Press Releases

Buying a first home is a special milestone in the lives of many Oklahomans, but often times those who serve and protect us as police officers and firefighters or teach our children how to read find themselves unable to achieve that milestone. Thanks to a program through the Oklahoma Housing Finance Authority (OHFA), this special group of Oklahomans who give so much to this state through their dedication to their professions will now be eligible for low interest home loans, according to Senator Kenneth Corn.
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Senator Jeff Rabon has requested a bill that will provide more incentive for candidates to run a fair and honest campaign. The Democrat from Hugo has authored legislation that will make it a misdemeanor for a candidate to knowingly release untruthful information about an opponent during an election cycle.
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State Senator Debbe Leftwich, D-OKC, has filed a bill that would prohibit any former lawmaker or other elected official from becoming a lobbyist for two years after leaving office. A second bill would prohibit any elected official from accepting contributions within the State Capitol.

“The reason for both of these bills is simple—to improve public confidence in the Legislature,” Leftwich said.
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Comments from Senate President Pro Tempore Cal Hobson, D-Lexington

“We’ve been following the efforts of Governor Henry’s bi-partisan study group and I’m anxious to see its proposal. Just yesterday I met with more than half a dozen of Tulsa’s most prominent business leaders discussing at length the progress of the governor’s task force and their own efforts to craft bi-partisan reforms to our state’s workers’ compensation system.

Majority Democrats in the Oklahoma State Senate made a power play at Tuesday’s legislative organizational day on a pair of votes to amend the rules that govern the Senate’s procedures.

“Senate Republicans were seeking a more open, more democratic process within the Senate rules. But in contrast, the Senate Democrats – despite having their narrowest majority ever –decided instead to operate behind closed doors. The majority made a power play instead of opening up the process to more debate and new ideas,” stated Senate Republican Leader Glenn Coffee of Oklahoma City.

Senate President Pro Tempore Cal Hobson was officially elected to a second term as leader of the State Senate Tuesday as the First Session of the 50th Oklahoma Legislature convened for Organization Day.
Hobson, who served in the House from 1978 to 1990, is entering his 27th year in the Oklahoma Legislature. He was elected Tuesday by a vote of 26-21.
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