Press Releases

The Senate Finance Committee chair echoed the sentiments of Senator Daisy Lawler and called on the Lottery Commission to reverse their decision to allow lottery tickets to be sold at pawn shops and payday loan companies.

“Senator Lawler is right on the money to ask the lottery commission to reverse this decision, and I join her in that call,” Gumm, an Assistant Majority Leader in the Senate, said. “This was a bad decision made by good people that needs to be reversed as soon as possible.”

State Senator Daisy Lawler Thursday encouraged members of the Oklahoma Education Lottery Commission to move quickly to ban the sale of lottery tickets at pawn shops and payday loan companies and vowed to push for legislation next year to prevent such sales.

“Allowing the sale of lottery tickets in pawn shops and over the counters at payday loan companies is nothing more than preying on the poorest among us,” said Lawler, D-Comanche. “There’s right and wrong and that’s just wrong.”

Statement from Randy Brogdon, R-Owasso
State Senator Dist 34

“More than two thirds of Oklahoma taxpayers approve of holding the growth of state government to a reasonable level. Unfortunately the other third, the big spenders, are trying to stifle very good legislation by portraying a dishonest view of the Taxpayer Bill of Rights initiative (TABOR).

State Sen. Cliff Aldridge, R-Midwest City, said the decision by the Oklahoma Lottery Commission’s oversight board – which was appointed by Gov. Brad Henry – to allow lottery ticket sales at pawn shops, check-cashing businesses, and payday loan companies amounts to profiting from Oklahoma’s neediest citizens.

State Senator Daisy Lawler Thursday encouraged members of the Oklahoma Education Lottery Commission to move quickly to ban the sale of lottery tickets at pawn shops and payday loan companies and vowed to push for legislation next year to prevent such sales.

“Allowing the sale of lottery tickets in pawn shops and over the counters at payday loan companies is nothing more than preying on the poorest among us,” said Lawler, D-Comanche. “There’s right and wrong and that’s just wrong.”

With friends, family and supporters gathered in the Senate Gallery, Oklahoma City Democrat Constance N. Johnson was officially sworn in to be the next District 48 Senator. Federal District Judge Vicki Miles-LaGrange, who held the District 48 seat from 1986 until 1993, administered the oath of office.

“This is a proud day for my family and for me,” said Johnson. “I am very humbled by the trust that the citizens of District 48 have placed in me and I pledge to do the best job I can.”
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