(Oklahoma City) Nearly 60 years after leaving Capitol Hill High School to serve their country in World War II, a group of 17 veterans will finally be receiving their long delayed high school diplomas. That's thanks to a bill approved last session by the state legislature.

(Oklahoma City) In an effort to end a stalemate over the Multiple Injury Trust Fund, Senate President Pro Tempore Stratton Taylor and House Speaker Larry Adair are appointing a new joint committee to continue work toward compromise legislation.

The two legislative leaders announced their plan to name a special bipartisan committee Friday, saying it was important to continue discussions on the issue.

OKLAHOMA CITY-Governor Frank Keating today agreed to amend his call for the special legislative session to include enacting a sales tax holiday. State Senator Jonathan Nichols, a leader in the fight to establish a sales tax holiday in Oklahoma, applauded the governor's decision.

With state revenue collections slumping in the first quarter of Oklahoma's fiscal year and an uncertain economic outlook facing the country, the leader of the State Senate is warning fellow policy makers to be prepared for a standstill budget or even budget cuts next year.

Senate President Pro Tempore Stratton Taylor pointed out that if current trends continue, Oklahoma will generate little in the way of growth revenue and could actually find itself facing a shortfall when the next state budget is drafted in 2002.

Statement by Senator Stratton Taylor,
Senate President Pro Tempore

"We have been informed that the special task force on the Multiple Injury Trust Fund was unable to reach a final agreement on compromise legislation by Tuesday's 5:00 p.m. deadline. While the news is disappointing, I remain hopeful that task force members can forge a consensus on this issue if they continue working.

The Oklahoma State Senate has taken action that will prevent Oklahomans from paying any state taxes on their federal income tax rebates.

In a special session of the Legislature on Tuesday, lawmakers approved HB 1002X - legislation ensuring that the $300 and $600 federal tax rebate checks are not subject to state taxes. Those checks, which are a byproduct of the federal tax reduction program approved by the U.S. Congress earlier this year, have been going out to taxpayers since August.

Senator Charles Ford announced Tuesday that the Oklahoma State Senate Historical Preservation Fund, Inc. has now formally dedicated two more original paintings. The two latest works were unveiled during a special ceremony in the Senate Chamber.

"With these latest additions, our organization has now commissioned 24 pieces of original art for the Capitol," said Senator Ford, President of the Preservation Fund.

"Like our other pieces, the two latest paintings were created by Oklahoma artists, and present images from our state's past," explained Senator Ford.

The Oklahoma State Senate Historical Preservation Fund, Inc. continues to fill the State Capitol with original art depicting important scenes and personalities from Oklahoma history. The latest art to be unveiled will include a portrait of one of Oklahoma Territories first legislative leaders, as well as a painting of Oklahoma's Tallgrass Prairie Preserve.

Senate Appropriations Chairman Kelly Haney said legislators and other state leaders must put a greater focus on the need to increase access to quality health care throughout Oklahoma. On Friday he addressed a meeting of healthcare providers, physicians, public officials and others during the 2001 Health Care Symposium held in Oklahoma City on September 27th and 28th at the Hilton Inn Northwest.

Two controversial state contracts should not be renewed when they come up for review in late September and early October, according to a state legislator who has been critical of the contract expenditures.

Senator Larry Dickerson said he came to that conclusion after reviewing expense reports filed by Mary Myrick and her public relations firm Public Strategies. Myrick, a longtime political consultant, has come under fire in the past year for her handling of contract work related to Governor Keating's Marriage Initiative and his Safe and Drug Free Schools program.