Press Releases

State Sen. Clark Jolley won full Senate approval Monday for legislation to end social promotion in Oklahoma’s public schools. Senate Bill 346 was approved on a vote of 36 to 8. While critics of the bill said holding children back would stigmatize them, Jolley countered promoting children who cannot read is a recipe for failure.
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Financial relief could soon be on its way to over 2,500 widows of disabled veterans thanks to legislation approved Monday by the full Senate. Senate Bill 46, by Sen. Don Barrington, would extend a portion of the sales tax exemption given to 100% disabled veterans to their spouses.

Barrington, a Vietnam Veteran, explained the sales tax exemption for disabled veterans is Oklahoma’s way of acknowledging and thanking veterans for their tremendous sacrifice that ultimately left them unable to work.

Under legislation approved by the state Senate on Monday, candidates for public office would be required to provide proof of identity and eligibility to hold office.

Referencing strong support for State Question 746, a voter ID ballot measure approved last year, Sen. Rick Brinkley said it was sensible that candidates meet the same minimal requirement.

In a bipartisan vote of 43-3, the Senate overwhelmingly approved legislation Monday that would allow school districts to be more fiscally responsible and save carryover funds from year to year. Sen. Gary Stanislawski said that current law punishes school districts for saving funds, but Senate Bill 80 will fix this problem.
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In the Thursday March 10, 2011 issue of the Ardmoreite in an article entitled “Workers oppose proposed pension changes” a statement was made that the legislature was working to repeal collective bargaining rights for municipal employees.  The fact is Senators Holt, David, and Newberry have worked hard over the past several weeks to draft a bill that will save collective bargaining.  SB 826 amends the process of binding arbitration but does nothing to reform collective bargaining. 

The full Senate gave approval to Senate Bill 878 today, a workers compensation bill authored by Sen. Patrick Anderson, R-Enid, and Sen. Anthony Sykes, R-Moore. The bill was crafted in coordination with Governor Mary Fallin’s Workers Compensation Study Group, which includes members of the legislature and business professionals from various backgrounds. The bill was passed by an overwhelming bi-partisan vote of 44-0.
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The full Senate has given approval to a measure reforming the state’s binding arbitration law. Senate Bill 826, by Sen. David Holt, was approved by the Senate on Thursday. Holt said binding arbitration needs to be reformed to create a system that is more fair and equitable for the taxpayers who bear the burden of its results.

The Oklahoma State Senate is continuing efforts to reduce costs within the agency in anticipation of additional budget cuts in the coming fiscal year. That’s according to Senate President Pro Tempore Brian Bingman who has been working with members and staff to find more innovative ways to reduce costs.

“We recently informed our staff that the Senate would offer another round of voluntary buyouts this year. We offered this program during the 2010 session and 25 employees accepted, resulting in a savings of $1.8 million,” said Bingman, R-Sapulpa.
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Both military veterans and the citizens of Oklahoma would benefit financially from legislation passed unanimously Thursday by the state Senate. Senate Bill 132, by Sen. Ron Justice, would increase the income tax exemption for military retirement benefits.

The Oklahoma State Senate paused to honor the life and service of Frank Buckles, the sole surviving veteran of World War I. The former Oklahoma resident passed away on February 27 at the age of 110. The full Senate gave its approval to Senate Concurrent Resolution 8, by Sen. Jim Reynolds, on Wednesday.

“I think it is good for us to reflect on our past and the things that made our nation great,” said Reynolds, R-Oklahoma City. “World War I changed the world. The service of men like Frank Buckles truly set America on a path to greatness.”
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Sen. John Ford has won full Senate approval on a measure to end the cumbersome process now required to terminate a bad teacher—a process that can cost a school district tens of thousands of dollars and several months to resolve.
Senate Bill 1, approved on Wednesday, would end the process known as trial de novo, which currently gives teachers the right to appeal a school board’s decision to district court.
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The state Senate on Tuesday welcomed Oklahoma State University head football coach Mike Gundy and Cowboy football stars Justin Blackmon and Dan Bailey.

The Cowboys finished the 2010 season with an 11-2 record. Gundy was honored as the Big XII Coach of the Year and was a finalist for the Eddie Robinson National Coach of the Year award and the Liberty Mutual National Coach of the Year award. The Senate on Monday approved three resolutions congratulating Gundy and his players on their accomplishments.

The state Senate on Tuesday approved a measure that would allow voters to approve an amendment prohibiting discrimination and preferential treatment in state government.

Authored by Sen. Rob Johnson, Senate Joint Resolution 15 would ban programs that allow discrimination against, or that give preferential treatment to, any individual or group on the basis of race, color, sex, ethnicity or national origin. The law would prohibit such considerations in public employment, public education and public contracting.

The full Senate has voted 42-2 to end a long-standing retirement formula that enables elected officials in Oklahoma to receive twice the retirement benefit as state employees. Sen. Mike Mazzei is principal author of Senate Bill 794.

“At a time when we’re downsizing government because of less revenue and tighter budgets, we need to send a message to the voters that the days of special treatment for elected officials are coming to an end,” said Mazzei, R-Tulsa.
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March 4th Editorial “Tulsa senator's charades tar his political party”

I looked up “Adelson, Tom” in the dictionary and I found under synonyms “the Oklahoman.” It’s the 2011 Webster’s version.

If you go to earlier dictionaries, say around 2001, you find this:

“…we were encouraged upon hearing State House Republican leader Fred Morgan speak of eliminating the [state] income tax in broader term.” Oklahoman, June 27, 2001.

The State Senate recognized and honored the country’s oldest federal law enforcement agency Monday. Sen. Kim David authored Senate Concurrent Resolution 7 commending the U.S. Marshals and their role in Oklahoma history.
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Senate Bill 970 passed the full Senate today, a bill from the newly created Joint Committee on Appropriations and Budget. The committee was created upon the enactment of joint rules within the legislature, something Oklahoma has not had since 1999.
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The chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee said legislation approved on Monday would help address critical needs in the Department of Corrections (DOC) without adding to the $500 million gap facing the state in the coming budget year. Sen. David Myers, R-Ponca City, said the bill authorizes DOC to use existing funds to reduce employee furloughs. The measure was approved by the full Senate on a bipartisan vote of 37-7.

Legislators continue to work on a plan that will address Oklahoma’s $16 billion of unfunded pension liability. The Senate Select Committee on Pensions met Thursday to discuss major reforms to the system and listen to input from experts within various pensions affected by the current system. The Senate is targeting reforms that will guarantee current workers receive all of the benefits that were promised them when they entered the system.

Citing a House panel’s approval of an immigration reform proposal this week, Sen. Ralph Shortey on Thursday said he was encouraged to see reform efforts winning support in both houses of the Legislature.

House Bill 1446, authored by Rep. George Faught, was approved by the House Judiciary committee on Monday. The measure includes multiple provisions addressing immigration law, including sections that mirror those in Senate Bill 908, authored by Shortey.