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.

"Though we may not have always seen eye-to-eye on every issue, I have nothing but respect for Senator Rice and his service to the state of Oklahoma. He is compassionate, intellectually honest, and relentless in the defense of his constituents. I could not have asked for a better Senate colleague and Minority Leader counterpart.

The newest member of the Oklahoma State Senate is now officially on the job. Sen. Greg Childers was officially sworn in during a special ceremony in the Senate Chamber on Wednesday. Among the many friends, relatives and supporters attending the State Capitol ceremony were Childers’ wife, Melanie, and sons Cameron, 12, Connor, 8 and Cole, 6, who joined Childers on the floor for the oath of office.
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Beginning Jan. 1, 2012, Oklahoma school teachers and state employees using HealthChoice for insurance benefits will be forced to fill their prescriptions through an out-of-state mail order pharmacy, Sen. Patrick Anderson said Wednesday. The bureaucratic decision will result in the loss of approximately $75 million from the Oklahoma economy to New Jersey.

President Pro Tempore Brian Bingman has announced the hiring of Nathan Atkins as Leadership Assistant to the President Pro Tempore and Communications Director.

Atkins has an extensive background in government and politics.
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