Even though no agreement has been reached on the ultimate use of Oklahoma's $2.3 billion tobacco settlement, the state needs to begin the process of structuring a special tobacco trust fund, according to Senator Stratton Taylor, the leader of the Oklahoma State Senate.

In an effort to get such discussions underway, the Senate President Pro Tempore today announced that he has authored draft legislation that could ultimately be used as a vehicle to address the trust fund question.

OKLAHOMA CITY - Calling the new requirements unfair to Oklahoma schools and students, Henryetta Senator Frank Shurden has authored SB 1047 that would repeal the course-specific curriculum and honor diploma programs signed into law by the Governor last year.

"I've heard from teachers, administrators and parents across the state who feel that the curriculum requirements of House Bill 1759 were simply a bad deal. The bottom line is, this is going to cause more harm than good. We need to get it off the books," said Senator Shurden.

A new teacher pay program hurriedly thrown together by Governor Frank Keating contains only "funny money," not a real pay raise, according to the leader of the Oklahoma State Senate.

Wednesday -- three days after Senate President Pro Tempore Stratton Taylor and House Speaker Loyd Benson announced an across-the-board, $3,000 pay hike for teachers -- the Governor unveiled a $2,000 pay plan, but with several strings attached.

Citing reports that low salaries are forcing many Oklahoma teachers to leave the state for better-paying jobs elsewhere, legislative leaders unveiled a program today that would give every public school teacher a $3,000 pay raise.

Senate President Pro Tempore Stratton Taylor and House Speaker Loyd Benson said the across-the-board teacher pay plan will be the Legislature's first order of business when lawmakers return for their annual session on February 7th.

Statement by Senator Stratton Taylor
Senate President Pro Tempore

"I think there's a very simple explanation behind all of the Governor's recent media statements. He's come forward with a smoke and mirrors teacher pay raise program that contains no real money and he's upset because we've exposed it for what it is. I know Governor Keating would prefer that I sit on the sidelines while his media circus rolls by, but I
don't intend to do that."

Statement by Senator Stratton Taylor
Senate President Pro Tempore

"I don't think the Legislature has any business telling people when they can and cannot come to the State Capitol. They're taxpayers, they own the building and they can come whenever they like."

"As Democrats, we welcome citizens to come to the Capitol any day."

"If the teachers are interested in visiting the State Capitol on a Saturday, we will certainly do everything we can to accommodate them. However, that is their decision to make, not the Legislature's."

Oklahoma City - The Oklahoma State Senate Republican caucus today called upon the Democrat Senate leadership and the President Pro Tempore's office to schedule Saturday, February 12, 2000, as a legislative session work day for the Oklahoma Senate. "Many of Oklahoma's teachers would like the opportunity to present their views on the current status of funding for common education in Oklahoma and the impact of the current pay structure for their profession.

Federal railroad legislation now before the U.S. Congress could help Oklahoma beef up its passenger rail service, but only if the State Legislature gives Oklahoma voters an opportunity to decide if additional state revenue should be raised for Amtrak.

That according to Senator Dave Herbert, who is pushing for a statewide vote on a proposed one-cent gasoline tax increase, with the proceeds earmarked for rail service expansion.

Statement by Senator Stratton Taylor, Senate President Pro Tempore

"The fact that Governor Keating has resorted to dragging the tax increase bogeyman out of the closet tells me that we've struck a nerve and demonstrated once again that he is no friend of public education."

"The Governor is obviously upset that we've exposed his smoke and mirrors pay program for what it is -a cheap attempt to pander to teachers without actually giving them a dime of new money. He's trying to pull the wool over teachers' eyes and he's just mad because we're calling him on it."

A new national study that gave Oklahoma high marks for teacher quality while raising concerns about the low pay of public school instructors should send a clear message to state policy makers, according to the leader of the Oklahoma State Senate.

The message, according to Senator Stratton Taylor, is that Oklahoma needs to raise teacher pay this year.