OKLAHOMA CITY – Sen. Jim Wilson, D-Tahlequah, announced today the formation of an exploratory committee to identify the resources necessary to establish an initiative petition process that will result in a reliable stream of revenue for the Oklahoma Department of Tourism and Recreation.

Senate President Pro Tempore Mike Morgan said Wednesday that he shares the concerns voiced to him by convenience store owners on the issue of a disparity in the tobacco tax being paid by private retailers and some tribal smoke shops.

“Allegations continue to surface that some Native American tribes may not complying with the spirit, and perhaps even the letter, of the tobacco compacts they have signed with the state,” Morgan said.

“After weeks of refusing to entertain the idea of a special session, I am pleased Speaker Hiett is finally warming up to the idea.

“For the Speaker to suggest that House Republicans are leading the fight to address prison funding is nothing more than a smoke-and-mirrors scheme to hide the fact that they have taken a do-nothing approach on the issue. And now that they have been taken to task for their reckless and irresponsible approach to public safety, they are running for cover.

“Senate Democrats remain focused on protecting Oklahoma families because we believe public safety should be our number one priority.

“Until Speaker Hiett and other Republican leaders of the House are willing to come to the table with workable solutions to address the crisis facing the Oklahoma Department of Corrections (DOC), we will remain uninterested in discussing funding for parades and fireworks.

The Joint Task Force on Eminent Domain formed by Sen. Clark Jolley (R-Edmond) and Rep. Mark Liotta (R-Tulsa) has announced three meeting dates in August. Jolley and Liotta formed the ad hoc task force to consider the ramifications of the U.S. Supreme Court's Kelo vs. City of New London ruling on Oklahoma property owners and to develop a legislative remedy to the decision.

Senator Kenneth Corn, Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Public Safety and Judiciary, said House Republicans continue to turn their backs on public safety in Oklahoma with their latest fuzzy math scheme they claim will help recruitment efforts at the Oklahoma Department of Corrections (DOC).

“I appreciate House Leaders coming to the table to offer their thoughts on this serious public safety debate. However, after reviewing the House Republican Prison Recruitment Plan I am concerned their plan offers no real solutions to address staffing shortages with the Oklahoma Department of Corrections (DOC).

“Senate Democrats have a solid plan on the table that offers real solutions to address serious problems in Oklahoma prisons. We look forward to working further with Governor Henry and House leaders to find common ground on this issue.

Sen. Jonathan Nichols today outlined details of a proposed statewide child abuse task force at the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation.

The OSBI’s Child Abuse Response Team (OSBI CART) was proposed this week as part of the Senate Republicans plan for funding public safety.

“The OSBI CART would be made up of OSBI agents who are highly trained in investigating child abuse cases, forensic interviewing of children and case development for the prosecution,” said Nichols, R-Norman, a former prosecutor.

GOP PLAN INCLUDES LONG-TERM SOLUTIONS FOR PRISONS, PROSECUTORS, LAW ENFORCEMENT

Senate Republicans unveiled their plan today to undo the “years of neglect” by the Democrat-controlled Senate of prisons, prosecutors, and law enforcement agencies.

The Senate GOP’s broad-based plan includes some short-term funding fixes – such as $7.1 million in supplemental funding to hire more correctional officers and to fully fund state prosecutors.

Senator Kenneth Corn, Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Public Safety, said he is thankful today that Senate Republicans have finally come up with a plan to help ease the funding crisis at the Oklahoma Department of Corrections (DOC) and says he looks forward to working with them to hammer out a solution that will keep all Oklahomans safe. He said however, he is disappointed that Senate Republicans used their press release to engage in political grandstanding.