Press Releases

Citing new statistics showing the positive impact of recent reforms, several state legislators are calling on the State Board for Property and Casualty Rates to cut workers compensation insurance rates again this year.

"The numbers we've seen indicate the reforms of recent years are working and workers compensation costs are coming down," said Senator Jim Maddox, chairman of the Senate Small Business Committee. "We want the board to pass the savings on to Oklahoma business owners and the quicker, the better."

The 1997 class of the Oklahoma State Senate is officially in place today.

New Senators and incumbents who won re-election bids were formally sworn-in this morning by Oklahoma Supreme Court Chief Justice Alma Wilson.

The lawmakers were administered the oath of office during ceremonies in the Senate Chamber. Senate President Pro Tempore Stratton Taylor presided over the occasion.

When he returns to the State Capitol for the coming legislative session, State Senator Darryl Roberts will serve as one of the top budget leaders in the Oklahoma Legislature.

The Ardmore legislator was named chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Education today, the committee that controls almost 60 percent of the state's $3.8 billion budget.

"This is a great opportunity, not just for me, but for all the people in southern Oklahoma. I'm going to make sure our area schools aren't neglected in the big budget picture," said Senator Roberts.

Saying Governor Keating took his best shot at taking over the Legislature and failed, the leader of the Oklahoma Senate is urging the State Chief Executive to drop his confrontational attack style and adopt a more non-partisan approach to governing.