Saying his "sell out" strategy may not be in the best interest of the state, the leader of the Oklahoma Senate is questioning Governor Keating's plan to cash in the state's tobacco settlement share immediately for a discounted amount.

Under the national settlement, Oklahoma stands to receive $2.4 billion in tobacco funds over the next 25 years, but the Governor has proposed "selling" the state's share to New York bond dealers for an immediate pay off. Estimates indicate such a pay off would net Oklahoma only $1 billion.

Governor Keating's failure to address the current funding needs of Oklahoma public schools will only exacerbate an ongoing budget crisis in common education, according to the leader of the Oklahoma Senate.

"We have schools that are cramming kids into overcrowded classrooms and onto rickety, old schools buses because they can barely make ends meet under their current budget. Instead of trying to address the needs we have, Governor Keating is pushing unfunded mandates like his 4x4 program that will only make the situation worse," said Senate President Pro Tem Stratton Taylor.

Four Senators who are drafting distribution plans for Oklahoma's share of the national tobacco settlement are adding another area to their list: child abuse.

Just two weeks ago, Senators Angela Monson, Ben Brown, Ben Robinson and Bernest Cain unveiled a proposal which would deposit half of the state's tobacco settlement in an interest-earning trust fund and distribute the other half to programs ranging from before and after school programs to expanded health care opportunities for the elderly, the disabled and the uninsured.

OKLAHOMA CITY - Victims of last week's deadly storms won't have to worry about being victimized again by those trying to take advantage of their situation. That's according to Senator Ted Fisher and Representative Mike Tyler.

The two Sapulpa lawmakers have authored the "Emergency Price Stabilization Act." SB 69 has cleared both the Senate and House, and is awaiting Governor Frank Keating's signature.

A new joint legislative oversight committee is ready to get down to the business of cutting government waste and eliminating bureaucratic red tape.

Today, the Joint Committee on Accountability in Government (JAG) formally adopted the governing rules that will help it administer its oversight responsibilities.

"With a strong foundation of rules in place, we can move on to more important business, namely the process of making government as lean and mean as possible," said Senator Jeff Rabon, chairman of the JAG committee.

Governor Keating's plan to close facilities for the developmentally disabled in Pauls Valley and Enid is getting bad reviews in a new investigative report released by a legislative committee.

The Senate Deregulation Committee has spent the past two months investigating and hearing testimony on the Governor's proposal to downsize the Southern Oklahoma Resources Center at Pauls Valley and the Northern Oklahoma Resource Center and Greer Center at Enid and move the residents to private care facilities in the community.

OKLAHOMA CITY - The Oklahoma Education Association needs to get a new calculator and explain the facts regarding education funding in Oklahoma. That's according to Senate Minority Whip Carol Martin. Her comments came after the OEA criticized the legislative leadership from both parties.

State employees and their families are the big losers in a fight over Governor Keating's first veto of the legislative session, according to the Senate author of SB 323. The Governor vetoed that bill earlier this month and Senate Republicans successfully voted to sustain the veto on Wednesday.

"The Governor who vetoed this bill and the people who voted to sustain that veto turned their backs on state employees and their families. We were trying to extend a helping hand to them in their time of need, but the Governor and his supporters slapped it away," said Senator Paul Muegge.

OKLAHOMA CITY - The State Senate has approved legislation that would set specific standards for abortion clinics. The legislation, authored by Senate Minority Whip Carol Martin was approved as an amendment to HB 1404.

"I first attempted to pass this legislation over two years ago, and since then the State Health Department has begun to address this issue. Now it is time for us to follow through with the implementation of these standards," said Senator Martin.

Oklahoma's bid to bring passenger rail service back to the state received another shot in the arm today when Governor Keating signed SB 383 into law. The legislation by Senator Dave Herbert would clear the way for Oklahoma to form an alliance with other states like Kansas and Texas, thus strengthening the region's chance of landing an Amtrak line.