The Oklahoma Senate will move to approve an emergency appropriation for the State Ethics Commission when it reconvenes in February, according to the leader of the Senate. The action is designed to offset the negative impact of a funding veto handed down by Governor Keating in May.

"Because of Governor Keating's veto, the ethics commission can't do the job it is constitutionally required to do," said Senator Stratton Taylor, President Pro Tempore of the Oklahoma Senate. "We have to provide it with the resources it needs to be the watchdog of state government.

If Governor Keating is intent on using a private prison consultant with "an obvious conflict of interest" to conduct a study of Oklahoma's prison system, he should require him to sign an agreement stating that his company cannot benefit from his examination or anything that may result from it.

Statement from Senator Cal Hobson, Vice-chairman Senate Appropriations Committee:

"Comparing Mr. Quinlan's experience in Ohio with the proposed project in Oklahoma is like comparing apples to oranges. Mr. Quinlan would be operating in a far different capacity under much different circumstances in Oklahoma than he did in Ohio.

First, in Ohio, Mr. Quinlan was part of a study committee. He was one voice of many. In Oklahoma, Governor Keating wants him to be a committee of one. He would be the only voice we hear on corrections.

A Senate budget leader is standing by a recent Senate analysis on transportation spending, saying a new study cited by a Keating appointee today is suspect because it was compiled by an organization that represents contractors who make a profit off of road construction.

"Our data came from the U.S. Census Bureau, theirs came from people who make money off of road construction," said Senator Kelly Haney, chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, who requested the study.

"Based on the source, I don't think the TRIP study is worth the paper it's printed on."

OKLAHOMA CITY - Citing "an obvious conflict of interest," a Senate leader has formally asked the state corrections board to reject a prison consultant recommended by Governor Keating when it holds its regular monthly meeting tomorrow. Senator Cal Hobson officially raised his objection in a letter to each member of the seven-member prison panel today.

Saying he is concerned about the appearance of a conflict of interest, a Senate leader is urging the corrections board to look to a more objective source to conduct a study of the Oklahoma prison system. Governor Keating has said a friend of his in the private prison industry will do the study for free.

Saying he's concerned that justice is not being served in an ongoing corrections probe, a Senate leader is urging a special panel investigating the Lamont Fields release to resist pressure to reach a preconceived conclusion and expand its probe to include Governor Keating's office.

"Judging from the reports I've heard, this so-called investigation has been pretty well orchestrated with one goal in mind," said Senator Larry Dickerson, chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on General Government and Transportation.

A newly appointed interim committee will begin its study of the Oklahoma turnpike system with a thorough examination of Governor Keating's toll road expansion program, namely the answers to a number of questions posed by the Executive and Legislative Bond Oversight Commissions at a meeting last month.

A member of the Legislative Bond Oversight Commission has submitted a partial list of questions to the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority today, asking it to substantiate some of the projections associated with Governor Keating's turnpike expansion program.

"It's my understanding the OTA board is going to discuss the Keating toll road program at its meeting this week and I think it's only appropriate that members have at least some of our questions in hand for that discussion," said Senator Larry Dickerson, a member of the Legislative Bond Oversight Commission.

OKLAHOMA CITY -A Senate leader is warning Governor Keating not to force a "rush to judgment" on corrections chief Larry Fields, saying an immediate ouster would confirm suspicions that the Governor is just looking for a scapegoat in the triple homicide involving an inmate on early release.

"It's pretty obvious that Governor Keating is trying to avoid any responsibility in this tragedy and he's using Larry Fields as a scapegoat to accomplish that goal," said Senator Larry Dickerson, chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on General Government and Transportation.