Press Releases

State Sen. Cliff Branan, principal author of Senate Bill 507, said Oklahoma has received another black eye in the national media because of Gov. Brad Henry’s veto of the comprehensive lawsuit reform legislation. The May 10, 2007 Wall Street Journal article said “Oklahoma loses to Texas—again.”
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LaDonna Heintzelman wanted the right to wear a button with her sons picture during the trial of the man accused of his murder. State Sen. Jim Reynolds said the Midwest City mother will have that right. Thats after Senate Bill , known as Taylors Law was signed by Gov. Brad Henry on Wednesday. The bill was named for Heintzelmans son.
When I heard LaDonnas story, I immediately wanted to help. She simply wants to be able to honor her son with a photo of how he was in life, said Reynolds, ROklahoma City. This is an important day for victims rights and for Taylors family. read more.

The governor will soon decide the fate of legislation to ensure judges can protect themselves and others in courthouses by allowing them to carry weapons. That legislation won final passage in the Senate on Tuesday and is now awaiting consideration by Gov. Brad Henry.

On Wednesday the evenly divided Oklahoma Senate again fell one short of the 32 votes needed to override Gov. Brad Henrys veto of SB 714, a pro-life bill that would prohibit state funds, facilities, and employees from being used to perform abortions except to save the life of the mother.

But Senate Bill 714s author, Sen. James A. Williamson of Tulsa, said he will continue the effort to ban state funding for abortions.
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The leaders of the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma and the Catholic Diocese of Tulsa joined State Sen. James A. Williamson on Tuesday in support of a measure to restrict the performance of abortions at state facilities or by state employees.

Senate Bill 714 was vetoed by Gov. Brad Henry last month. Williamson has vowed to continue bringing up the legislation until he is successful in an override of the veto. Williamson said he intends to move to override when the Senate meets on Wednesday.
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Sen. Kenneth Corn on Tuesday announced that fundraising efforts for “The Greatest Generation Project” will allow 51 World War II veterans in his district to visit the WWII memorial in Washington, D.C.

Together with Rep. Neil Brannon and Rep. Glen Bud Smithson, Sen. Corn initiated fundraising for the project in February, and enough money has been raised to cover all travel expenses for the group of veterans.

Corn said the inspiration behind the project was that all WWII veterans should have the opportunity to visit the memorial, regardless of their ability to pay.

A trio of Democratic Senators Tuesday blasted Sen. James Williamson, R-Tulsa, over his latest effort to override Gov. Brad Henry’s veto of Senate Bill 714.
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National and state business and education leaders briefed members of the Senate and House Education Committees Tuesday on Oklahoma’s poor showing in a recent education study by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. The report, called “Leaders and Laggards,” gave Oklahoma an overall grade of “D”. Burns Hargis, Vice Chairman of Bank of Oklahoma, called the report “disturbing.”
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The Democratic author of the “Back-to-School” sales tax holiday praised passage of this year’s tax cut agreement legislation that passed off the Senate floor today.

Senator Jay Paul Gumm said this year’s agreement includes four specific tax cuts—none of which are more important than a proposal he authored for a “Back-to-School” sales tax holiday.
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Two of the principal architects of a measure to strengthen the Teacher’s Retirement System of Oklahoma (TRS) praised Gov. Brad Henry for his support of Senate Bill 357. Sen. Kenneth Corn, D- Poteau, and Sen. Mike Mazzei, R-Tulsa, joined the governor for a signing ceremony at the State Capitol on Monday.
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The evenly-divided Oklahoma Senate voted Monday to send Gov. Brad Henry a tax relief package that speeds up income tax cuts and provides Oklahomans with a back-to-school sales tax holiday.

Senate Bill 861, by Sen. Don Barrington, R-Lawton, passed on a bipartisan 33 to 15 vote. This bill is the result of a bipartisan tax relief agreement announced by Senate and House leaders in March.

Senate Co-President Pro Tempore Glenn Coffee, R-Oklahoma City, called on Henry to sign the legislation.

Legislative leaders from the Oklahoma Senate and House of Representatives disputed published comments by Gov. Brad Henry that an agreement is near on a lawsuit reform compromise.

Henry recently vetoed Senate Bill 507, a bipartisan lawsuit reform bill passed by the Legislature. In the May 6, 2007, edition of The Sunday Oklahoman, Henry said he feels a compromise on lawsuit reform is “very, very close.”

A joint meeting of the Senate and House Committees on Education has been scheduled for Tuesday, May 8, at 9 a.m. in the State Senate Chamber. Legislators will have the opportunity to learn more about a recent report by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce which gave Oklahoma a “D” in education. The study, called “Leaders and Laggards: State Report Cards,” was highly critical of Oklahoma’s public education system in areas ranging from academic achievement, truth in advertising about student proficiency, and data quality.
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Senate President Pro Tempore Mike Morgan and Co-President Pro Tempore Glenn Coffee announced Wednesday 46 of the Senate’s 48 members have been assigned to the General Conference Committee on Appropriations.

The conference committee, which will consider legislation dealing with budgetary matters, will include every senator other than the two leaders.

The full Senate has given final approval to a bill allowing relatives of murder victims to wear buttons displaying a picture of their loved one in the courtroom. Sen. Jim Reynolds is principal author of Senate Bill 868, known as “Taylor’s Law.” Reynolds said it was a victim’s rights issue.

“Usually, the only images seen of the victim in court are the crime scene photos,” Reynolds said. “Their families want to be able to remember them as they were in life—not just homicide victims. They should have that right.”

Artist Wayne Cooper explains his painting Wednesday on the Senate floor alongside his wife, Clara, as well as Oklahoma State Senate Historical Preservation Fund president and former senator Charles Ford and sponsors Senator Owen and Charlette Laughlin.

The State of Oklahoma has a proud military heritage and prides itself on honoring and supporting the men and women of the armed forces. On Tuesday, the State Senate praised the Silver Star Families of America, with the passage of Senate Resolution 29, for their efforts in honoring those who have been injured or wounded in the defense of their country.
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The Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology (OCAST) was honored by the Senate on Tuesday, as a resolution celebrating the 20th anniversary of the agency was approved unanimously.

Senate Resolution 35, authored by Sens. Clark Jolley and Susan Paddack, salutes OCAST for its role in spurring economic growth and development through science and technology research.
Jolley said the agency is a critical cog in the effort to create a more prosperous future for the state.
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Calling it good news for Oklahoma children, Sen. Cliff Branan said he was extremely pleased that Gov. Brad Henry had signed Senate Bill 473, a measure to ban smoking at zoos located in Oklahoma.

“There are literally hundreds of thousands of children who visit the Oklahoma City and Tulsa zoos each and every year,” said Branan, R-Oklahoma City. “We would be shocked if these children were being exposed to cigarette smoke in their classrooms at school, but in reality, zoos are an outdoor classroom.
We need to ensure our kids’ health and safety there as well.”
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A bill to keep Oklahoma college students’ names and addresses from being sold to credit card companies has won final approval from the State Senate. Sen. Jim Reynolds is the principal author of Senate Bill 496, which will now go to Gov. Brad Henry for final consideration.

“We’ve had students right here in Oklahoma who have committed suicide because of credit card debt,” said Reynolds, R-Oklahoma City. “We want to do everything in our power to protect students who are major marketing targets for these credit card companies.”