Governor Keating has singled out Oklahoma veterans programs for one of the largest cuts in his proposed executive budget, a move that has surprised and angered a State Senator who oversees veterans affairs issues.

"Our veterans deserve the very best services we can provide them, but it's difficult to deliver quality care when Governor Keating is cutting the programs that they rely on," said Senator Sam Helton, chairman of the Senate Veterans, Military Affairs and Public Safety Committee.

Agriculture producers may soon have a way to level the playing field with large corporate entities under legislation authored by Senator Paul Muegge, D-Tonkawa.

Senate Bill 1075 would create the Agriculture Production Fair Practices Act, which would provide legislative intent, definition and explanation to those associated with agriculture. In basic terms, it means producers would have more say in their dealings with corporate farming giants.

Citing his handling of Atlanta Braves pitcher John Rocker, State Senator Larry Dickerson is asking the commissioner of Major League Baseball for advice in dealing with Governor Frank Keating and the inappropriate comments that he often makes.

Commissioner Bud Selig recently suspended Rocker for making a variety of offensive statements in a recent news interview. He also ordered the baseball pitcher to undergo sensitivity training.

Even though no agreement has been reached on the ultimate use of Oklahoma's $2.3 billion tobacco settlement, the state needs to begin the process of structuring a special tobacco trust fund, according to Senator Stratton Taylor, the leader of the Oklahoma State Senate.

In an effort to get such discussions underway, the Senate President Pro Tempore today announced that he has authored draft legislation that could ultimately be used as a vehicle to address the trust fund question.

OKLAHOMA CITY - Calling the new requirements unfair to Oklahoma schools and students, Henryetta Senator Frank Shurden has authored SB 1047 that would repeal the course-specific curriculum and honor diploma programs signed into law by the Governor last year.

"I've heard from teachers, administrators and parents across the state who feel that the curriculum requirements of House Bill 1759 were simply a bad deal. The bottom line is, this is going to cause more harm than good. We need to get it off the books," said Senator Shurden.

A new teacher pay program hurriedly thrown together by Governor Frank Keating contains only "funny money," not a real pay raise, according to the leader of the Oklahoma State Senate.

Wednesday -- three days after Senate President Pro Tempore Stratton Taylor and House Speaker Loyd Benson announced an across-the-board, $3,000 pay hike for teachers -- the Governor unveiled a $2,000 pay plan, but with several strings attached.

State Senator Kevin Easley is asking Governor Keating to identify a mystery CEO who reportedly told the state chief executive that Oklahoma college graduates aren't making the grade when it comes to job skills.

During an interview on KRMG Radio in Tulsa last week, the Governor recounted a recent conversation with a person he identified only as a "CEO of a Fortune 500 company." According to Governor Keating, the CEO told him that the majority of Oklahoma college graduates could not pass the employment test required to work for his company.

Citing reports that low salaries are forcing many Oklahoma teachers to leave the state for better-paying jobs elsewhere, legislative leaders unveiled a program today that would give every public school teacher a $3,000 pay raise.

Senate President Pro Tempore Stratton Taylor and House Speaker Loyd Benson said the across-the-board teacher pay plan will be the Legislature's first order of business when lawmakers return for their annual session on February 7th.

Oklahoma City - The Oklahoma State Senate Republican caucus today called upon the Democrat Senate leadership and the President Pro Tempore's office to schedule Saturday, February 12, 2000, as a legislative session work day for the Oklahoma Senate. "Many of Oklahoma's teachers would like the opportunity to present their views on the current status of funding for common education in Oklahoma and the impact of the current pay structure for their profession.

Statement by Senator Stratton Taylor
Senate President Pro Tempore

"I don't think the Legislature has any business telling people when they can and cannot come to the State Capitol. They're taxpayers, they own the building and they can come whenever they like."

"As Democrats, we welcome citizens to come to the Capitol any day."

"If the teachers are interested in visiting the State Capitol on a Saturday, we will certainly do everything we can to accommodate them. However, that is their decision to make, not the Legislature's."