Senate Democratic Leader Sean Burrage said the State School Board failed to get any input from local school board members, educators or school administrators before adopting emergency rules last month on supplemental online courses. Burrage, D-Claremore, said Gov. Mary Fallin should reject the rules.

“The State School Board and Superintendent Barresi finally got it right when they met today and rescinded the emergency rules on the supplemental online courses they handed down three weeks ago. Our local school boards have a great deal of insight to offer the bureaucrats in Oklahoma City and it is my hope that in the future the State Board will reach out to educators on the ground and join in a cooperative effort to do what’s best for our children.”

"As with all Oklahomans we were deeply saddened to learn of Thursday’s fatal plane crash. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of former State Senator Olin Branstetter and his wife Paula as well as the families of coach Kurt Budke and assistant coach Miranda Serna.
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Sen. Constance N. Johnson joined with Oklahoma State Senate staff Tuesday to collect food and supplies to fill sackpacks for the children at Positive Tomorrows, an Oklahoma City School for homeless children. Each year in August, the Senator partners with the Office Depot Foundation and the National Foundation for Women Legislators (NFWL) to distribute backpacks to school children. This year, however, the organization sent more items than expected so the legislator was able to help multiple schools as well as organizations that help adults receive educational services.
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President Pro Tempore Brian Bingman, R-Sapulpa, today announced the appointment of Senator Clark Jolley, R-Edmond, as the next Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee. Jolley, who currently serves as the committee’s Vice Chairman, will assume the Chairmanship previously held by the late Senator David Myers, effective immediately.

Members of the Senate Interim Study on Rural Fire Departments met this week to discuss issues regarding rural fire defense.

Sen. Mark Allen said the Interim Study was requested to give Senate members a better understanding of the needs and challenges faced by Oklahoma’s rural fire departments. Allen noted that as numerous wildfires have threatened rural areas in the current period of extreme drought, lawmakers must be aware of our firefighters’ operational needs.

State Sen. Rick Brinkley is under personal attack after sharing his concerns about predatory lenders who affiliate themselves with small Oklahoma-based tribes. A group called The Native American Fair Commerce Coalition (NAFCC) has staged an aggressive public relations blitz attacking Brinkley. He recently spoke out against predatory lending practices in an investigative news story by CBS News and the Center for Public Integrity (CPI).

Oklahoma County District Judge Lisa Davis on Tuesday dismissed Sen. Jim Wilson’s lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the Senate Redistricting plan.

Senate President Pro Tempore Brian Bingman today issued the following statement in response to the election of Representative T.W. Shannon as House Speaker-designate:
"I want to offer my congratulations to Representative T.W. Shannon on his election as House Speaker-designate. He is undoubtedly a gifted legislator, a dedicated public servant, and a man of proven integrity.

"Today I submitted letters to the Secretary of the Senate, President Pro Tempore Bingman, and Governor Fallin informing them that I will resign my duties as State Senator effective Jan. 15th, 2012.