Portrait sponsors Howard and Billie Barnett and Charles Banks Wilson unveil Wilson's
portrait on the Senate floor Wednesday.


Artist Charles Banks Wilson was honored at the state Capitol Wednesday with the dedication
of his portrait. Pictured L-R: Billie Barnett, artist Mike Wimmer, Charles Wilson,
preservation fund president Charles Ford and Howard Barnett.


Artist Charles Banks Wilson thanks the Senate for their recognition and commends artist
Mike Wimmer for his good work on the portrait.

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Today, State Senator Anthony Sykes, author of State Question 755, the “Save Our State” Amendment that banned the use of International Law and Sharia Law in Oklahoma, responded to questions regarding the measure.

Today the Oklahoma Legislature held a Fourth Joint Session of the 53rd Legislature in Honor of Oklahoma’s 45th Infantry Division of the Oklahoma National Guard. Governor Mary Fallin along with the legislature officially recognized April 12th as Oklahoma’s 45th Infantry Division Day.

Sen. Dan Newberry (R-Tulsa) today issued the following statement regarding the closing of the Lloyd E. Rader Center in Sand Springs:

“The state of Oklahoma has been facing severe budget issues for the past few years. The closing of the Rader Center is an unfortunate casualty of the budget shortfalls. However, this unfortunate circumstance is an opportunity for Sand Springs to capitalize on a national movement of companies coming to Oklahoma.

Sen. Dan Newberry today praised an agreement between Gov. Mary Fallin and legislative leaders to establish an Oklahoma-based, free market health insurance network built on conservative principals.

The Oklahoma Health Insurance Private Enterprise Network will broaden access to affordable healthcare and prevent the establishment of a federal health insurance exchange in Oklahoma. The agreement stipulates that Oklahoma will not accept the $54 million Early Innovator Grant from the federal government.

Governor Mary Fallin today joined other state leaders in announcing that Oklahoma will establish a Health Insurance Private Enterprise Network to prevent the establishment of a federal health care exchange in Oklahoma.

Oklahoma has taken another step toward addressing the $16 billion in unfunded liability facing the state’s public pension systems. House Bill 2132, which was authored by Senate President Pro Tempore Brian Bingman and presented by Senator Mike Mazzei, chairman of the Select Committee on Pensions, was approved Tuesday on a bipartisan vote of 33 to 13.
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Legislation to modify the Uniform Athletes Agent Act passed the full Senate today. Authored by President Pro Tem Brian Bingman, R-Sapulpa, and Rep. Todd Thomsen, R-Ada, HB 1586 will hit agents that break the law with stricter penalties. Bingman was encouraged to see the bill supported by a majority of Senators, 47 to 0.

Loved ones attending funerals will have more protection from protesters thanks to legislation signed into law Monday. Sen. Josh Brecheen was the author of Senate Bill 406 which lengthens the time and distance that protesters must stay away from services.

Recent efforts by the Environmental Protection Agency to mandate new air quality regulations in Oklahoma will kill jobs and competitiveness if not aggressively challenged at every turn, according to Senate President Pro-Tempore Brian Bingman, R-Sapulpa.
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