Press Releases

State Senate Democrats said “no” today to sending meaningful lawsuit reform, a record income tax cut, and a bill eliminating the state’s death tax to Gov. Brad Henry’s desk for his signature.

“Democrats are in the majority in the State Senate, and today Senate Democrats got their way by effectively killing lawsuit reform, income tax cuts, and the elimination of the death tax,” said Senate Republican Leader Glenn Coffee, R-Oklahoma City. “The priorities of the Senate won’t change until the leadership of the Senate changes.”

"Fiscal conservatives, Democrats and Republicans alike, need to stand up and hold the line on cutting our income tax to 4.9 percent.

I can tell you this. The people of Oklahoma do not want another $45 dollar rebate check. They deserve better than that, and the Speaker of the House has publicly said he’s committed to doing a budget with a 4.9 percent cut. It is my hope he will uphold that commitment.

Following is a statement from Senator Jay Paul Gumm, D-Durant, about the Senate’s action today to send a pair of tax bills to a conference committee. Gumm is chair of the Senate Finance Committee.

“Tax cuts should be negotiated as part of a budget that reflects our state’s values, not used as a platform for a term-limited politician to try to get elected to another job.

Lawler, Shurden say the Bill Provides Protections against Trespassing

Rural landowners won a huge victory this week with the passage of House Bill 2984, authored by Senator Frank Shurden and Representative Shane Jett. An amendment to the bill by State Senators Daisy Lawler and Frank Shurden increases the penalties for trespassing on private land.

The State Senate honored one of its own Tuesday. Senator Gilmer Capps was recognized by his colleagues for his 36 years of service in the distinguished body. The Snyder Democrat is leaving office this year due to term limits.
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Having played an integral part in facilitating communication and cooperation between Oklahoma’s Court Appointed Special Advocates and the state legislature, Senator Kenneth Corn was recently named 2006 Legislator of the Year by CASA at the group’s annual Awards of Excellence Banquet.

Oklahoma CASA Executive Director Anna Naukam praised Corn for his efforts to make a significant contribution to the lives of children.

State Senator Kathleen Wilcoxson, R-Oklahoma City, has won final Senate approval for legislation banning the sale of lottery tickets at pawn shops, payday lenders and check-cashing businesses.
Wilcoxson was principal author of SB 1089, which was coauthored by Rep. Sally Kerns, R-Oklahoma City. The Senator said the strong bipartisan support for the measure was evidence that even those legislators who supported the lottery felt this was an important statement.
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The Oklahoma State University College of Osteopathic Medicine (OSU-COM) and the Tulsa Regional Medical Center (TRMC) have signed off on an agreement to ensure the future of the teaching hospital. Sen. Mike Mazzei announced the agreement mirrors the recommendations made in a recently released report by Merrill Lynch. The report was requested by a legislative task force co-chaired by Sen. Tom Adelson and Rep. Chris Benge. Mazzei has served as lead negotiator for the panel.
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For the third straight year, the Senate Redhots are the champions of bedlam baseball, defeating the House 8-7 in Tuesday’s after session game at the AT&T Bricktown Ballpark.
Senate Coach David “Casey” Myers called the game, which benefited the American Cancer Society, “spectacular.”

“I knew stealth was going to win over youth…matter of fact, they were coming on strong in the last inning and it looked like we weren’t going to be able to hold them, but I believe one of them collapsed going around second and let us win,” said Coach Myers following the victory. read more.

Saying it came down to a public health issue, Sen. Frank Shurden won final Senate approval Wednesday for a measure that would give the State Health Department regulatory control over tattooing. Senate Bill 806 now goes to Gov. Brad Henry for his consideration.
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A Senate measure to help protect nursing home residents from sexual predators is on its way to the Governor's desk. The Senate unanimously passed Senate Bill 1707 Tuesday to provide the Sex Offender Registry to the state Commissioner of Health. The measure is authored by Senator David Myers (R-Ponca City) and Rep. Rex Duncan (R-Sand Springs).
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Senate President Pro Tempore Mike Morgan has announced that 44 of the Senate’s 47 members have been assigned to the General Conference Committee on Appropriations.
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A key plank of the Senate Democrats’ agenda to “Create a Safer Oklahoma” is on its way to Governor Henry for his signature after receiving final passage on the Senate floor this morning. Senate Bill 1037, known as the Caitlin Wooten Act, is authored by Democratic Senator Susan Paddack and State Rep. Wes Hilliard, also a Democrat. The bill is named after 16-year-old Caitlin Wooten.

A bill aimed at strengthening small businesses and upgrading the skills of Oklahoma’s workforce was rendered dead when Republicans in the House refused to allow an “up-or-down” vote on Senate Bill 2047. The author’s measure, Senator Debbe Leftwich, a Democrat from Oklahoma City, said the bill had the support of several pro-business establishments in the state, including the State Chamber of Commerce.

OKLAHOMA CITY – A Lawton Senator who is credited with authoring the strongest identity theft bill in the country said he is outraged the Republican Leadership in the House gutted his proposal to protect Oklahoma senior citizens from the devastation of identity theft. State Senator Randy Bass, a Democrat, said he plans to resurrect the language in Senate Bill 1748 that allows identity theft victims to freeze their credit at no cost to the victim.

Vowing to continue his effort to protect rural schools and communities, the author of a bill to permanently end forced school consolidation breathed new life into the measure last Wednesday.

Senator Jay Paul Gumm, D-Durant, successfully amended a House joint resolution to include his proposed constitutional amendment to end forced school consolidation. The proposal would allow voters to decide the issue instead of politicians or bureaucrats.

Members of the State Legislature are warming up for the annual bedlam baseball game between the Senate and the House. The amateur athletes will be slugging it out at the Bricktown Ballpark Tuesday, May 2, after session.

“Everyone is welcome to attend—there’s no charge, but we’re asking for a suggested donation of $5 at the gate to benefit the American Cancer Society,” said Sen. David “Coach Casey” Myers of Ponca City, head coach and manager of the Senate Redhots.