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.”

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.

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.

“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.

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.

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.

The Senate Judiciary Committee has given its approval to a bill that would prohibit any medical facility from storing or using infant DNA for research without the parents’ permission. Sen. Jonathan Nichols is the author of Senate Bill 1250 which was approved unanimously by the committee on Tuesday.

Senator Earl Garrison has called for leaders in the Oklahoma Legislature to cut the legislative session short in order to be accountable to the people of Oklahoma and save hard working taxpayer dollars. Garrison said in a year when the state is facing more than a billion dollar budget hole, legislators should focus solely on budget related bills and agree to end the annual legislative session early.

The Oklahoma State Senate honored the 2009 Jim Thorpe Award winner Eric Berry Monday. The Senate unanimously approved Senate Resolution 81 by Sen. Debbe Leftwich, recognizing and commending the standout safety from the University of Tennessee.

“Eric is a tremendous young man of great character whose talents and accomplishments are obvious both on and off the field,” said Leftwich, D-Oklahoma City. “He has a great future ahead of him, and we wish him the best as he enters the National Football League draft this year.”

The full Senate is the next stop for legislation aimed at increasing high school graduation rates throughout Oklahoma. Senate Bill 2139, by Sen. John Ford, won unanimous approval by the Senate Education Committee on Monday. Ford said a new study by the Alliance for Excellent Education shows how important this issue is to Oklahoma's economy.