Funding for education has dominated forums held by Senator Jonathan Nichols, R-Norman. The forums provide classroom teachers an opportunity to ask questions about the current revenue shortfall. Nichols has held the forums in Blanchard, Norman and Washington schools.

To keep the budget crisis from further hurting the classroom, Nichols believes the legislature should fund education first. "We should fund education in February, and at the same level as fiscal year 2003, before budget cuts were implemented."

Senator Glenn Coffee has announced plans to file legislation eliminating state income tax on retirement income. The Oklahoma City Republican said he had filed the measure for the 2003 legislative session, but would not kick in until the economy had begun a strong recovery.

State Senator Frank Shurden says a recent poll shows most Oklahomans favor the idea of deciding whether to allow cockfighting by county option. The poll also revealed an overwhelming majority believes the penalties included in the State Question approved last November are too harsh.

Given Oklahoma's ongoing budget crisis, Senator Frank Shurden wants a careful look at how much is being spent on professional service contracts and whether some of those could be eliminated to save state dollars.

Senator Kenneth Corn (D-Poteau) strongly opposes the proposal of one state representative to suspend state payments for retirement contributions for two years.

House Bill 1036 authored by Rep. Robert Worthen could cause the Oklahoma teacher's retirement system to lose at least $220 million annually as well as lose investment earnings if payments are suspended.

"I do not support delaying payment to the teachers' retirement fund," said Senator Corn. "This would be a reckless move on a system that is already badly damaged."

(Oklahoma City) Citing the state budget crisis and other pressing issues, the new leader of the Oklahoma State Senate is urging policy makers to put aside their differences in the coming legislative session and work together for the good of the state.

Senator Cal Hobson made those comments Tuesday afternoon after he was formally elected Senate president pro tempore during a one-day organizational meeting of the Oklahoma Legislature. The president pro tempore position is the top leadership post in the Legislature's upper chamber.

Statement by Senator Cal Hobson,
Senate President Pro Tempore Designate

"Unfortunately, the latest estimate confirms what we suspected. It is going to be difficult to weather the revenue losses of this fiscal year and it's not going to get much better in the next fiscal year. There are some encouraging signs in the revenue estimate for next fiscal year, but those indicators certainly do not diminish the budget challenge that we are facing.

Statement by Gov-elect Brad Henry

"Given the declining revenue reports that Oklahoma has experienced in recent months, we knew that there were going to be difficult decisions ahead. I wish we were facing a brighter revenue outlook, but we are not and we will have to deal with the budget reality in front of us.

Oklahoma City – Members of the Senate Republican Caucus leadership team today announced a portion of their 2003 legislative agenda with a show of support for Gov. Elect Henry's campaign pledge for Zero-based budgeting.

During the 2001 legislative session H.B. 1823, which required the legislature to implement zero-based budgeting passed through the House of Representatives, but subsequently died on the floor of the State Senate.

"The idea of zero-based budgeting isn't new. The Republican members of the Senate tried to do this last session, but there simply wasn't enough support from the other side of the aisle. What's different this year is that our incoming Governor favored the idea during his campaign; we're hopeful that support will continue in the session."