State Senator Johnnie Crutchfield and State Representative Wes Hilliard are working closely with federal, state and local officials to ensure a smooth transition for Hurricane Katrina victims who will temporarily be placed at Falls Creek Baptist Camp in Davis.

“We don’t know exactly when the evacuees will be here,” Crutchfield said. “But we want to ensure the transition is as smooth as possible for these families who literally have nothing but the clothes on their back.”

Sen. Don Barrington has asked Senate staff to examine possible legislative and/or administrative solutions that would allow college and university students displaced by Katrina to relocate to Oklahoma schools.

“The short-term and long-term impact of Katrina is almost unimaginable. Many people may not realize that several major universities have been virtually destroyed. It may be years before they can be totally rebuilt, but their students can’t wait that long,” said Barrington, R-Lawton.

State Sen. Kathleen Wilcoxson is urging Oklahoma to consider scaling back planned expenditures on upcoming centennial celebrations in order to offer greater assistance to neighbors in need.

Senate Republican Leader Glenn Coffee said he was extremely proud of one Oklahoma church’s efforts to directly assist victims of Katrina. Victory Church in Norman was making its shelter ministry in Oklahoma City available to evacuees. As of mid-afternoon, the shelter at 1900 N.E. 36th Street was already providing housing to some two dozen evacuees and was preparing for the arrival of more than 80 additional refugees later in the day.

Senate President Pro Tempore Mike Morgan applauded the efforts of Georgia Governor Sonny Purdue today to “relieve some of the financial burden” being experienced by residents of his state by suspending the tax on gasoline there through September.

And Morgan renewed his call for Governor Brad Henry to act so that the Oklahoma Legislature could enact the Senate Democrats proposal to suspend the gas tax in Oklahoma for a three-month period.

Senate President Pro Tempore Mike Morgan called on Governor Henry today to expand the call of the current special session to allow lawmakers to provide emergency relief from high gas prices for Oklahoma motorists.

Morgan, D-Stillwater, proposed suspending the state’s gasoline and diesel fuel tax for the final three months of the year to help Oklahomans cope with the shock of the sky-rocketing price of gas.

Senate Republican Leader Glenn Coffee said Tuesday his caucus members might support a proposal to temporarily eliminate the tax on gasoline – but said they have concerns about tapping the Rainy Day Fund to do it. Coffee also said Senate Republicans are ready to support a supplemental funding bill for the Centennial Commission if some specifics are included.

GASOLINE TAX

“No” votes by Senate Republicans Wednesday may have doomed the celebration of Oklahoma’s Centennial in 2007, Senator Jeff Rabon said.

Senate Bill 5X, which would have provided $10 million in funding for projects across the state, failed on a 24-23 vote with all 22 Republican Senators voting against the measure.

“Because they defeated this bill, its unlikely now that there will be any state funds to finish centennial projects in towns like Ponca City, Choctaw, Owasso, Seminole and Tinker Air Force Base,” Rabon said.

The State Senate has given unanimous approval to a resolution honoring the centennial of the Catholic Diocese of Oklahoma. Sen. Mike Johnson, R-Kingfisher, is author of the measure which was approved during Wednesday’s special session at the State Capitol.

Senate Republican Leader Glenn Coffee made the following comments regarding today’s meeting of the Oklahoma State Senate in special session:

PUBLIC SAFETY

“Now that the Senate Democrats’ theatrics are over, the real work can begin on properly funding public safety,” stated Coffee, R-Oklahoma City.

“Instead of putting on a political sideshow by forcing the Senate to meet in a meaningless special session, Senate Democrats would have better served the public by working with Republicans to develop a bipartisan agreement,” he said.