Sen. Jeff Rabon on Thursday applauded Gov. Brad Henry’s call for President Bush to make available funding for federal livestock assistance programs to aid Oklahoma farmers and ranchers facing financial hardships as a result of drought conditions.

(State Capitol, Oklahoma City) – State Sen. Randy Brogdon, a proponent of a spending limitation amendment known as the Stop Over Spending (SOS) initiative, responded Wednesday to a recent, misleading rant against the proposal by State Sen. Cal Hobson, D-Lexington. SOS is also known as the Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR).

Senator Daisy Lawler’s Task Force on Illegal Immigration has announced its first meeting and added new members.

During the 2006 legislative session, Lawler authored Senate Resolution 125, requesting the creation of the panel.

Based on 2000 census figures, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security estimated that approximately 46,000 illegal immigrants or undocumented workers live in Oklahoma, representing a 188 percent increase from figures obtained in the 1990 census.

The Chairwoman of the Senate Agriculture Committee Tuesday encouraged members of Oklahoma’s Congressional Delegation to co-sponsor and support legislation in the U.S. Senate that would replace an out-dated law that gives foreign interests an unfair advantage over Oklahoma meat and poultry producers.

State Sen. Cal Hobson said the fact that 99 percent of the funding for the so-called Tax Payer Bill of Rights (TABOR) has come from out-of- state contributors shows that there is virtually no support for the initiative in the Sooner State. The veteran lawmaker was responding to a report in Friday’s Journal Record newspaper which examined financial records filed with the state Ethics Commission. Hobson said it was time for out-of-state millionaires to stop meddling in Oklahoma’s business.

Issues ranging from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder to the construction and purchasing processes of the Office of Central Purchasing are among four additional interim study requests that have been approved by Senate President Pro Tempore Mike Morgan.

Sen. Jeff Rabon on Tuesday called upon Congress to make available additional funding for emergency drought relief needed by Oklahoma farmers and ranchers.

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns this week granted a request from Governor Brad Henry asking that a disaster designation be granted to all 77 counties. The disaster declaration makes Oklahoma farmers and producers eligible for low-interest loans through the USDA Farm Services Agency, but additional relief is needed to assist Oklahoma farmers through the state’s worst drought in decades, Rabon said.

For years, the Oklahoma Council on Law Enforcement Education and Training (CLEET) has rented or borrowed space from other government agencies in order to conduct its training academies for peace officers. That will change next month when the K.O. Rayburn Training Center in Ada welcomes its inaugural academy.

Although there had been concerns raised that the agency would not have the funds needed for the first academy in the new facility, Sen. Susan Paddack, D-Ada, and Sen. Kenneth Corn, D-Poteau, worked to expedite $500,000 in funds designated for the center.

Sen. Clark Jolley said Friday the decision by Oklahoma County District Judge Daniel Owens to dismiss the Oklahoma Education Associations (OEA) lawsuit against the State Legislature was good news for the entire state. Jolley said he was glad that the judge saw through the OEAs attempts to appropriate monies through the wrong channel.

The OEAs attempts were the wrong course of action and sent the wrong signal to the legislature and Oklahoma citizens, said Jolley, R-Edmond. This part in the national movement has met a dead end in Oklahoma.

Statement by Senate President Pro Tempore Mike Morgan

“The decision by Judge Owens to dismiss the OEA lawsuit is great news for educators, school children and communities all across this state. The dismissal proves that it is the exclusive prerogative of the Legislature to set school funding policies for Oklahoma.

“Senate Democrats have proven time and time again that we are more than willing to do our part to fund education at the level deserving of the future of our great state.