Press Releases

Sen. Kevin Matthews said members of the Oklahoma Legislative Black Caucus will focus on improving education and increasing training for some members of law enforcement as well as private security personnel in the months ahead. Matthews, who was elected caucus chair in May, said these were two examples of public policy he and his fellow members would be pursuing during the interim and in the 2016 session.

Senate President Pro Tempore Brian Bingman on Thursday issued the following statement on the passing of former Transportation Secretary and Commission Chairman Herschal H. Crow, Jr. Crow, who was 80, served in the Senate (D-Altus, District 25) from 1969 through 1982. He passed away unexpectedly Wednesday morning days after surgery for a broken hip.

State Senator Anastasia A. Pittman will serve as keynote speaker for the luncheon kickoff for the 45th Annual Miss Black Oklahoma and Miss Black Oklahoma Teen pageant events next week. This year’s luncheon will be held on Tuesday, July 28th at 12pm at the Waterford Hotel in Oklahoma City.

After Tuesday’s luncheon event, the pageant will be held the following weekend on Saturday, August 1, at 7:00pm at the Freede Little Theater located inside the Civic Center Music Hall in Oklahoma City.
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Sen. Rob Standridge said the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent rulings on Obamacare and gay marriage are just the latest examples of an out-of-control judiciary that has taken aim on traditional American values. He said these rulings have put more nails in the coffin of the 10th Amendment and states’ rights.
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OKLAHOMA CITY – The Research Institute for Economic Development (RIED), a non-partisan organization and producer of the annual RIED Report, a grading system of Oklahoma legislators’ votes on key economic development issues, recently announced that Senator Ron Sharp (R-Shawnee) recorded a score of 94 on the 2015 RIED Report.  During the first three legislative sessions served of his first term, Senator Sharp’s average score is 96. 
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OKLAHOMA CITY Sen. Kyle Loveless, R-Oklahoma City, today reacted to the Oklahoma congressional delegations support of the Fifth Amendment Integrity Restoration Act (FAIR Act) legislation aimed at reforming civil asset forfeiture laws at the federal level.

I am pleased that our congressional delegation is standing up and co-sponsoring this important measure, said Loveless. Legislators across the country have been working to reform civil asset forfeiture laws, but meaningful reform cant happen until the federal government fixes things on their end.

More Oklahoma students will be able to qualify for the Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program (OHLAP) and attend college thanks to a new law that went into effect July 1. Sen. Corey Brooks was the principal author of Senate Bill 137, which allows the State Regents for Higher Education to review cases where a family’s income includes nontaxable military benefits or federal Social Security payments due to the death or disability of one or both parents.
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OKLAHOMA CITY – Sen. Ron Sharp had a 100 percent voting record for the 2015 session.  During his three years in the state Senate, he has only missed two days of session.  He was absent on May 20, 2013 to survey tornado damage throughout Pottawatomie County with Gov. Mary Fallin. He was then absent on February 6, 2014, because of bad weather.  During his three years in office, out of 2,584 possible votes, Sharp has only missed 24 (20 in 2013 and 4 in 2014).  read more.

By Sen. Rob Standridge (S-15)

Regardless of which side of the recent Supreme Court decisions you land on, there’s no denying that these decisions were made in total disregard to the will of the American people.  We have an out-of-control judiciary and the traditional values and beliefs of the American people are being assaulted. The courts’ decisions have put more nails in the coffin of the 10th Amendment and states’ rights. 

OKLAHOMA CITY –   State Senator Kevin Matthews is inviting local business owners and community partners to attend an event in support for the Entrepreneur Shadow Program in Tulsa.  The event will be held tomorrow, Thursday, July 2 at 10AM at the Rudisill Regional Library, located at 1520 N. Hartford in Tulsa.

The Democrats of the Oklahoma State Senate have chosen Sen. John Sparks as leader of the Democratic Caucus. Sparks, of Norman, will succeed Sen. Randy Bass of Lawton. Sparks will take over from Bass as of this week.

“We are all grateful for Sen. Bass’ leadership this past session. His commitment to Democratic ideals is remarkable and his strong legislative efforts on behalf of Oklahoma’s children and families have been significant,” Sparks said.
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