Senator Jeff Rabon stated today that the Oklahoma House of Representatives is grand-standing Oklahoma’s neediest and most vulnerable – our children who depend on Medicaid for their health coverage.

Yesterday the Senate passed a conference committee report to Senate Bill 944, which will implement a less than one percent fee on all of Oklahoma’s hospitals. Rabon stated the House needs to take action immediately to assign conferees to allow passage of SB 944, which will generate nearly $300 million in Medicaid revenue.

A block of senators opposed Gov. Brad Henry’s nomination of Dr. Virginia Ann Dell of Oklahoma City to the state Textbook Committee when her nomination was considered by the Senate Wednesday.

The Senate narrowly voted to advise and consent to Henry’s nomination of Dell on a 25 to 22 vote.

A bill that will allow local education foundations to better serve the needs of public schools in Oklahoma is on its way to Governor Henry for his signature. Senate Bill 326, authored by two freshman legislators, Senator Susan Paddack and State Representative Wes Hilliard, received final approval in the House today.

“This bill allows local foundations to compete for grants that will enhance the curriculum in our public schools,” said Paddack, who served as a statewide leader for local education foundations before her service in the Senate.

A measure to allow check-off donations from individual and corporate tax refunds to support the Oklahoma National Guard Relief Program received Senate approval today, announced author of the legislation, Senator Mary Easley. House Bill 1780 will create the National Guard Relief Program that will further aid Oklahoma’s men and women serving to protect our nation and our state. Representative Wade Rousselot, D-Wagoner, is the House author of HB 1780.

When Lt. Gov. Mary Fallin and Senate Republicans attempted to force an up-or-down vote on a meaningful $125 million workers’ compensation reform package four weeks ago, they warned that if the issue went to a conference committee Gov. Brad Henry and Senate Democrats would attempt to water down the proposed reforms to protect workers’ comp trial lawyers.

It turns out that Fallin and the Senate GOP were right to be concerned.

“We’re very pleased that Speaker Hiett has agreed to this additional investment in healthcare in Oklahoma. It’s proof that democracy works, that the deliberative process has succeeded. We have been advoacting for weeks, along with members of the healthcare community, that Oklahoma needs to leverage additional federal dollars to fund indigent healthcare. We have been encouraging the Speaker to join us in this fight and this afternoon he has done that.”

Statement from Senator Tom Adelson

Senator Mary Easley announced today that a bill to further enhance safety in the classroom received final Senate approval. Senate Bill 618 creates the “Dustin Rhodes and Lindsay Steed CPR Training Act,” which will require two employees at every Oklahoma school to receive cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) instruction.

The Democrat from South Tulsa authored the legislation following the tragic death of Dustin Rhodes and Lindsay Steed. The students both choked during school and while teachers and staff tried to help, they were unsuccessful.

The full Senate has honored a member who is concluding her last legislative session. Sen. Angela Monson was recognized by her colleagues for her 15 years of service in the Oklahoma Legislature. The Oklahoma City Democrat is leaving office this year due to term limits.

Members of Oklahoma State Senate voted unanimously today to keep a measure alive that will help save rural hospitals across the state. A similar House measure died last week, after Republican Speaker Todd Hiett refused to allow an up-or-down vote on the House floor.

Senator Judy Eason McIntyre said she was pleased when Governor Brad Henry signed a measure that honors African American soldiers that served in the Civil War, also known as Buffalo Soldiers. Senate Bill 659 was signed on Wednesday, May 18, 2005.