Statement by Senator Stratton Taylor
Senate President Pro Tempore

"I think there's a very simple explanation behind all of the Governor's recent media statements. He's come forward with a smoke and mirrors teacher pay raise program that contains no real money and he's upset because we've exposed it for what it is. I know Governor Keating would prefer that I sit on the sidelines while his media circus rolls by, but I
don't intend to do that."

"Last week we witnessed another glowing example of the politics of disinformation and misdirection from state Democrats. This time the spokesman was Representative Russ Roach (D-Tulsa). Attempting to draw citizen focus away from the real issue, the fact that Oklahoma's individual auto tag fees are too high, he attacked the low cost of farm, tractor and trailer tag fees. He also took it upon himself to dismiss these fees that have been studied and established by previous legislatures, in essence calling past legislature's work superfluous."

Statement by Senator Stratton Taylor, Senate President Pro Tempore

"The fact that Governor Keating has resorted to dragging the tax increase bogeyman out of the closet tells me that we've struck a nerve and demonstrated once again that he is no friend of public education."

"The Governor is obviously upset that we've exposed his smoke and mirrors pay program for what it is -a cheap attempt to pander to teachers without actually giving them a dime of new money. He's trying to pull the wool over teachers' eyes and he's just mad because we're calling him on it."

Federal railroad legislation now before the U.S. Congress could help Oklahoma beef up its passenger rail service, but only if the State Legislature gives Oklahoma voters an opportunity to decide if additional state revenue should be raised for Amtrak.

That according to Senator Dave Herbert, who is pushing for a statewide vote on a proposed one-cent gasoline tax increase, with the proceeds earmarked for rail service expansion.

Statement by Senator Stratton Taylor
Senate President Pro Tempore

"This sounds like another one of the Governor's smoke and mirror pay programs. It looks like all talk with no money included.

"Squeezing money out of school administrators certainly sounds like a good idea on the surface, but when you realize that school lunches, janitors, school bus drivers, security officers and school counselors are also classified as administration, the idea starts to lose some of its luster.

A new national study that gave Oklahoma high marks for teacher quality while raising concerns about the low pay of public school instructors should send a clear message to state policy makers, according to the leader of the Oklahoma State Senate.

The message, according to Senator Stratton Taylor, is that Oklahoma needs to raise teacher pay this year.

OKLAHOMA CITY - Roadside dumping has increasingly become an unsightly problem in Oklahoma, but if a bill authored by Senator Frank Shurden, D-Henryetta is successful this legislative session, relief may soon be on the way.

"Roadside dumping is a widespread problem in the rural areas of Oklahoma," said Senator Shurden. "Although it's illegal for people to leave garbage anywhere except where the state officially permits it, many people leave their trash on the side of the road because they choose not to make the effort to take their trash to a legal dump."

OKLAHOMA CITY - Senator Carol Martin is proposing legislation to share costs for education administration, resulting in more dollars for the classroom.

"It seems clear to me when only 58 percent of the FY 98 common education funding actually went for instruction, we should take a look at what we can do to get more money into our classrooms," said Martin, R-Comanche.

The Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Education recently got a chance to hear some of Senator Martin's ideas on how to do just that.

Statement by Senator Stratton Taylor
Senate President Pro Tempore

"The numbers are encouraging. We have a lot of commitments to meet, but I think there's still room to address some pressing needs, namely teacher pay. I know a lot of other interests will be competing for the new revenue, but I think teachers deserve to be at the top of the priority list. My goal is to make sure our teachers receive a significant pay hike this year."

If State Senator Jeff Rabon gets his way, Oklahoma public school students will soon be observing a moment of silence in their classroom each day.

The Hugo legislator has filed a bill that would require public school administrators to set aside a minute of silence each day for prayer, meditation or reflection. He is currently working with Attorney General Drew Edmondson to review the bill's language to make sure it passes legal muster.