Senator Monson Comments on Perry Confirmation

Statement by Senator Angela Monson,
Chairwoman of the Senate Finance Committee

"I think it's offensive for the Governor or anyone else to imply that the Senate leadership is racist when the exact opposite is true. Senator Taylor has appointed two African-American women to leadership positions and has consistently supported issues that are important to minority
communities. His track record on racial issues is impeccable, which is a lot more than I can say for Governor Keating."

"The most insulting part of this process has been Governor Keating's slave mentality that an African-American woman cannot think for herself and must do the bidding of her white male superiors. That kind of thinking may have prevailed in the 19th Century, but it certainly has no place in the 21st Century."

"Not once during this confirmation process has Senator Taylor asked me to take a particular position on Mr. Perry's nomination. All he has done is pledge his support for whatever decision I make."

"I think if anyone has given Oklahoma a black eye during this process, it is Governor Keating. Not only are his racial statements offensive and inaccurate, they are damaging to Oklahoma's image. Frank Keating is becoming to Oklahoma what the confederate flag has become to South Carolina
- a national embarrassment and a symbol of racial divisiveness."

"As I have stated, I have management concerns about having two leaders at one state agency. In this case, we have a Commerce Department director and a Commerce Secretary. Because there's no job description for the secretary's position, we have two overlapping positions with two people giving conflicting directions to agency personnel. There have been numerous reports of those kinds of management problems during Mr. Perry's tenure at the department. I don't think confirming Mr. Perry or anyone else to that position is in the best interest of the agency or the state."

Senator Taylor Comments on Keating Press Conference

Statement by Senator Stratton Taylor,
Senate President Pro Tempore

"I think it's insulting to Senator Monson to suggest that she cannot think for herself or make her own decisions. For some reason, the Governor and others seem to believe that she is less of a Senator simply because she is an African American woman. I find that insulting on a number of different levels."

"I also think it's important to point out that while Senator Monson has raised policy concerns about the Commerce appointment, neither she nor anyone else in the Senate has said anything negative about Mr. Perry during this process. Ironically, all of the name-calling has been coming from his supporters."

"If Senator Monson wants to hold a hearing for Mr. Perry, I will support her. If she decides not to hold a hearing, I will support her. It is her decision and her decision alone."