Sen. Jonathan Nichols will play an important role in determining whether the Legislature will redraw Oklahoma’s judicial districts based on 2010 Census data. Senate President Pro Tempore Designate Brian Bingman recently announced that the Norman Republican will serve as Judicial Vice Chairman on the Senate Redistricting Committee.

Senate President Pro Tempore Designate Brian Bingman, R-Sapulpa, announced committee assignments for the 2011-12 sessions today.

“The Oklahoma Senate is fortunate to have so many good and capable leaders,” said Bingman, R-Sapulpa. “Committees have hard work ahead but these members are more than up for the task. We had a lot of experience and talent to draw from when making these appointments.”

“I would also like to thank Minority Leader Senator Andrew Rice for helping to select Democrat membership,” Bingman added.

Sapulpa Republican Brian Bingman was formally elected as the President Pro Tempore of the Oklahoma State Senate Tuesday during the senate’s organizational day session. Bingman received a unanimous vote from senate members to serve as leader of the Oklahoma State Senate.

“I am honored to be given the opportunity to serve Oklahoma in this capacity as Pro Tem of the State Senate,” Bingman said. “Receiving unified support means a lot and I appreciate the task ahead as we all work together to improve Oklahoma.

Senator Judy Eason McIntyre and Senator Jim Wilson joined the call on the Corporation Commission to reject another rate hike request from Ohio-based AEP-PSO

President Pro Tempore Brian Bingman, R-Sapulpa, announced the remaining members of his Leadership staff today as well as changes to the Senate service staff. Former Senator Jim Williamson was previously announced as Chief Policy Adviser and Legal Counsel.

Cheryl Leonhardt Boothe will join Sen. Bingman in the Pro Tempore’s office after four years as his Senate Executive Assistant. Boothe will continue to be Sen. Bingman’s EA upon her move to Room 422.

Today, the Supreme Court, in a 6-1 decision, refused to grant Sen. Clark Jolley’s request to stop the proceeding of an appointment of a Supreme Court Justice to replace deceased Justice Marian Opala. Jolley had sought the Court’s assistance in slowing down the nominating process, which has been rushed for political purposes instead of being properly done under the newly reconstituted Judicial Nominating Commission as approved overwhelmingly by voters in November.
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Sen. Andrew Rice filed legislation today to combat cyber-bullying, a growing problem among Oklahoma’s youth. Senate Bill 152 strengthens the School Bullying Prevention Act to include cyber bullying.

“We have young people injuring and killing themselves because they are being victimized by their peers via videos, texts and entries on social media sites,” said Rice, Senate Democratic Leader. “Technology is changing rapidly and this has impacted how our youth communicate and interact with each other.
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After officially being elected President Pro Tempore on Tuesday, Brian Bingman (Bing-man), R-Sapulpa, announced his Judicial Nominating Commission selection today. State Question 752, which passed by a vote of the people on November 2nd 2010, grants both the President Pro Tempore and the Speaker of the House a selection to the Judicial Nominating Commission. The appointments will result in two additional members and give more input into the judicial selection process.