Senator Patrick Anderson today applauded Senate President Pro Tempore Brian Bingman for his decision not to consider a $40 million bond issue this year for the American Indian Cultural Center and Museum. Anderson recently requested that the State Auditor and Inspector conduct an audit regarding the use of state dollars for the construction of the facility.

To date, the state has issued over $63 million in bonds for the project.

The full Senate has given unanimous approval to legislation reforming Oklahoma’s workers’ compensation system. State Senators Anthony Sykes and Patrick Anderson authored Senate Bill 878. Sykes presented the measure to the full Senate on Wednesday and said it was the result of several months of intensive work representing all entities with a stake in the system.

Senate Minority Leader Andrew Rice on Wednesday challenged Senate Republican leaders to allow a floor vote on a proposed $40 million state bond issue to complete construction of the American Indian Cultural Center and Museum.

Rice said, "all 16 members of the Democratic caucus are ready to pass this important measure, and I challenge the Republicans to do the right thing and allow this measure to be heard on the floor of the state Senate."

With thirty years of legislative experience, first as a Senate staff person and then as a state legislator, Sen. Constance N. Johnson is looking forward to a new challenge. She was named by her peers last month as Chair of the Oklahoma Legislative Black Caucus. Sen. Johnson assumed the chair position at the close of the 10th Biennial A.C. Hamlin Awards Banquet, their crowning event that is sponsored by the Black Caucus Foundation.

"This is a sad day for Oklahoma. Despite bipartisan opposition to the 2012 budget, the measure was narrowly approved by the Senate on a vote of 26 to 17 on Tuesday. Republicans, who for the first time control both the executive and legislative branches of government, claim they had no choice but to slash the budget by $500 million. These are budgets that had already been cut to the bone in three previous rounds of cuts.

The full Senate has given its approval to a 2012 General Appropriations (GA) bill that will result in a balanced budget with minimal cuts to core services like education and public safety in the face of a $500 million shortfall.

Senate President Pro Tempore Brian Bingman praised Appropriations Chair David Myers, R-Ponca City, for his leadership in a challenging budget year. He also praised Senate Republicans for supporting a fiscally conservative plan that will ultimately strengthen Oklahoma.

Passing on a wide bipartisan margin, the full Senate has given approval to the 2011 redistricting plan. Senate Bill 821 was approved Friday with a vote of 38 to 6. State Sen. Clark Jolley, R-Edmond, and Sen. Bryce Marlatt, R-Woodward, were co-chairs of the Senate Committee on Redistricting. Jolley, who presented the plan to the full Senate, said he was extremely pleased by the vote as well as the final district lines approved by members.

Sen. Patrick Anderson has requested that the State Auditor and Inspector conduct an audit regarding the use of state dollars for the construction of the American Indian Cultural Center and Museum. Anderson’s request follows Thursday’s Senate and House committee approval of legislation authorizing $40 million in state bond money for the ongoing construction project.

Currently, the State of Oklahoma and tribal governments in the state issue and maintain their own license plates. Legislation signed into law Monday will address problems that state, county, city and tribal law enforcement officials are facing due to lack of access of each others’ car tag information.

With the signing of Senate Bill 324 Tuesday, boat owners will need to be cautious of how much they drink on the water. The new stricter law, which went into effect when signed, holds drivers of boats to the same standard as those on the road when it comes to drinking and driving.