"Governor Keating's veto is disappointing, but it is certainly consistent with the shabby treatment he's accorded state employees, retirees and teachers throughout his administration. He had the ability to offset a devastating premium hike with a stroke of his pen, but instead he chose to pull the rug out from under thousands of families who are struggling to make ends meet. The fact that he's vetoed not one, but two bills on this subject speaks volumes about his attitude toward them.

Hog and chicken producers should be required to foot the bill for the cost of regulating their respective industries, according to the Senate author of the two main bills addressing the issue. Senator Paul Muegge is preparing to add fee schedules to SB 1175 and SB 1170 to accomplish that goal.

Governor Keating should take a stand against an organization that is attempting to influence the decisions of Oklahoma judges, according to the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Senator Brad Henry said there is an appearance that the Governor supports the initiative because Secretary of State Tom Cole's political consulting firm has been hired by the group.

Governor Keating's refusal to meet with the board of a state employees group is a slap in the face to state workers and indicative of the low priority he assigns to issues important to them, according to a Senate budget leader.

State policy leaders should focus targeted tax relief on Oklahoma's ailing energy industry before considering Governor Keating's omnibus initiative to slash a variety of different taxes, according to the chairman of the Senate Energy, Environmental Resources and Regulatory Affairs.

OKLAHOMA CITY - Senator Maxine Horner (D-Tulsa) and Representative Don Ross (D-Tulsa) are offering a bill that would provide a workable solution to the fiasco over who controls the Roger's University Tulsa campus. This despite being virtually ignored by the sponsors of other measures addressing the issue.

"It appears that Representative Ross and I are doing nothing when this campus is in both of our districts," said Senator Horner. "That is simply not true. We have a bill and it is substantive."

Information obtained by a state legislator indicates the State Regents for Higher Education may have circumvented state open meetings and records laws in drafting their proposed shake up of Rogers University in Tulsa.

Oklahoma has one of the lowest tax burdens in the country, according rankings distributed by two national research organizations. The findings of the National Conference of State Legislatures and the Tax Foundation were released in an analysis by the Oklahoma Senate staff today.

Citing conflicting statements from Governor Frank Keating, the leader of the Oklahoma Senate is asking for a clear, public statement from the Governor, reiterating his unqualified support for a one-year moratorium on new hog operations.

OKLAHOMA CITY - Two highly publicized accidents resulting in the spillage of hog waste is prompting State Senator Kevin Easley (D-Wagoner Co.) to call for an independent evaluation of the spills.

Senator Easley serves as chairman of the joint legislative committee created to study the impact of large corporate hog farms.

The Department of Agriculture has already conducted an evaluation of the spills and their impact. However, Senator Easley believes an independent study would be beneficial to lawmakers who are writing regulatory legislation this year.