself on the hit television series that is now in its ninth season.
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“While I respect and share the ideals and concerns expressed by many who propose shortening this session, the reality is this idea is not practical as we finalize the 2010 budget and craft the 2011 budget.

“While shortening the session to two months is a laudable goal that sounds good, the reality is we have no idea what level of revenues we’ll have through the end of the fiscal year in June, which directly impacts the current FY 2010 budget, not to mention the challenges we face in crafting the FY 2011 budget.

A measure to let voters enact a constitutional amendment enabling cuts in legislative pay is awaiting action by the Senate Appropriations Committee. Sen. Kenneth Corn is the author of the legislation. The proposed amendment is contained in a committee substitute for SJR 2. Corn said while the pay cut would certainly not offset the budget shortfall, it would ensure legislators are shouldering part of the burden.
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State Sen. Cliff Branan is awaiting a vote by the full Senate on his bill to close a loophole in Oklahoma’s sex offender registration law. Branan said news reports had uncovered the problem, prompting him to file Senate Bill 2231. The bill won unanimous approval in the Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee on Tuesday.
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Republicans in the Oklahoma State Senate released the final section of their three-part 2010 Legislative agenda, focusing on the areas of Education and Health Care.

“Providing quality education for our young people is the foremost goal of any healthy and growing state,” said Senator John Ford, Chairman of the Senate Education Committee, R-Bartlesville. “Senate Republicans recognize this, and we are raising the bar in terms of the educational goals we are setting for our state through our 2010 legislative agenda.”

Legislation to increase access to mental health courts throughout Oklahoma is awaiting action by the full Senate Appropriations Committee. Senate Bill 2153, by Sen. Debbe Leftwich, was approved by the Subcommittee on Health and Human Services on Monday. Leftwich said although the bill wouldn’t kick in until there is available funding, passage would be an important step toward cutting millions of dollars in public safety costs in the years to come.
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The Senate Committee on Veterans and Military Affairs on Wednesday approved legislation that would direct the state to provide Oklahoma flags to families of Armed Forces members killed in action.

Sen. Dan Newberry authored Senate Bill 2037 to honor the sacrifice of fallen veterans to their country and the state of Oklahoma.

A measure to make the State Insurance Department a non-appropriated agency passed the Senate Appropriations Committee Wednesday evening. Sen. David Myers, author of Senate Bill 1658, says his legislation will save the state money.
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The Senate Transportation Committee approved legislation Wednesday to address the state’s transportation funding needs. Senate Bill 1941, by Sen. Bryce Marlatt, would create the Innovative Funding for Oklahoma Roads Task Force.