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Press Releases

Showing: March, 2017

Senate President Pro Tempore Mike Schulz on Thursday called for the immediate resignation of Senator Ralph Shortey.

Schulz, R-Altus, made the request in a letter that reads: "In light of the criminal charges filed against you today, I respectfully request on behalf of the Oklahoma State Senate your immediate resignation as Senator of District 44."

Click herefor a copy of the letter.

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The Oklahoma Senate on Wednesday approved a resolution imposing punishment upon Senator Ralph Shortey pursuant to provisions of the Oklahoma Constitution.

Copy of Senate Resolution 7
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OKLAHOMA CITY – The efforts of local volunteer firefighters are being commended by Senator Roland Pederson, as the Burlington legislator recognized their contributions to the areas impacted by the wildfires this week.

“The aid provided by volunteer firefighters around the state has had a significant bearing on the areas destroyed by recent wildfires,” said Pederson.  “Providing support, as well as delivering fuel and hay to the devastated areas are just a few ways our local volunteers have made a difference in the community effort to provide help.”

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OKLAHOMA CITY The Oklahoma Senate on Monday overwhelming approved a series of bipartisan bills dealing with veterans issues, including a measure that protects the contractual and financial rights of service members that are mobilized or deployed.

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(For digital audio, go to www.oksenate.gov and select Media)

The full Senate has given approval to a measure that would repeal an economic trigger that would lower the states top income tax rate from 5 percent to 4.85 percent. Sen. Roger Thompson, R-Okemah, is the author of Senate Bill 170 which was approved by a wide margin in the Senate on Monday.

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(For digital audio, go to www.oksenate.gov and select Media)

A bill aimed at reducing the number of individuals fraudulently claiming to be disabled veteran has cleared the full Senate. Sen. Joe Newhouse is principal author of Senate Bill 456, which directs the Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs (ODVA) to create and administer a registry of 100 percent service-disabled veterans. The agency would also be charged with verifying all information provided through the registry.

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Theresa Maderer of Broken Bow served as the Senate Nurse for the Day on March 1.  Maderer, who works as an EMT and RN for the Choctaw Memorial Hospital in Hugo, was hosted at the Capitol by Sen. Joseph Silk, R-Broken Bow.   

“It was an honor to have Ms. Maderer serve as the Senate Nurse of the Day,” said Silk.  “Nurses are the largest group of health care providers in the state, and it’s always a pleasure to have someone from southeastern Oklahoma represent our district at the Capitol.”

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OKLAHOMA CITY – The Senate unanimously approved two bills this week to help victims of sexual assault.  Senate Bill 654 would create the Joint Legislative Task Force on Sexual Assault Forensic Evidence (SAFE) in an effort to get more rape kits tested annually and reduce the number of sexual assaults statewide.  SB 208 would create the Sexual Assault Victims’ Rights to Information Act to ensure victims are kept up-to-date on their cases and made aware of their rights.  Sen. Kay Floyd is the author of both measures. read more.

We can do better by our veterans

Editorial by Sen. Frank Simpson

Since 2011, I’ve questioned the way we care for our aging veterans.  After visiting the Watkins-Logan Texas Veterans Home in Tyler, Texas, I’m even more convinced that in many ways we are doing our elderly veterans a disservice in the way we care for them.   I think we can do better.

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