Press Releases

Thursday, January 15 marks the deadline for members of the Oklahoma State Senate to file legislation for the 2009 session, the first of the 52nd Legislature. By 5 p.m., 1,054 bills and 35 joint resolutions had been filed, with staff members expected to work into the evening filing the final measures. In 2008, the Senate considered 1,069 new bills as well as 31 new joint resolutions. In 2007, a total of 1,130 bills and 32 joint resolutions were filed by members of the Senate.

State Senator Mary Easley is once again filing legislation, Senate Bill 23, to create an independent Department of Aging to help better address the needs of Oklahoma’s fast-growing elderly population. The Tulsa Democrat first co-authored the legislation in 2003 when she was a member in the House.

The chief legislative sponsor of a bill to end insurance discrimination against children with autism said a House Republican plan unveiled today “falls short” of what is needed.

“Their plan is a step in the right direction, but it is only one step,” said Senator Jay Paul Gumm, a Democrat from Durant who is pushing for passage of “Nick’s Law.” “Without some kind of private insurance component, the House’s proposal will fall woefully short of dealing with the epidemic of autism.”

President Pro-Tempore Glenn Coffee announced Tuesday that government reform will be a top priority in the upcoming legislation session.

Coffee’s legislative priorities include creating the Office of Accountability, Innovation and Privatization, instituting a government Chief Information Office, tag agency reform, and agency consolidation.

One in five Americans will get skin cancer in their lifetime according to the American Academy of Dermatology, and every hour an American dies from melanoma, the most deadly form of skin cancer and now the fastest growing cancer in the country. For this reason, Sen. Andrew Rice has authored Senate Bill 544 to help protect Oklahomans by limiting young adults’ access to tanning facilities.

Republicans in the Oklahoma State Senate released their policy agenda for the 2009 legislative session today, calling for a fairer and more business friendly tax policy, reform of the archaic and business-unfriendly legal system in Oklahoma, and to continue to improve our state’s infrastructure.

Sen. Jay Paul Gumm is continuing his effort to end the sales tax on groceries and has called on Senate Republicans to help pass his legislation during the 2009 session. Gumm, a Democrat from Durant, said his proposal would help every family in the state.

“I am pleased to hear Senate Republicans say they want tax reform and relief for Oklahoma families. Eliminating the tax on groceries would give instant help to Oklahomans and it would stimulate our economy,” Gumm said. “I urge my fellow members to join me in passing this important legislation.”

Senate Democratic Leader Embraces Coffee’s New Found Appreciation for Middle Class Tax Cuts

*Statement from Democratic Leader Charlie Laster (D-Shawnee) on the unveiling of the Senate Republican Agenda

“It is refreshing to hear Senator Coffee embrace the Democratic principles of lowering the tax burden for Oklahoma’s middle class.

“In years past he and his Republican colleagues have done very little to help Oklahoma’s middle class, focusing their efforts instead on cutting taxes for only the wealthiest of Oklahomans.

House leaders fired yet another shot today in a full-out Republican legislative assault on efforts to end insurance discrimination against children with autism.

The seven-page study, including a two-page letter, suggests “Nick’s Law” would drive up insurance costs in the state of Oklahoma by almost 20 percent.

A delegation consisting of the five Republican freshmen Senators congratulate Sen. Coffee for being
elected as Pro Tem of the Senate before escorting him to the President's chair.

is available of Sen. Coffee's speech following his official election by the Senate to the position of President Pro Tempore as well as a media Q & A with Coffee following the election ceremony.

In ten separate votes pertaining to the newly adopted Senate Rules, Senate Republicans sent a message loud and clear to the powerful insurance industry today: "Help is on the way"

Newly elected President Pro-Tempore Glenn Coffee announced Tuesday that long-awaited reform will be coming to the Legislature this session. Upon Coffee’s election as the new President Pro Tempore of the State Senate, the Senate approved new Senate rules for governing its legislative body.