Press Releases

Oklahomans who’ve had their homes and other property damaged in the latest round of storms need to be cautious when it comes to hiring someone to make roofing repairs. Failing to check out a roofer’s credentials could leave property owners out thousands of dollars with little or nothing to show for it.
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State Sen. Brian Crain, R-Tulsa, released the following statement Tuesday after reports that an American flag had been burned outside the home of Sen. Al McAffrey, D-Oklahoma City.

“The burning of an American flag this past weekend was simply a deplorable action. I serve with Senator Al McAffrey in the Oklahoma Senate, and know that he is a veteran of the U.S. Navy. To think that anyone would defile an American flag, especially on Memorial Day Weekend when Senator McAffrey and millions of other Americans were paying tribute to our fallen heroes, is despicable.”

The Oklahoma State Senate adjourned before 5pm Friday with a slate of legislative successes reflecting the jobs-focused, common-sense conservative goals of majority party Senate Republicans.  With an ambitious agenda rooted in pro-growth policies and a focus on protecting core functions of government, Senate Republicans refused to shy away from the toughest issues facing Oklahoma.  Senate President Pro Tempore  read more.

State Sen. Brian Crain, R-Tulsa, issued the following statement Thursday:

“The budget agreement reached by both chambers called for using growth revenue to offset some of the revenues that would be returned to our citizens through a state income tax cut. At this point, with the 5 pm Friday deadline approaching, it seems doubtful we’ll see a tax cut this session. I understand that would leave about $25 million on the table. I believe the best use of those funds would be to put those dollars into education.

President Pro Tempore Brian Bingman, R-Sapulpa, issued the following statement after the Governor’s announcement Thursday afternoon:

"Governor Fallin deserves a tremendous amount of credit for her dedication, tenacity and leadership on the most important issues facing Oklahoma this legislative session. We have accomplished much together that frankly wouldn't have been possible this year without the Governor leading the way.

The Senate today approved a proposal that would prevent the use of foreign law in Oklahoma courts. The conference committee report for Senate Bill 671 states that courts shall not enforce or utilize foreign law if doing so would provide a defense or justification for a crime.

Sen. Dan Newberry, author of the measure, said those who value and wish to protect our system of law should be pleased by the bill’s passage.
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Senate Republicans gathered Wednesday to demand a vote on an income tax cut agreement previously reached between Governor Fallin, Speaker Steele, and President Pro Tem Bingman. The agreement, announced on May 17th, was used in the final crafting of House Bill 3061. Senate President Pro Tem Brian Bingman, flanked by the entire Senate Republican caucus, condemned House Republicans for backing out of a deal reached in good faith.
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Sen. Greg Treat today responded to comments made by Blake Wade, executive director of the Native American Cultural and Educational Authority, regarding Senate opponents of a bond issue for the American Indian Cultural Center and Museum (AICCM). Treat said Wade’s statements were completely out of line for a state agency director, demonstrated sheer arrogance, and were a reminder of the good-old-boy approach that Oklahoma voters have firmly rejected.
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“The taxpayers of Oklahoma are being asked to carry the burden of an additional $535 million in new bond indebtedness this year if the legislature moves forward and passes the pending bond issues that have been brought forward during this last week of the legislative session,“ said Anderson, R-Enid. “The $535 million only accounts for the principal repayment of the bond issues – the interest on these bonds will obligate the taxpayers of Oklahoma for millions more in addition to that amount.”

The $535 million in new bond debt for 2012 is for the following projects:

The Oklahoma Legislative Black Caucus issued the following statement today regarding the Senate’s refusal to hear the nomination of Jim Roth to the State Election Board.

“We are disheartened by the Senate Rules Committee’s refusal to allow Gov. Mary Fallin’s nomination of Jim Roth to the State Election Board to be heard in committee. Committee Chair Sen. Rob Johnson’s statements that he did not have the votes to pass the nomination are insufficient to address his refusal to even give Mr. Roth a chance to receive an up or down vote.

The Senate unveiled the latest artwork commissioned by the Oklahoma State Senate Preservation Fund Wednesday. The portrait of oil entrepreneur and Phillips Petroleum Company founder, Frank Phillips, was painted by renowned Oklahoma artist Wayne Cooper and sponsored by Sen. John Ford, Rep. Earl Sears, Rep. Steve Martin, ConocoPhillips and Phillips 66.

Before serving in the Senate, Sen. Ford had a 34-year career with the Phillips Petroleum Company so he was pleased to honor its founder.
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Sen. Sean Burrage, D-Claremore, released the following statement Wednesday after the Senate Rules Committee refused to consider Gov. Mary Fallin’s nomination of former State Corporation Commissioner Jim Roth to serve on the State Election Board.

State Sen. Clark Jolley said news that the cooler had broken down at the state medical examiner’s office was just one of many examples of why it was crucial to move forward with plans to construct a new facility. The breakdown meant having to transfer 28 bodies to two refrigerated trucks.
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The Senate General Conference Committee on Appropriations has given approval to Senate Bill 1230, a measure Senate author Mike Mazzei said would result in meaningful income tax reductions that would stimulate the economy while truly protecting core services such as education, public safety, health care and transportation. The plan would reduce the top income tax rate to 5 percent in 2013 and 4.75 percent in 2014.
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Hundreds of breast cancer survivors and patients along with their friends and families and other Oklahomans interested in learning about the disease gathered at the State Capitol Tuesday for the 4th Annual Breast Cancer Awareness Day. Sen. Judy Eason McIntyre and Rep. Tommy Hardin co-chaired the educational event.

Being a five-year breast cancer survivor, Eason McIntyre knows the importance of early detection, which is why she has hosted the event ever since finding out she had breast cancer in 2006.
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The Senate today approved a resolution commemorating the Centennial of Jim Thorpe’s gold-medal winning performances in the 1912 Olympic Games. Authored by Sen. David Holt, Senate Resolution 61 also celebrates Oklahoma’s rich Olympic tradition and the growing Olympic movement in Oklahoma. read more.

Sen. Jim Wilson today said he has filed Senate Resolution 65, affirming support for the constitutional definition of the flash test for kerosene, as a result of the precedent set by yesterday’s passage of Senate Resolution 62. The resolution reaffirmed support of traditional marriage.

“According to its author, Sen. Clark Jolley, Senate Resolution 62 merely says “we have not changed our minds” about language in the Oklahoma Constitution,” said Wilson, D-Tahlequah. “In other words, we REALLY mean it.”
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Two weeks ago a news story broke which alleged patient abuse and neglect at some of our State Veterans Centers.  If these allegations are true then they are shocking and saddening, but currently they are only allegations.  As Vice-Chairman of the Senate Veterans and Military Affairs Committee, and based on the nature of the charges, I felt it was my duty to ask for an interim study to look into these allegations.  They could not go unanswered.  If left unanswered it would cast a shadow of doubt over the entire department.

The state Senate today approved legislation that would allow veterans to have a special emblem on their Oklahoma driver’s licenses.
Authored by Sen. Roger Ballenger and Rep. Jerry Shoemake, Senate Bill 138 would authorize the Department of Public Safety to create driver’s licenses with the word ‘Veteran’ appearing on a flag in one corner.
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Senator Patrick Anderson responded today to accusations that he has undertaken a “petty political attack” against the State Medical Examiner’s office. Senator Clark Jolley was quoted in the Monday, May 14, 2012 Daily Oklahoman stating that the project was “under a petty political attack” and that “there are people who are trying to politicize the question on whether or not we should construct the Medical Examiner's office.”