Statement by Senator Stratton Taylor, Senate President Pro Tempore

"We had reached an agreement with the minority leadership to take a vote on their amendment. Just as we were completing those negotiations and preparing to carry through with our agreement, the Lieutenant Governor jumped into the chair of the Senate and took over. If her action wasn't so disruptive to the government process, her behavior would really be comical. But as it stands, she's managed to bring the wheels of government to a screeching halt, all to prove a political point."

OKLAHOMA CITY - The State Senate has approved a measure to fund special child abuse investigation teams across the state. House Bill 2007 would help duplicate the success Tulsa County has had with its multidisciplinary teams for identifying and stopping physical and sexual abuse of children. That's according to Senator Mike Morgan. Senator Morgan, D-Stillwater and Representative Mike Thornbrugh, R-Tulsa are co-authors of HB 2007.

Governor Frank Keating and legislative leaders have appointed State Treasurer Robert Butkin to lead a special task force on the management of Oklahoma's tobacco settlement. The group will make recommendations on how the state should best administer its $2.3 billion settlement.

"Oklahoma has never faced a situation like this before and it's important to have a truly gifted public servant like Robert Butkin advising the executive and legislative branches on the best ways for Oklahoma to invest the tobacco settlement funds," said Governor Keating.

Oklahoma City - A bill that would have saved millions of dollars through cost-sharing of school administrations is apparently dead for the session. Senate author Carol Martin and House author Joan Greenwood were told House Education Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Jack Begley would not allow his committee to hear the bill this session.

Legislation that will soon be considered by the State Senate would slash the annual tag fees paid by Oklahoma motorists, charging them a flat fee of $15, $45 or $85 depending on the age of their vehicle.

If approved by the full Legislature and the Governor, the measure will also give Oklahoma some of the lowest tag and excise fees in the region -- lower than Texas, Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri and Colorado.

The Oklahoma State Senate has approved a $2,000 pay raise for state employees. SB 959 passed on a unanimous 46-0 vote Wednesday afternoon. The legislation is expected to be approved by the House on Thursday and will then go to the Governor for his signature.

Oklahoma City - The principal authors of a state bill to ban remediation at Oklahoma's two premier universities today called it "tragic and appalling" that opponents of the measure apparently have little interest in stemming the state's alarming remediation rate.

The remarks by state Representative Carolyn Coleman, R-Moore, and State Senator Kathleen Wilcoxson, R-OKC, came amid attacks from Senator Keith Leftwich (D-Oklahoma City) that House Bill 1710 would cripple sports programs at the University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University.

Despite Republican claims to the contrary, car tag reform is alive and well at the State Capitol, according to the leader of the Oklahoma State Senate.

Senate President Pro Tempore Stratton Taylor pointed out that two tag bills have been reported out of Senate Committee and will soon be heard by the full Senate.

A Senate leader has decided to kill a controversial proposal by Governor Keating that could have crippled athletic programs at the University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University.

The proposal in question, HB 1710, would have banned the teaching of remedial courses at the state's two comprehensive universities - an action that athletic officials claim would have put them at a competitive disadvantage in recruiting and retaining student athletes.

Citing the concerns of the University of Oklahoma's athletic director, a State Senate leader is calling for Governor Keating to withdraw his controversial proposal to ban the teaching of remedial courses at OU and Oklahoma State University. The legislation, HB 1710, is currently awaiting action in a Senate committee.