Senate Democrats Remain in Hiding As Attempt to Hold Workers Comp Reform Vote Continues

Thursday afternoon Oklahoma Lt. Gov. Mary Fallin and Senate Republicans resumed their attempt to bring a workers’ comp reform bill to a vote in the Senate as a call for senators to come into session was continued.

Yesterday, Senate Democrats said “we’ll find out tomorrow if (Republicans) are really interested in passing a workers’ compensation bill this year.” But Thursday Senate Democrats went into in hiding to avoid an up-or-down vote on workers comp reform. All 22 GOP senators reported to the Senate floor, but 25 senators are needed to achieve a quorum.

“Senate Democrats are shirking their duty to their constituents by refusing to report to work in the Senate. Senate Republicans reported to the Senate floor ready to work, while Senate Democrats are in hiding to avoid an up-or-down vote on a real workers’ comp reform,” stated Senate Republican Leader Glenn Coffee, R-Oklahoma City.

Thursday morning, at the request of Senate Republicans, Oklahoma Lt. Gov. Mary Fallin exercised her constitutional authority as President of the Senate in an effort get an up-or-down vote on House Bill 2046, a workers’ comp reform bill.

After a brief recess to allow senators to attend the funeral of former Speaker of the House Jim Barker, Fallin resumed her Senate quorum call.

The Senate’s majority Democrats want to send House Bill 2046 to a conference committee where they can weaken the bill in favor of trial lawyers at the expense of working Oklahomans and businesses.