State Senator Randy Brogdon, R-Owasso, responded Friday to criticism by the Senate’s Democrat leader that fiscal reforms cannot be enacted in the state without drastic budget cuts.

“Senator Hobson’s letter highlights a clash of ideas: liberal vs. conservative. Liberals like Senator Hobson believe that tax dollars belong to the Legislature for the sole purpose of growing the size of government. Conservatives believe that tax dollars belong to the taxpayers and that the Legislature should take great care to prioritize and spend those dollars efficiently,” Brogdon stated.

The spirit of nationally acclaimed folk singer Woody Guthrie will forever rest in the halls of the State Capitol, Senator Charles Ford announced today. The portrait by veteran painter Charles Banks Wilson is the latest in a series of paintings commissioned by the Oklahoma State Senate Historical Preservation Fund, Inc.

The portrait entitled Woody Guthrie - This Land Was Made For You And Me will be on permanent display in the rotunda of the State Capitol.

Senator Charles Ford announced the upcoming presentation of a portrait of singer, songwriter, and author Woody Guthrie, commissioned by the Oklahoma State Senate Historical Preservation Fund, Inc. The portrait by veteran painter Charles Banks Wilson will be unveiled Thursday July 15th at 12:00 p.m. in the Capitol rotunda.

When the new fiscal year begins on July 1, a program to help provide nutritious meals to Oklahoma seniors will have its funding restored. Senate Bill 1017, by Senate Appropriations Chairman Mike Morgan, includes an allocation of $3 million for the Community Expansion of Nutrition Assistance (CENA) program.

“Last year, the Human Services Commission voted to cut the $2.7 million in funding for CENA. But this program is vitally important to so many older Oklahomans. Not only did we restore it, but we increased the allocation to $3 million this year,” said Morgan, D-Stillwater.

With assaults on staff members of the Lloyd E. Rader Juvenile Center continuing to climb, local legislators said they were awaiting investigations at the federal, state and local level.

During the first half of fiscal year 2004, residents at the center committed 82 assaults on staff members and other residents. That is nearly twice the number as in 2003.

“Just this past weekend there was a huge brawl that left 17 people hurt, including 10 members of the staff.

Senate President Pro Tem Cal Hobson has announced his appointments to a task force charged with studying the issue of telecommunications deregulation.

Legislation creating the task force was approved during the 2004 legislative session in response to questions surrounding deregulation.

“I have asked Sen. Jay Paul Gumm and Sen. Richard Lerblance to serve on this panel. They both have an excellent understanding of the complexity of this issue and its importance to virtually everyone in Oklahoma,” said Hobson, D-Lexington.

A measure to boost the economy in rural Oklahoma recently became law with the governor’s signature.
The Rural Action Partnership Program (RAPP) was the result of a lengthy legislative study into ways to improve the economy in small-town Oklahoma.

Senator Jay Paul Gumm, Senate author of the bill, said the Rural Action Partnership Program gives the Department of Commerce more tools to focus efforts in rural areas of the state. The House sponsor was Rep. Dale Turner, D-Holdenville.

Senator Glenn Coffee of Oklahoma City has been elected by Senate Republicans to head that caucus’s new leadership team for the 50th Legislature, which will be elected by voters this November and convenes in 2005.

“I am deeply honored and humbled to be elected by the Senate Republican Caucus to serve as Republican Floor Leader in the 50th Legislature. I look forward to working with our extremely talented leadership team to help move our pro-family, pro-jobs agenda through the Senate,” Coffee said.

After unanimous legislative approval, State Sen. Mike Johnson said he was pleased that Gov. Brad Henry has signed a bill to help protect victims of identity theft. Johnson, R-Kingfisher, is principal author of Senate Bill 1164 which creates an “Identity Theft Passport” to protect innocent victims from arrest or other legal actions.

“While the digital age provides many benefits, it also has a dark side in the form of identity theft. Oklahoma is now one of the first states to address the nightmare identity theft victims go through when they’re falsely accused,” Johnson said.

Senate Republican leaders said that Oklahoma trial lawyers won a major victory in their fight against meaningful lawsuit reform this session, with passage of House Bill 2661 by the Senate and House of Representatives this week.

“The very fact that every senator who has publicly opposed lawsuit reform voted for this bill proves that HB 2661 is a sham,” stated Sen. James A. Williamson, Senate Republican Floor Leader. “The trial lawyers have won a major victory.”