Senator Daisy Lawler said Tuesday she is concerned that Governor Henry’s compromise budget proposal does not include a specific pay raise for state employees.

“The governor’s plan leaves state employees behind,” said Lawler, D-Comanche. “In a year when we have a windfall of $1 billion in new money available choosing not to give state employees a raise is unconscionable.”

A measure to encourage cable television providers to offer a "family tier" of programming has now been approved by Governor Brad Henry. That's according to Sen. Glenn Coffee, R-Oklahoma City, principal author of SB 1697. The measure was co-authored by Rep. Lance Cargill, R-Harrah.

"Basically, this bill gives cable providers the option to provide customers with family friendly programming," said Coffee. "This includes programming that is suitable for the entire family to watch together, with shows for everyone from very young children to programs for general audiences."

With family, friends, supporters and fellow lawmakers gathered in the Senate Chamber, Altus Republican Mike Schulz took the official oath of office, becoming the newest member of the Oklahoma State Senate. Sen. Schulz won the District 38 seat in a special election one week ago.

"This is a great day for my family and all our friends and supporters who share our vision for District 38 and for our state," said Schulz. "I am honored and humbled, but most of all I am excited to be on the job here in the State Senate."

State Sen. Jonathan Nichols, a former prosecutor, said he is concerned that Gov. Brad Henry’s proposed budget compromise does not properly fund Oklahoma’s district attorneys.

“From what I have heard of the governor’s proposal, I am concerned that district attorneys would not receive the additional funding they have requested to ensure that criminals are prosecuted and punished for their crimes. Public safety should be a priority at the State Capitol, not an after-thought,” stated Nichols, R-Norman.

The Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Public Safety and Judiciary said he intends to fight for the critical needs of some of Oklahoma’s most important public safety agencies. He said creating a safer Oklahoma cannot happen without the necessary funding for the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI) and the Oklahoma State Medical Examiners Office.

State Sen. Don Barrington said he wants the Oklahoma State Senate to send a pro-life bill directly to the governor instead of relegating the bill to a House-Senate conference committee where it would likely be dead for the 2006 legislative session.

Senate Bill 1742, authored by Barrington, was amended in the House of Representatives to include legislative language from several pro-life bills that were killed by the Senate’s Democrat leadership earlier this year.

Senator Jay Paul Gumm, a Democrat from Durant, has been named a “Friend of Main Street” by the Oklahoma State Main Street Program for his vision of making downtown communities in Oklahoma a thriving economic development tool.

“Downtowns across Oklahoma are the heart and soul of the community,” Gumm said. “Ensuring they remain vibrant means a brighter future for all Oklahomans.”

State Senator Frank Shurden passed Senate Resolution 105 through the State Senate Wednesday urging Congress to pass H.R. 197, known as the “Military In-State Tuition Act of 2005”. The Act, authored by U.S. Rep. David Scott of Georgia, would amend title 10 of the United States Code to require every state to charge in-state tuition rates at public institutions of higher education to active-duty members of the Armed Forces and their dependents living or stationed in that state.

Governor Brad Henry on Wednesday signed legislation to simplify the permitting process for custom wheat harvesters, saving them valuable time and money.

House Bill 2895, the Harvest Regulation Reform Act of 2006, authored by Sen. Daisy Lawler and Rep. Ryan McMullen will lower the estimated overall fees assessed to harvesters in the permitting process, while providing harvesters with efficient options for obtaining the proper documentation.

With the wheat harvest expected to begin in mid-May, Lawler said, the bill was an urgent legislative priority.

State Sen. Frank Shurden said Gov. Brad Henry had joined the Senate and House in approving his legislation aimed at preventing the spread of disease by giving the Department of Health oversight of tattooing in the state. Gov. Henry signed that legislation on Wednesday.

“I’ve said all along, this is a public health issue. If these businesses fail to follow basic health guidelines, they could be spreading terrible diseases like Hepatitis or Aids,” said Shurden, D-Henryetta.