Press Releases

Senate President Pro Tempore Mike Morgan said today that the leadership of the Oklahoma Education Association is woefully out of touch and again denounced the organization’s lawsuit seeking an additional $1 billion in funding for public schools.

The Senate leader’s comments followed an opinion article by OEA President Roy Bishop in the Daily Oklahoman, in which the top teachers’ union official intimated that schools should not have to explain how state tax dollars are spent.
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Senator Jay Paul Gumm says repeat child molesters should face the death penalty or life without parole, and he has written legislation to ensure they do just that.

“Those who repeatedly prey on our children in this unspeakable manner should face the most severe penalties allowed under our justice system,” said Gumm, a Democrat from Durant who is a Senate assistant majority leader.
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Thursday, January 19 is the deadline for members of the Oklahoma State Senate to file legislation for the 2006 session. By early afternoon, 740 bills and 20 joint resolutions had been filed with more anticipated before staff members file the final measures by midnight. Last year, 1,017 bills and 33 joint resolutions had been filed by deadline. Of those, 615 bills and 27 joint resolutions are still alive and may be considered in the 2006 session.

State Senator Brian Crain has filed legislation to identify registered sex offenders on their state driver’s license. Under Senate Bill 1426, convicted sex offenders would be given 180 days after being notified by the Department of Corrections to get a new license reflecting their status as a sex offender or face cancellation of their license for one year.

“I simply want to make sure we are using every resource available to protect children from molesters and rapists,” said Crain, R-Tulsa. “The sex offender registry is already the law and is available to the public. read more.

Thousands of Oklahoma drivers would be eligible for a tax rebate on turnpike tolls under legislation proposed by Senator James A. Williamson for the 2006 session. Williamson, R-Tulsa, said the rebate would be available to drivers of passenger vehicles who file tax returns with the State of Oklahoma.
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State Senator Kathleen Wilcoxson has filed legislation banning the sale of lottery tickets at pawn shops, payday lenders and check-cashing businesses. Wilcoxson, R-Oklahoma City, said the measure would ensure the rules adopted by the Lottery Commission blocking such sales will not be reversed.
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Senator Daisy Lawler, a Democrat from Comanche, said today she looks forward to working with lawmakers from both parties to statutorily ban the sale of lottery tickets at pawn shops and payday loan centers in the upcoming legislative session.

State Senator James A. Williamson has authored legislation calling for a special incentive package for employees within the Department of Corrections. The incentives would be awarded to employees of prisons that can show a measurable reduction in recidivism among their former inmates.
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Oklahoma State Senate
Senator Randy Bass
Senate District 32
Comanche County Clip Article For Immediate Release: January , 200
Senator Randy Bass Senator Bass Plans Legislation to Make Purchase read more.

State Senator James A. Williamson has authored legislation to help identify uninsured motorists. Under his proposal, vehicle owners would be required to display a decal on the drivers side of the windshield verifying insurance coverage and the dates the policy covers. read more.

Senator Jeff Rabon said testimony at Thursdays meeting of the Senate Appropriations SubCommittee on Natural Resources and Regulatory Services points to the need for a supplemental appropriation to help the Department of Agriculture and Rural Fire Departments across the state with the continued cost of fighting wildfires. My conversations with the Governors staff and the Secretary of Finance is this is no different than a mud slide or flood or tornado...its a disaster nonetheless and those things cost money, said Rabon, DHugo. read more.

State Senate Republican Leader Glenn Coffee, R-Oklahoma City, expressed concern that Democrats in the Oklahoma State Senate may again attempt to legalize voting for convicted felons who are on probation or parole.

Sen. Judy Eason McIntyre, D-Tulsa, has introduced Senate Bill 1042, a bill similar to a measure she introduced in 2005, which would restore voting rights to convicted felons who are on probation or parole.

(Oklahoma City) Veteran State Senator Cal Hobson today announced the filing of legislation that will create a permanent funding source to provide state funds to bolster the federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) administered by the Oklahoma Department of Human Services.

The Helping Oklahomans Pay for Energy (HOPE) Act will set aside an estimated $8 million a year that can be used to help low income Oklahomans pay their utility bills both in the winter and summer months.

The author of a proposal to end forced school consolidation said Thursday that rural Oklahoma wants consolidation decisions in its hands not with judges, bureaucrats or politicians.

Senator Jay Paul Gumm made the comment in the wake of speculation that a lawsuit by the Oklahoma Education Association (OEA) against Oklahomas education funding system could lead to forced consolidation of school districts.

Senator Coffee cant be serious. The Minority Leader should stop making baseless claims in an attempt to score political points in an election year. Oklahomans arent interested in this kind of hateful rhetoric. They expect real answers to the real issues facing our state and thats what Senate Democrats intend to deliver in the coming Legislative session.

Following is a statement by Senator Jay Paul Gumm, D-Durant, author of SB 1747, the original bill authorizing the death penalty for repeat child molesters. That bill was not granted a hearing in the House Corrections and Public Safety Committee.

Statement from Senate President Pro Tempore Mike Morgan

“I have not yet been served with the lawsuit and, obviously, we haven’t had a chance to study it and so I can’t make any specific comments today.

Senate Democrats today announced a bold 200 million education plan that includes a 3,000 acrosstheboard salary increase for Oklahomas public schools teachers.
The plan was presented Tuesday by Senate President Pro Tempore Mike Morgan, Appropriations SubCommittee on Education Chairman Stratton Taylor and Senate Education Committee Chairman Susan Paddack in a State Capitol Press Conference.
In addition to the largest teacher pay increase in seven years, the Democrats proposal includes:
Quality Instruction Pay for the states best educators read more.

State Senate Republican Leader Glenn Coffee said an education proposal by Senate Democrats calls for additional spending without an expectation for results or improved accountability.

Battling Wildfires Has Left Many Departments Broke, Chairman Says

(Oklahoma City) – The Senate Appropriations Sub-Committee on Natural Resources and Regulatory Services will hold a hearing Thursday on the funding needs of rural fire departments in Oklahoma in the wake of the wildfires that have burned more than 360,000 acres and destroyed more than 200 homes and businesses since November 1, Sub-Committee Chairman Jeff Rabon said Friday.