Audio

Showing: February, 2006

Bills Author Says Merit Pay Plan Promotes Greater Accountability in Oklahoma Classrooms

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Sen. Stratton Taylor explains the teacher pay package approved Monday by the Senate Education Committee.

State Senator Mary Easley (D-Tulsa), vice-chair of the Senate Energy and Environment Committee said she was pleased that her funeral picketing bill was approved by the full Senate on Monday.

Senate Bill 1020, known as the “Oklahoma Funeral Picketing Act” would make it a misdemeanor to picket within 500 feet of a cemetery, mortuary or church from one hour before the scheduled commencement of funeral services until one hour after the actual completion of the funeral services.

The House co-author is Rep. Wade Rousselot (D- Waggoner).
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Discussion & closing debate on Sen. Easley's funeral picketing bill which passed 46-0.

State Sen. Debbe Leftwich is continuing her push to create a Department of Aging to help older Oklahomans cut through red tape and bureaucracy for much needed services. Leftwich, D-Oklahoma City, is author of SB 809, which she initially introduced in the 2005 session. Leftwich said she is hopeful that 2006 will be the year Oklahoma seniors get the kind of streamlined services they’ve been requesting for years.

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Sen. Leftwich continues push for creating the Department of Aging.
Sen. Owen Laughlin, R-Woodward, Assistant Republican Floor Leader Q & A with reporters after 1st week of session. Topics for the Q & A ranged from Rose Day at the State Capitol and the various pro-life measures introduced to the DOC supplemental appropria
Sen. Owen Laughlin, R-Woodward, Assistant Republican Floor Leader Q & A with reporters after 1st week of session. Topics for the Q & A ranged from Rose Day at the State Capitol and the various pro-life measures introduced to the DOC supplemental appropriation vote on Thursday.

State Sen. Kathleen Wilcoxson is touting legislation she says could generate an additional $2 million a year in savings for college. Wilcoxson’s measure, Senate Bill 1307, would offer employers a tax credit for contributing to an employee’s savings account. She said the idea behind the bill, was to help more Oklahomans earn college degrees.
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Sen. Wilcoxson explains how LILA could help adults earn college degrees.

Legislation to require children and teenagers to take a boating safety course before operating a jet ski or other water craft has cleared its first legislative hurdle. Senate Bill 1495, known as the Kyle Williams Boating Safety Education Act, won approval from the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Public Safety and Judiciary on Wednesday morning. The legislation is named for a 12-year-old Oklahoma boy who died as a result of a jet ski accident in August, 2004.
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Subcommittee hearing on SB 1495, the Kyle Williams Boating Safety Education Act; includes comments from Sen. Kenneth Corn, parents Sue and Will Williams, Trooper Mark Brown of the Lake Patrol and others.

Senate Republican Leader Glenn Coffee praised “Rose Day” participants who rallied at the state Capitol Wednesday, and credited them for last year’s passage of pro-life legislation for the first time in a generation.

“Senate Republicans are very pleased to welcome the Rose Day participants to the Oklahoma State Capitol today, and we praise them for the tireless efforts in support of the unborn,” stated Coffee, R-Oklahoma City.

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Sen. Coffee discusses Rose Day at the State Capitol.

* Rural GOP Senators Pledge to Fight Forced School Consolidation & Seek Funding for Roads & Bridges, Rural Firefighters

The elimination of the state’s death tax tops the list of 2006 legislative priorities for rural Republican state senators, members of the Senate Republican Rural Caucus announced Wednesday.

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Sen. Laughlin, Myers and Coates discuss the Senate Republican Rural Caucus' 2006 agenda.

After working closely all summer with corrections officials, and even convening a special session to deal with Oklahoma’s public safety crisis, the Oklahoma State Senate passed a $24 million supplemental appropriation for the Oklahoma Department of Corrections (DOC) today. read more.

Sen. Corn discusses passage of Corrections supplemental appropriation.
Speakers include Sens. Corn and Lamb, along with the Coordinator for the Safe Kids Coalition, Martha Collar, the parents of Kyle Williams, First Lt. George Green and Trooper Mark Brown.
Senators Kenneth Corn and Todd Lamb speak at a press conference sponsored by the Safe Kids Coalition in support of SB 1495 or the Kyle Williams Boating Safety Education Act which will be heard in the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Public Safety and Judiciary on Wed., Feb. 8 in Room 419-C at 8:30am.