Press Releases

State Sen. Mike Schulz, R-Altus, has joined the Senate Republican Rural Caucus. The group was formed in 2005 by GOP senators who represent rural districts so they could provide a united voice for rural issues in the Oklahoma State Legislature.

“Improve Oklahoma!” Sen. Debbe Leftwich says that should be the guiding principle in solving the partisan budget impasse that is stonewalling completion of this year’s session of the Oklahoma Legislature.

The Southside Oklahoma City lawmaker said plans tossed out by Gov. Brad Henry and Republicans in the House of Representatives in the waning days of the session don’t do enough of that.

That’s why Leftwich favors a plan by Senate Democrats that requires the state to pay its outstanding bills and keep its promises before enacting broad tax cuts.

Senate Bill 1495, known as the Kyle Williams Boating Safety Education Act, is one step closer to becoming law. That’s after winning final Senate approval Thursday afternoon. The legislation is named for 12 year old Kyle Williams of Edmond, who died as a result of a jet ski accident in August 2004.
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The budget needs of the state's District Attorneys have not been adequately addressed by Governor Brad Henry and Speaker Todd Hiett. Sen. Todd Lamb said he was terribly concerned that public safety will ultimately suffer for it.
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State Senate Republican Leader Glenn Coffee said Senate Republicans do not support the Senate Democrats’ big-spending budget proposal unveiled Wednesday.

“Senate Republicans are not supportive of this bloated budget proposal,” Coffee said. “Senate Democrats may be angry about the budget agreement between the speaker and the governor, but they shouldn’t take it out on Oklahoma taxpayers by blowing through the surplus like they just won the Oklahoma lottery.”

Senate President Pro Tempore Mike Morgan today rejected the state budget proposal agreed to by Governor Henry and Speaker Hiett.

After two days of negotiations and review, the Senate Leader said: “There is no deal.”
The Henry-Hiett tax cut proposal cuts too deep and disproportionately benefits the wealthy. The spending proposals are long on giveways and set-asides for special interests and short on funding for essential services, he said.

“I’m not willing to throw the people of the state of Oklahoma under the bus,” Morgan said. read more.

The Oklahoma State Senate honored Senator Scott Pruitt Tuesday who is completing his second and final term of service in the Senate to the citizens of Senate District 36. Unlike the many other senators who have to leave office this year because of term limits, Pruitt will not seek reelection in order to run for Lieutenant Governor.
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The Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Public Safety and Judiciary said he is concerned the proposed budget compromise offered by Governor Henry shortchanges prosecutors throughout Oklahoma, and in the process creates a public safety danger for Oklahoma families.

“From my understanding the budget compromise being floated by Governor Henry and Legislative leaders does not include the necessary funding for District Attorneys in Oklahoma,” Corn said. “When prosecutors are left with mere crumbs they cannot effectively put dangerous criminals behind bars.” read more.

A measure to encourage cable television providers to offer a "family tier" of programming has now been approved by Governor Brad Henry. That's according to Sen. Glenn Coffee, R-Oklahoma City, principal author of SB 1697. The measure was co-authored by Rep. Lance Cargill, R-Harrah.

"Basically, this bill gives cable providers the option to provide customers with family friendly programming," said Coffee. "This includes programming that is suitable for the entire family to watch together, with shows for everyone from very young children to programs for general audiences." read more.

Statement by Senate President Pro Tempore Mike Morgan

“I talked with the governor this morning about his proposal, but I have yet to see it outlined in a spreadsheet. We look forward to receiving the details so that we can review them thoroughly. It would, however, be premature for me to comment further at this point.”

Senator Daisy Lawler said Tuesday she is concerned that Governor Henry’s compromise budget proposal does not include a specific pay raise for state employees.

“The governor’s plan leaves state employees behind,” said Lawler, D-Comanche. “In a year when we have a windfall of $1 billion in new money available choosing not to give state employees a raise is unconscionable.”

State Sen. Jonathan Nichols, a former prosecutor, said he is concerned that Gov. Brad Henry’s proposed budget compromise does not properly fund Oklahoma’s district attorneys.

“From what I have heard of the governor’s proposal, I am concerned that district attorneys would not receive the additional funding they have requested to ensure that criminals are prosecuted and punished for their crimes. Public safety should be a priority at the State Capitol, not an after-thought,” stated Nichols, R-Norman.

With family, friends, supporters and fellow lawmakers gathered in the Senate Chamber, Altus Republican Mike Schulz took the official oath of office, becoming the newest member of the Oklahoma State Senate. Sen. Schulz won the District 38 seat in a special election one week ago.

"This is a great day for my family and all our friends and supporters who share our vision for District 38 and for our state," said Schulz. "I am honored and humbled, but most of all I am excited to be on the job here in the State Senate."

The Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Public Safety and Judiciary said he intends to fight for the critical needs of some of Oklahoma’s most important public safety agencies. He said creating a safer Oklahoma cannot happen without the necessary funding for the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI) and the Oklahoma State Medical Examiners Office.

Senator Jay Paul Gumm, a Democrat from Durant, has been named a “Friend of Main Street” by the Oklahoma State Main Street Program for his vision of making downtown communities in Oklahoma a thriving economic development tool.

“Downtowns across Oklahoma are the heart and soul of the community,” Gumm said. “Ensuring they remain vibrant means a brighter future for all Oklahomans.”

State Sen. Don Barrington said he wants the Oklahoma State Senate to send a pro-life bill directly to the governor instead of relegating the bill to a House-Senate conference committee where it would likely be dead for the 2006 legislative session.

Senate Bill 1742, authored by Barrington, was amended in the House of Representatives to include legislative language from several pro-life bills that were killed by the Senate’s Democrat leadership earlier this year.

State Senator Frank Shurden passed Senate Resolution 105 through the State Senate Wednesday urging Congress to pass H.R. 197, known as the “Military In-State Tuition Act of 2005”. The Act, authored by U.S. Rep. David Scott of Georgia, would amend title 10 of the United States Code to require every state to charge in-state tuition rates at public institutions of higher education to active-duty members of the Armed Forces and their dependents living or stationed in that state.
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Governor Brad Henry on Wednesday signed legislation to simplify the permitting process for custom wheat harvesters, saving them valuable time and money.

House Bill 2895, the Harvest Regulation Reform Act of 2006, authored by Sen. Daisy Lawler and Rep. Ryan McMullen will lower the estimated overall fees assessed to harvesters in the permitting process, while providing harvesters with efficient options for obtaining the proper documentation.

With the wheat harvest expected to begin in mid-May, Lawler said, the bill was an urgent legislative priority.

State Sen. Frank Shurden said Gov. Brad Henry had joined the Senate and House in approving his legislation aimed at preventing the spread of disease by giving the Department of Health oversight of tattooing in the state. Gov. Henry signed that legislation on Wednesday.

“I’ve said all along, this is a public health issue. If these businesses fail to follow basic health guidelines, they could be spreading terrible diseases like Hepatitis or Aids,” said Shurden, D-Henryetta.
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SB 1037 is Key Plank of Senate Democrats’
Agenda to ‘Create a Safer Oklahoma’

A key plank of the Senate Democrats’ agenda to “Create a Safer Oklahoma” was signed into law today by Governor Brad Henry. Senate Bill 1037, known as the Caitlin Wooten Act, is authored by Democrat Senator Susan Paddack and State Rep. Wes Hilliard, also a Democrat. The bill is named after 16-year-old Caitlin Wooten.