- Gov. Henry Can’t Stop Shutdown – Unless He Convinces Senate Dems to Compromise

Senate Republican Leader Glenn Coffee said Tuesday that the Democrat leader of the State Senate is trying to force a government shutdown, and said the state would pay a high price if Senate President Pro Tem Mike Morgan succeeds.

A Republican-authored pro-life bill was signed into law by Gov. Brad Henry Tuesday, legislation that includes several pro-life issues that have been blocked for years by the Senate’s Democrat leadership.

“This is a great victory for the unborn,” said Sen. Don Barrington, R-Lawton, the bill’s Senate author. “This new law is an answer to many years of prayer – and it shows the importance of electing pro-life legislators in the Senate and the House.”

- GOP Leader Concerned That Senate Dem Leaders Want to Shut Down State Government

With little progress being made in budget negotiations, Senate Republican Leader Glenn Coffee said the State Legislature should pass a standstill general appropriations bill this week to ensure a government shutdown does not occur if a final budget agreement is not reached before July 1, the beginning of the state’s fiscal year.

Survivors of the USS Oklahoma are closer than ever to achieving their dream of erecting a permanent memorial to the 429 crewmen who lost their lives in the attack on Pearl Harbor. The initial memorial design was formally unveiled at the State Capitol on Friday, which also marked the official kickoff of the fundraising effort.

Oklahoma trial lawyers have likely won their battle against Republican efforts this year to curb lawsuit abuse, a Republican state senator said Friday.

“As long as Democrats run the State Senate, the trial lawyers will run the State Senate. We need a Republican Senate majority if we are ever going to pass meaningful lawsuit reform in Oklahoma,” stated Sen. Cliff Branan, R-Oklahoma City.

An Ardmore lawmaker’s battle with cancer more than three years ago inspired those that heard his story. So much so that a research lab at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center will now be called the Senator Johnnie Crutchfield Central Research Lab. The Senator was honored at a ceremony at the OU Heath Sciences Center on Thursday, May 18.

A Republican state senator said GOP Lt. Gov. Mary Fallin and new Sen. Mike Schulz of Altus both deserve credit for the decision by the Senate’s liberal Democrat leadership to reverse their decision and allow a vote on a GOP-authored pro-life bill Thursday.

“Gov. Fallin had indicated privately through Republican leaders that she was willing to take the chair as Senate President to force a vote on pro-life SB 1742. Plus, the math changed this week when Mike Schulz was sworn in, giving Republicans a 23rd vote in the Senate,” stated Sen. Owen Laughlin, R-Woodward.

Oklahoma's elderly and disabled are one step closer to receiving protection from financial scams and solicitations after the Senate unanimously approved Senate Bill 1793 Friday. The measure, by Senator Ron Justice, makes it a felony to knowingly, through deception or intimidation, obtain or use the funds, assets or property of those 62 years of age or older as well as disabled individuals.

The Oklahoma State Senate passed a Republican-authored pro-life bill Thursday, which included legislative language from several pro-life bills that were killed by the Senate’s Democrat leadership earlier this year.

The Senate Democrat leadership had indicated earlier this week that they did not want to allow Senate Bill 1742 to be brought to the floor for a vote. But the bill had overwhelming bipartisan support, and Democrat leaders reversed course and allowed the vote to occur Thursday.

Senate Bill 1742 passed the Senate on a 38-8 vote, and now goes to Gov. Brad Henry.

With the Senate’s liberal Democrat leadership threatening to shut down the state government if they don’t get their way on the state budget, State Senate Republican Leader Glenn Coffee announced he wants to work with moderate Democrat senators to support the compromise budget and tax relief package.