Senate GOP Leader Says Legislative Session ‘To Be Continued’

Senate Republican Leader Glenn Coffee said important work for the 2005 legislative session is “to be continued” in a special session.

“This has the potential to be a pretty good legislative session if we can pass a meaningful workers’ compensation reform bill during the special session,” stated Coffee, R-Oklahoma City.

“The biggest disappointment was the lack of action on lawsuit reform – one of the most important economic issues facing our state,” Coffee said.

Coffee said that $58 million in tax relief approved by the Legislature will have a positive impact on Oklahoma’s economy – especially a cut of the top income tax rate to 6.25%. Coffee said other tax cuts – such as relief from the estate tax – will be needed next year.

Coffee said passage of landmark pro-life legislation was a major accomplishment – especially considering that Senate Democrats had bottled up the legislation for years. And a new commitment to additional funding for road and bridge maintenance is a step in the right direction, he noted.

“Senate Republicans will work next session to slow down the growth of government – which increased by an unsustainable 12 percent during this legislative session,” Coffee noted.