Senate Democrats Cast Vote Against Real Workers’ Comp Reform

Lt. Gov. Mary Fallin, Senate Republican Leader Glenn Coffee & Sen. Scott Pruitt talk to reporters following final action on HB 2046.

Senate dispute ends

State Capitol, Oklahoma City – Senate Democrats backed down Wednesday from their efforts to keep Lt. Gov. Mary Fallin from presiding over Senate proceedings and avoid a vote on real workers’ compensation reform.

“Senate Republicans are very proud of Lt. Gov. Fallin for standing with us to get a vote in the Senate on workers’ comp reform, and I am very appreciative of Sen. Morgan for keeping open the lines of communication and working with Lt. Gov. Fallin and Senate Republicans to resolve the dispute in the Senate,” stated Senate Republican Leader Glenn Coffee, R-Oklahoma City.

“We wanted a vote on a real, job-creating, job-saving workers’ comp reform bill in the Senate and we got it. We are disappointed that it took nearly a week to get this vote when it could have occurred last Thursday if the Democrat leadership would have allowed their senators to show up for work,” stated Sen. Scott Pruitt, R-Broken Arrow.

On a party-line vote, Senate Democrats defeated a GOP effort to bring Pruitt’s House Bill 2046 to the Senate floor.

“The Constitution is clear that the lieutenant governor is president of the Senate and can preside over daily sessions, and Senate Democrats acknowledged her authority when she called the Senate into session today,” Coffee said.

Contact info

Senate Communications Office- (405) 521-5774