State Capitol, Oklahoma City – Oklahoma has once again been nationally embarrassed by its unreformed tort system.

A two-page advertisement in Tuesday’s edition of the Wall Street Journal named Oklahoma as one of eight states that are “hazardous to the health of families and businesses” because of “years of out-of-control lawsuit abuse.” The advertisement was paid for by the American Neurological Surgery Political Action Committee.

Republican state lawmakers today unveiled a plan that will provide nearly 300 million in new road funding in the next five years, more than double the amount that would have been provided by a fuel tax increase rejected by voters Tuesday.
Yesterday, the people said: Not one more dime of my money fix Oklahomas roads with the dollars you already take from us, said House Speaker Todd Hiett, RKellyville. We all agree that Oklahomas roads are in bad shape. But the voters expect us to live within our means. read more.

Oklahoma is a better place to live today because of the efforts of Senate Democrats in the First Session of the 0th Oklahoma Legislature, President Pro Tempore Mike Morgan said moments after the session concluded at :22 p.m. Senate Democrats fought hard for working families and made sure any legislation passed out of this body that would help make tomorrow better for our children, said Morgan, DStillwater. Morgan said it would be easy to call 200 the Education Session but added the list of accomplishments is so long that such a characterization might be inadequate. read more.

State Senator Debbe Leftwich announced on Friday that she will be principal Senate author of a bill to allow Oklahoma and Tulsa Counties to operate under home rule. Leftwich and House principal author
Mike Shelton, DOKC, said House Bill 9 was the result of citizen outrage over the move by two of Oklahoma Countys three commissioners to disband the county budget board. read more.

The Senate has approved a measure aimed at reducing injuries and deaths of children and teens due to ATV accidents. Sen. Bernest Cain is the author of Senate Bill 30, which would require all riders under the age of to wear a helmet.
The bottom line here is we can save lives in Oklahoma with this simple precaution, said Cain, DOklahoma City. Wearing helmets while riding ATVs can reduce deaths by 2 percent and it can reduce nonfatal head injuries by percent. read more.

Senate President Pro Tempore Mike Morgan said hes pleased with the progress Senate Democrats have made in moving their 200 Agenda of Personal Responsibility and Accountability through the legislative process in the first two weeks of the Second Session of the 0th Oklahoma Legislature.
Six of the Senate Democrats major proposals have been passed out of committee and will begin being heard on the floor next week when the full Senate takes up a measure to expand the income eligibility for the Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program. read more.

Oklahoma State Legislature
Clip Article
For Immediate Release: February 23, 200
Senate and House leaders announced agreements on supplemental appropriations Thursday at the Capitol.
LR: Sen. Frank Shurden, Rep. Mark Liotta, Sen. Kenneth Corn, Rep. Jim Newport, Rep. John Trebilcock, Rep. Curt Roggow and Sen. Jeff Rabon. read more.

Democratic leaders Tuesday won approval by the full State Senate of an important middleclass expansion of the states successful meritbased scholarship program. read more.

Senate Democrats today announced a bold 200 million education plan that includes a 3,000 acrosstheboard salary increase for Oklahomas public schools teachers.
The plan was presented Tuesday by Senate President Pro Tempore Mike Morgan, Appropriations SubCommittee on Education Chairman Stratton Taylor and Senate Education Committee Chairman Susan Paddack in a State Capitol Press Conference.
In addition to the largest teacher pay increase in seven years, the Democrats proposal includes:
Quality Instruction Pay for the states best educators read more.

Senator Jeff Rabon said testimony at Thursdays meeting of the Senate Appropriations SubCommittee on Natural Resources and Regulatory Services points to the need for a supplemental appropriation to help the Department of Agriculture and Rural Fire Departments across the state with the continued cost of fighting wildfires. My conversations with the Governors staff and the Secretary of Finance is this is no different than a mud slide or flood or tornado...its a disaster nonetheless and those things cost money, said Rabon, DHugo. read more.