Press Releases

Senate Democrats will propose a supplemental appropriation to the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture to help rural Oklahoma fire departments pay the costs of fighting the rash of wildfires that swept across the state in recent weeks, a pair State Senators said Friday.

The family of Caitlin Wooten stood beside State Senator Susan Paddack at the Capitol today to show their support for Senate Bill 1037. Paddack, an Ada Democrat, said Caitlins Law, seeks to protect Oklahoma families and communities from senseless acts of violence.

State Senator Frank Shurden said the recent outbreaks of wildfires have been made far worse by individuals deliberately setting blazes. In response, Shurden announced hell file legislation to increase the penalties for arson.

Were going to significantly boost the fines and were going to require restitution for all categories of arson, said Shurden, D-Henryetta. Were also going to include the destruction of hay and animals under third-degree arson.

Five years ago, Oklahoma Highway Patrol Trooper Matthew S. Evans and Oklahoma City Police Officer Jeff Rominger were killed after their cars collided during a police pursuit. Today, State Senator Kenneth Corn has filed legislation to equip Oklahoma with an 800 MHZ statewide emergency communication system to prevent this type of tragedy from striking again.
read more.

Members of the legislature, the public and medical professionals will participate in the first-ever joint meeting of the Oklahoma Women’s Legislative Caucus and the Oklahoma Cancer Caucus. State Sen. Debbe Leftwich, who serves as co-chair of each group, said the agenda for the Thursday afternoon meeting would include information on a new vaccine for cervical cancer.
read more.

On Saturday, September 24th, when State Senator Susan Paddack, an Ada Democrat, heard the news that the body of Caitlin Wooten had been found shot to death by Jerry Don Savage, she knew as a lawmaker she must work to change the laws to prevent another family from being ripped apart by a senseless act of violence. After speaking to Caitlin’s family about their wishes and receiving their support, she began working on legislation that would honor the memory of 16-year-old Caitlin Wooten.
read more.

Senate President Pro Tempore Mike Morgan and other Senate leaders pledged once again Friday to fully fund the Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program and said the state should build on OHLAP’s success by creating other programs that put a premium on personal responsibility.
read more.

State Sen. Randy Brogdon, R-Owasso, called on Giovanni Perry, an appointee of Gov. Brad Henry, to resign from her advisory post for comparing supporters of immigration reform to Nazis. Perry, a Norman immigration lawyer, is a member of the Governor's Advisory Council on Latin American and Hispanic Affairs.

“It is outrageous for an advisor to the Governor of Oklahoma to compare honorable citizens of this great state who oppose illegal immigration to Nazis,” Brogdon stated. “Gov. Henry should immediately call for her resignation from his advisory panel.”

Senator Tom Adelson announced Thursday that he will author legislation this coming session to ensure that Oklahoma is better prepared to deal with an influenza pandemic in coming years.

Adelson said his legislation will call on the Oklahoma Department of Health to assume greater responsibility for adequately stockpiling antiviral drugs and not rely on the federal government as its sole provider.
read more.