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- Democrat leaders refuse to give bill a committee hearing

An Edmond state senator said he is disappointed that the State Senate’s Democrat majority killed a bill aimed at helping more people go to college in Oklahoma.

Senate Bill 1658, by Sen. Clark Jolley, R-Edmond, was not given a hearing by Senate Democrats before Monday’s committee deadline, killing the measure for the year. The bill would have provided tax credits to Oklahoma companies that pay for their employees’ higher education or helped to fund the OHLAP program.

State Senator James A. Williamson said his bill to protect Oklahomans from uninsured motorists is dead for the session after it failed to get a committee hearing this session. Williamson, R-Tulsa called it a blow to law-abiding citizens.

“Over a quarter of all drivers on the road are uninsured,” said Williamson, R-Tulsa. “Far too often, those drivers are only discovered once they’ve already caused damage and injury. My bill could have helped catch them before they victimized anyone,” Williamson said.
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The Oklahoma State Senate honored two special Oklahomans today in the Senate Chamber. The Senate presented resolutions recognizing the accomplishments and talents of Jenks High School graduate Jennifer Berry, Miss America 2006 and Edmond resident Jennifer Warren, Miss Oklahoma 2005 read more.

- House-passed pro-life legislation also faces tough road in Democrat-controlled Senate

The State Senate’s Democrat majority renewed its annual tradition and once again killed a number of Republican-authored pro-life measures this week by refusing to give the bills a committee hearing before this week’s committee deadline.

And a member of the Senate’s Republican leadership team predicted that Senate Democrats will also kill the pro-life bills passed this week by the House of Representatives.

Oklahoma State Legislature
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For Immediate Release: February 23, 200
Senate and House leaders announced agreements on supplemental appropriations Thursday at the Capitol.
LR: Sen. Frank Shurden, Rep. Mark Liotta, Sen. Kenneth Corn, Rep. Jim Newport, Rep. John Trebilcock, Rep. Curt Roggow and Sen. Jeff Rabon. read more.

The full Senate Appropriations Committee has given its approval to a bill that could land meth importers behind bars for life. Sen. Charles Wyrick is principal author of Senate Bill 1713. Wyrick, D-Fairland, said his legislation will help the state enter a new phase in the war against methamphetamine.
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Sen. Debbe Leftwich and members of the Oklahoma Silver Haired Legislature are calling for a hearing on a bill to create a stand-alone Department of Aging before the clock runs out and the bill is dead for the session.
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The Oklahoma State Senate Wednesday called on President Bush to delay the transfer of shipping terminals at six U.S. ports to a company controlled by the government of Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.
Senate Resolution 65 by Senator Earl Garrison, D-Muskogee, passed by a 38-7 vote.

Despite accusations to the contrary, Garrison closed Wednesday afternoon’s debate by saying the measure wasn’t intended to be partisan.
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State Sen. Mike Mazzei wants the state to strengthen its retirement systems, particularly the Teachers Retirement System of Oklahoma (OTRS), before it is too late. Mazzei, R-Tulsa, said he began laying the groundwork to lower the unfunded liability of that system during the 2005 session. On Wednesday, the full Senate Appropriations Committee approved a comprehensive bill to continue that effort. Mazzei said it is critical to decrease unfunded liabilities as soon as possible.
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