A measure to extend a portion of the sales tax exemption allowed for 100% disabled veterans to their widows unanimously passed the Senate Finance Committee Tuesday. Sen. Don Barrington, R-Lawton, says the measure would provide some financial help to the surviving spouses of Oklahoma’s heroes.
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Following a U.S. Supreme Court decision upholding the free speech rights of funeral picketers, State Sen. Josh Brecheen said Wednesday he would ask for an Attorney General’s opinion on his legislation which would double the time moratorium and distance such protests can be held at Oklahoma funerals.
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Citing a House panel’s approval of an immigration reform proposal this week, Sen. Ralph Shortey on Thursday said he was encouraged to see reform efforts winning support in both houses of the Legislature.

House Bill 1446, authored by Rep. George Faught, was approved by the House Judiciary committee on Monday. The measure includes multiple provisions addressing immigration law, including sections that mirror those in Senate Bill 908, authored by Shortey.

Legislators continue to work on a plan that will address Oklahoma’s $16 billion of unfunded pension liability. The Senate Select Committee on Pensions met Thursday to discuss major reforms to the system and listen to input from experts within various pensions affected by the current system. The Senate is targeting reforms that will guarantee current workers receive all of the benefits that were promised them when they entered the system.

The chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee said legislation approved on Monday would help address critical needs in the Department of Corrections (DOC) without adding to the $500 million gap facing the state in the coming budget year. Sen. David Myers, R-Ponca City, said the bill authorizes DOC to use existing funds to reduce employee furloughs. The measure was approved by the full Senate on a bipartisan vote of 37-7.

Senate Bill 970 passed the full Senate today, a bill from the newly created Joint Committee on Appropriations and Budget. The committee was created upon the enactment of joint rules within the legislature, something Oklahoma has not had since 1999.
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The state Senate on Tuesday welcomed Oklahoma State University head football coach Mike Gundy and Cowboy football stars Justin Blackmon and Dan Bailey.

The Cowboys finished the 2010 season with an 11-2 record. Gundy was honored as the Big XII Coach of the Year and was a finalist for the Eddie Robinson National Coach of the Year award and the Liberty Mutual National Coach of the Year award. The Senate on Monday approved three resolutions congratulating Gundy and his players on their accomplishments.

March 4th Editorial “Tulsa senator's charades tar his political party”

I looked up “Adelson, Tom” in the dictionary and I found under synonyms “the Oklahoman.” It’s the 2011 Webster’s version.

If you go to earlier dictionaries, say around 2001, you find this:

“…we were encouraged upon hearing State House Republican leader Fred Morgan speak of eliminating the [state] income tax in broader term.” Oklahoman, June 27, 2001.

The full Senate has voted 42-2 to end a long-standing retirement formula that enables elected officials in Oklahoma to receive twice the retirement benefit as state employees. Sen. Mike Mazzei is principal author of Senate Bill 794.

“At a time when we’re downsizing government because of less revenue and tighter budgets, we need to send a message to the voters that the days of special treatment for elected officials are coming to an end,” said Mazzei, R-Tulsa.
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The state Senate on Tuesday approved a measure that would allow voters to approve an amendment prohibiting discrimination and preferential treatment in state government.

Authored by Sen. Rob Johnson, Senate Joint Resolution 15 would ban programs that allow discrimination against, or that give preferential treatment to, any individual or group on the basis of race, color, sex, ethnicity or national origin. The law would prohibit such considerations in public employment, public education and public contracting.