Press Releases

“While I respect and share the ideals and concerns expressed by many who propose shortening this session, the reality is this idea is not practical as we finalize the 2010 budget and craft the 2011 budget.

“While shortening the session to two months is a laudable goal that sounds good, the reality is we have no idea what level of revenues we’ll have through the end of the fiscal year in June, which directly impacts the current FY 2010 budget, not to mention the challenges we face in crafting the FY 2011 budget.

The Senate Judiciary Committee has given its approval to a bill that would prohibit any medical facility from storing or using infant DNA for research without the parents’ permission. Sen. Jonathan Nichols is the author of Senate Bill 1250 which was approved unanimously by the committee on Tuesday.
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The Oklahoma Legislature honored NBC’s 2009 Biggest Loser Danny Cahill today with a resolution recognizing his record-breaking weight loss. Sen. Bill Brown and Rep John Trebilcock presented Cahill with Senate Concurrent Resolution 38 applauding him for losing 239 pounds in seven months – a record in itself on the hit television series that is now in its ninth season.
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State Sen. Randy Brogdon said Tuesday that President Barack Obama’s executive order creating the Presidential council of Governors is just one more example of the federal government’s ongoing erosion of states’ rights. Brogdon offered a Senate Concurrent Resolution to fellow members denouncing the panel and asking Gov. Brad Henry to decline his appointment to the Council.
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The Senate Education Committee unanimously approved Senate Bill 2129 by Senator Gary Stanislawski, R-Tulsa, on Monday which would create the Statewide Virtual School Task Force.

The purpose of the task force is to explore the establishment of a statewide virtual school in Oklahoma. Certain aspects of the virtual school set to be researched by the task force include the enrollment process, types of courses to be taught, services to be provided, location of operations and funding.

State Sen. Debbe Leftwich said Monday she would continue to push for legislation that would prohibit any former lawmaker or other elected official from becoming a lobbyist for two years after leaving office. Her legislation, Senate Bill 847, was filed last session, but was not heard in committee. The Senate deadline for committee action this session is February 18.
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The full Senate is the next stop for legislation aimed at increasing high school graduation rates throughout Oklahoma. Senate Bill 2139, by Sen. John Ford, won unanimous approval by the Senate Education Committee on Monday. Ford said a new study by the Alliance for Excellent Education shows how important this issue is to Oklahoma's economy.
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As a State Senator, the late Helen Cole often shared stories about her famous Aunt, Chickasaw storyteller, Te Ata. On Monday, a portrait of Te Ata was dedicated to Cole's memory during a ceremony in the State Senate.
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The Oklahoma State Senate honored the 2009 Jim Thorpe Award winner Eric Berry Monday. The Senate unanimously approved Senate Resolution 81 by Sen. Debbe Leftwich, recognizing and commending the standout safety from the University of Tennessee.

“Eric is a tremendous young man of great character whose talents and accomplishments are obvious both on and off the field,” said Leftwich, D-Oklahoma City. “He has a great future ahead of him, and we wish him the best as he enters the National Football League draft this year.”
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A portrait of traditional Native storyteller Te Ata will be formally dedicated on Monday, February 8 at 1:30 p.m. in the Oklahoma State Senate Chamber.

The state Senate on Wednesday approved a resolution supporting pregnancy resource centers and commending their efforts to provide comprehensive care to women and men facing unplanned pregnancies. Authored by Sen. Dan Newberry, Senate Resolution 82 praises pregnancy resource centers for their efforts to meet the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of women with free and confidential services.

The woman who inspired the character Sally Carrera, the blue Porsche from the Pixar movie “Cars,” has been one of Oklahoma’s staunchest supporters and promoters. Thursday Oklahoma returned that favor when the State Senate honored Stroud’s Rock Café owner, Dawn Welch. Her daughter, Alexis Herr, served as a page to the Senate during the first week of the 2010 session, and joined her mother on the floor for the presentation.

State Sen. Harry Coates represents Stroud in the Senate and was author of Senate Resolution 83.

In an effort to further promote transparency in how taxpayer dollars are spent, State Sen. Randy Brogdon has authored Senate Bill 1633, creating the School District Transparency Act. The measure builds on 2007’s Taxpayer Transparency Act, also authored by Brogdon, which created a website so taxpayers could see exactly how the state spends their dollars. The School District Transparency Act won approval in the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Wednesday.
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A measure to allow school districts to use state textbook allocations for instructional expenses passed the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Education Wednesday. Sen. Gary Stanislawski said Senate Bill 1784 would help school districts struggling financially due to budget cuts.
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The Senate’s Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee has approved a measure to ensure party bus companies don’t enable underage drinking. Sen. Debbe Leftwich, D-Oklahoma City, said she introduced Senate Bill 1762 because of an incident that occurred in her district.
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A bill to help ensure families can find out in a timely way when a person has been severely injured or killed in an accident has cleared its first hurdle. Senate Bill 1779 was approved by the Senate Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee on Tuesday. The bill’s author is Sen. Sean Burrage who was contacted by a friend after tragedy struck their family.

The Senate Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security has approved legislation that would require Oklahoma drivers to turn on their headlights when their vehicle’s windshield wipers are in use. Sen. Joe Sweeden said Senate Bill 1831 is designed to increase visibility and safety on Oklahoma roadways.

State Sen. Ron Justice and Rep. Dale DeWitt joined with their legislative colleagues in honoring one of their own today. Senate Concurrent Resolution 37 congratulates U.S. Senator and former state Senator Jim Inhofe for receiving the American Farm Bureau’s Golden Plow award, the highest honor the organization bestows on members of Congress.
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State Sen. Cliff Branan has filed legislation to expand the state’s Rainy Day Fund, and was pleased when the Governor announced his support of the idea last week. Branan’s Senate Joint Resolution 69 would increase the cap on the fund from ten to fifteen percent.
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“In light of the current budget crisis, the Senate Republican caucus has voted to place policy over politics and defer the election of our next Senate President Pro Tem Designee until the first Tuesday after the November general election. We will spend this session concentrating on the business of the state, and the significant fiscal challenges that face us today.”