Federal funds originally earmarked for local drug prevention and school safety programs ended up in the pockets of a controversial Oklahoma City political consultant and entertainer Bill Cosby, thanks to a sole source contract executed by Health and Human Services Secretary Jerry Regier, according to state records.

Contract information indicates that Regier used the federal grant money to pay Mary Myrick to organize a one-day Safe and Drug Free School Summit in Oklahoma City in February of 2000. The contract for Myrick's public relations firm totaled $450,000.

At a capitol news conference Senate Republican Floor Leader Jim Dunlap said he was looking forward to studying President Pro Tempore Stratton Taylor's proposal to convert Oklahoma's tax system to that of Texas and commended him for realizing the need to eliminate the income tax.

Statement by Senator Stratton Taylor,
Senate President Pro Tempore

"I applaud Sen. Dunlap for his endorsement of the Texas Plan. When he originally announced his opposition to the initiative two weeks ago, I was concerned, but didn't question his decision."

OKLAHOMA CITY - The full Senate has approved a measure aimed at making sure the state's sex offender registration list is a more accurate reflection of where Oklahoma's four-thousand convicted sex offenders actually live. That's according to Glenn Coffee, Senate author of House Bill 1351.

States that do not have an income tax are growing faster than those states that do levy a tax on their citizens' income, according to statistics released by the leader of the Oklahoma State Senate.

Senator Stratton Taylor said the evidence supports the enactment of the Texas Plan - his proposal to replace Oklahoma's tax system with that of the state of Texas. Texas has no personal or corporate income tax and no sales tax on groceries.

OKLAHOMA CITY - Senate Appropriations Chairman Kelly Haney said although he agreed with Governor Frank Keating and others who argue a more thorough examination of agency budgets is needed during the appropriations process, there are agencies that continue to be under funded each year. Senator Haney said the Oklahoma Arts Council is one of those agencies.

A controversial consultant to Governor Keating's state marriage initiative is under scrutiny again - this time for receiving $716,000 from state agencies headed by Health and Human Services Secretary Jerry Regier.

State records indicate that agencies controlled by Regier cut numerous checks to Mary Myrick's public relations firm over a 19-month period. The largest payment came from the Office of Juvenile Affairs last year when it shelled out $400,000 to Myrick over a span of just 11 days.

The leader of the State Senate is applauding Governor Frank Keating for agreeing to support the Texas Plan - an initiative that would allow voters to decide whether Oklahoma should scrap its current tax code and replace it with an exact duplicate of the Texas tax system that levies no taxes on income or grocery purchases.

The leader of the Oklahoma State Senate wants voters to decide whether Oklahoma should scrap its current tax system and replace it with the one used by Texas - a state that has no income tax or sales tax on groceries.

Senate President Pro Tempore Stratton Taylor has proposed drafting what he calls the "Texas Plan" - a series of constitutional amendments and statutes that would allow Oklahoma to adopt an identical replica of the Texas tax system.

OKLAHOMA CITY - With the Oklahoma State Senate, guests and members of the public looking on, another original painting depicting a key historic event in Oklahoma history was dedicated today during a ceremony in the Senate chamber.

The painting, which is seven-feet high and eleven-feet wide by award winning Oklahoma artist and illustrator Mike Wimmer, depicts the Osage Treaty of 1825, and will hang near the entrance of the State Senate chamber.