Press Releases

State Sen. James A. Williamson said Gov. Brad Henry’s call for a special session on the state budget is a failure of leadership by the governor.

“This special session is a failure of leadership by Gov. Henry. It is incredible to me that he apparently has no ability to convince any of the Senate Democrats to compromise on the budget and tax cuts,” stated Williamson, R-Tulsa.

Senate President Pro Tempore Mike Morgan issued the following statement in response to Governor Brad Henry’s issuance of a call for a special session to address the state budget.

“While it is unfortunate that we won’t be able to complete our budget work by Friday’s deadline, I believe the most important thing is that we do the job right. This year that will require some additional time.
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Sen. Mike Mazzei said he was extremely gratified that the full Senate had given unanimous approval to his bill strengthening retirement systems for teachers, public employees and judges. Mazzei said Senate Bill 1894 was designed to “stop the bleeding” before it is too late.
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The State Senate on Wednesday unanimously passed a measure that will create the Oklahoma Farm-to-School Program. The bill now advances to the Governor’s office.

Sen. Daisy Lawler, author of House Bill 2655, said she was pleased her legislation has reached the final step in the legislative process.

“This legislation is a win-win situation for Oklahoma,” said Lawler, D-Comanche. “Not only will the bill provide our school children with fresh and healthy foods, but it will create a significant economic boost for Oklahoma farmers.”
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Oklahoma State Senate President Pro Tempore Mike Morgan said one of the first measures passed this legislative session in the Oklahoma State Senate honors the life of Senator Robert M. Kerr.

Today, Senate Joint Resolution 63 which names the Quartz Mountain Resort Arts and Conference Center after the late Senator finally received final approval in the House of Representatives.

A measure designed to better protect children from child abuse will advance to the Governor’s office after being passed unanimously by the Senate Tuesday. House Bill 2840, the Kelsey Smith-Briggs Child Protection Reform Act, is named in memorial of a two-year-old victim of child abuse from Meeker.

Senator Harry Coates, Senate author of the bill, said the measure will provide greater protection for children and reform how courts and social workers handle child abuse cases.

Senator Jim Wilson says Oklahoma's children will be better protected from Internet predators now that the "SafeNet Act" is in effect in the state. The new law created through Senate Bill 1479, by Senator Wilson and Rep. Purcy Walker, became immediately effective after receiving approval from the Governor Monday morning.
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A new state law that gives Oklahomans the right to use a gun to defend themselves if they are threatened is just the latest is a series of measures designed to assure citizens of the state can exercise their rights under the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

The “Stand Your Ground Law” was possible, State Senator Frank Shurden, D-Henryetta, said Tuesday, because of a measure he authored a decade ago that made carrying a concealed weapon legal in Oklahoma.
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An original painting was dedicated at the State Capitol Tuesday entitled “Showers of Sunshine: A Landscape of Grady County, Oklahoma.” The work, by artist Linda Tuma Robertson of Edmond, was unveiled during a special ceremony in the House Chamber. The painting was a gift of the Rob McCune family. Rob is the son of the late State Senator John R. McCune who served in the State Legislature from 1969 until 1988. The artwork was commissioned by the Oklahoma Senate Historical Preservation Fund, Inc., which is headed by former State Senator Charles Ford.

A Republican-authored pro-life bill was signed into law by Gov. Brad Henry Tuesday, legislation that includes several pro-life issues that have been blocked for years by the Senate’s Democrat leadership.

“This is a great victory for the unborn,” said Sen. Don Barrington, R-Lawton, the bill’s Senate author. “This new law is an answer to many years of prayer – and it shows the importance of electing pro-life legislators in the Senate and the House.”

- Gov. Henry Can’t Stop Shutdown – Unless He Convinces Senate Dems to Compromise

Senate Republican Leader Glenn Coffee said Tuesday that the Democrat leader of the State Senate is trying to force a government shutdown, and said the state would pay a high price if Senate President Pro Tem Mike Morgan succeeds.

- GOP Leader Concerned That Senate Dem Leaders Want to Shut Down State Government

With little progress being made in budget negotiations, Senate Republican Leader Glenn Coffee said the State Legislature should pass a standstill general appropriations bill this week to ensure a government shutdown does not occur if a final budget agreement is not reached before July 1, the beginning of the state’s fiscal year.

Survivors of the USS Oklahoma are closer than ever to achieving their dream of erecting a permanent memorial to the 429 crewmen who lost their lives in the attack on Pearl Harbor. The initial memorial design was formally unveiled at the State Capitol on Friday, which also marked the official kickoff of the fundraising effort.

Oklahoma trial lawyers have likely won their battle against Republican efforts this year to curb lawsuit abuse, a Republican state senator said Friday.

“As long as Democrats run the State Senate, the trial lawyers will run the State Senate. We need a Republican Senate majority if we are ever going to pass meaningful lawsuit reform in Oklahoma,” stated Sen. Cliff Branan, R-Oklahoma City.

An Ardmore lawmaker’s battle with cancer more than three years ago inspired those that heard his story. So much so that a research lab at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center will now be called the Senator Johnnie Crutchfield Central Research Lab. The Senator was honored at a ceremony at the OU Heath Sciences Center on Thursday, May 18.

A Republican state senator said GOP Lt. Gov. Mary Fallin and new Sen. Mike Schulz of Altus both deserve credit for the decision by the Senate’s liberal Democrat leadership to reverse their decision and allow a vote on a GOP-authored pro-life bill Thursday.

“Gov. Fallin had indicated privately through Republican leaders that she was willing to take the chair as Senate President to force a vote on pro-life SB 1742. Plus, the math changed this week when Mike Schulz was sworn in, giving Republicans a 23rd vote in the Senate,” stated Sen. Owen Laughlin, R-Woodward.

Oklahoma's elderly and disabled are one step closer to receiving protection from financial scams and solicitations after the Senate unanimously approved Senate Bill 1793 Friday. The measure, by Senator Ron Justice, makes it a felony to knowingly, through deception or intimidation, obtain or use the funds, assets or property of those 62 years of age or older as well as disabled individuals.

The Oklahoma State Senate passed a Republican-authored pro-life bill Thursday, which included legislative language from several pro-life bills that were killed by the Senate’s Democrat leadership earlier this year.

The Senate Democrat leadership had indicated earlier this week that they did not want to allow Senate Bill 1742 to be brought to the floor for a vote. But the bill had overwhelming bipartisan support, and Democrat leaders reversed course and allowed the vote to occur Thursday.

Senate Bill 1742 passed the Senate on a 38-8 vote, and now goes to Gov. Brad Henry.

State Sen. Mike Schulz, R-Altus, has joined the Senate Republican Rural Caucus. The group was formed in 2005 by GOP senators who represent rural districts so they could provide a united voice for rural issues in the Oklahoma State Legislature.

With the Senate’s liberal Democrat leadership threatening to shut down the state government if they don’t get their way on the state budget, State Senate Republican Leader Glenn Coffee announced he wants to work with moderate Democrat senators to support the compromise budget and tax relief package.