The Senate today approved a second bill designed to bail out the Special Indemnity Fund and deliver relief to injured workers and business owners around the state. SB 680 by Sen. Brad Henry is almost identical to HB 1771, legislation which was vetoed by Governor Keating earlier this week.

The Governor's office has indicated he will sign the latest measure.

Governor Keating axed the equivalent of a $120 million tax cut for business and denied thousands of injured workers their court-awarded settlements when he vetoed HB 1771 late Wednesday, according to the author of that legislation, Senator Brad Henry.

The Shawnee legislator called the veto "the most irresponsible" of Keating's administration.

"Basically, the Governor killed a $120 million tax cut. He took money out of the back pocket of business with one hand and slapped injured workers with the other," said Senator Henry.

Having beaten the disease once, Senator Larry Dickerson is beginning a second battle against cancer. The Poteau legislator announced today he will soon begin undergoing a series of treatments to attack a malignant tumor in his lung. The survival rate for the type of cancer Dickerson has is almost 90 percent.

"I'm going into this with a very positive attitude and most importantly, the love and support of my family and friends. I've beaten this disease once and I don't have any doubt that I'll beat it again," said Senator Dickerson.

Legislation mandating vehicle seizures of repeat drunk drivers was approved by the State Senate Wednesday. The bill also contains a provision which would allow authorities to better track DUI offenders who rack up multiple offenses in courts that don't leave a paper trail.

SB 423 is the product of the mother-son team of Representative Mary Easley and Senator Kevin Easley. The legislation is now awaiting House action.

OKLAHOMA CITY - Oklahoma and Texas may soon have a rock-solid answer to what is Sooner soil and what belongs to the Lone Star state. The battle that has ensued for years is closer to resolution than ever before, following a cooperative effort by the Oklahoma and Texas state legislatures.

"Any bill that forces us to make severe cuts in education year after year for the foreseeable future is no solution. We already rank 50th in school funding. We can't afford to fall to 51st."

"It looks like we're going to head to another special session because of the Democrat Legislature Leadership's refusal to hear HB 1003, the Truth-in-Sentencing reform bill supported by their own party members," Senator Mark Snyder, Senate Republican Leader said.

Legislation mandating vehicle seizures of repeat drunk drivers has gotten even tougher in conference committee, picking up a provision which would allow authorities to better track DUI offenders who rack up multiple offenses in courts that don't leave a paper trail.

SB 423 is the product of the mother-son team of Representative Mary Easley and Senator Kevin Easley. The legislation is ready for floor action in the Senate.

Oklahoma's senior U.S. Senator and state transportation czar are trying to derail Oklahoma's newly restored passenger rail service before it ever leaves the station, according to the state lawmaker who was instrumental in bringing Amtrak back to Oklahoma.

"We wanted a Cadillac, but they're trying to give us a Yugo instead. Either these guys didn't know what they were doing when they negotiated the deal or they're deliberately trying to sabotage Amtrak's chances of being successful in Oklahoma. This deal stinks," said Senator Dave Herbert.

Governor Keating can deliver the equivalent of a $120 million tax cut to businesses across the state and help the families of thousands of injured workers if he signs HB 1771 into law. That legislation would pump much-needed money into the Special Indemnity Fund and return a $120 million premium rebate to State Insurance Fund customers.