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

OKLAHOMA CITY -"I'm glad that Mr. Roark and the rest of the corrections board have decided to take a mature, reasoned approach to this difficult situation, instead of making a rush to judgment as some have advocated. I sincerely hope that the board is entering this inquiry with an open mind, instead of pursuing a preconceived conclusion to satisfy Governor Keating's quest for a scapegoat."

Saying recent statements by Governor Keating are misleading, a Senate budget leader is asking the Governor to substantiate his claim that a diversion of motor vehicle fee revenue will have "no impact" on education or other entities that currently receive the money.

"I'm afraid Governor Keating is trying to play Santa Claus. He's promising to hand out presents to everyone without hurting anyone," said Senator Kelly Haney, chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee. "I wish we could do that, but in our world of limited resources, it's just not possible."

A state Senator has asked Governor Frank Keating to dismiss the State Bond Advisor after reading a letter in which State Bond Advisor Jim Joseph appears to endorse a specific bond underwriter currently seeking to underwrite a new bond in the state.

Senator Dave Herbert, D-Midwest City, refers to a letter Joseph wrote in response to questions from David Hinkle, senior vice-president of the Oklahoma Development Finance Authority, about an ongoing Securities and Exchange Commission investigation ) of a specific bond underwriting firm.

Senator Gene Stipe has become the second Oklahoma State Senator ever to receive the National Rifle Association's "Defender of Freedom" award for his "long-standing record as a defender of the Second Amendment." The special award was presented to Stipe in a ceremony last Friday.

"Senator Stipe has been a long time supporter of the right to keep and bear arms and we look forward to his continued support on behalf of Oklahoma's gun owners," said Tanya K. Metaksa, executive director of the NRA's Institute for Legislative Action.

A new analysis by the Senate fiscal staff indicates that education would be the biggest loser if Governor Keating carries through with a plan to use additional motor vehicle revenues on transportation.

"Governor Keating has indicated if he doesn't get his new toll roads, he's going to go after money that has historically been earmarked for education," said Senator Kelly Haney, chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee.

Saying he believes a controversial turnpike program offered by Governor Frank Keating will ultimately be revived, a state legislator is pushing forward with an interim legislative study of Oklahoma's existing toll road system and Keating's plans to expand it.

"I don't believe for a minute that we've seen the last of Governor Keating's toll roads," said Senator Bruce Price.

"Before we consider expansion of our current system, we need to focus on the OTA's existing debt. We need to pay it off so we can explore the possibility of someday making our toll roads free roads."

When Governor Keating vetoed a series of education reform measures at the end of the legislative session, he also killed a number of proposals made by the Governor's Commission on Government Performance he created, according to a Senate Budget leader.

The Oklahoma Legislature cut state taxes by $50 million in the recently concluded 1996 legislative session, according to a new study by the Senate Committee staff. The analysis was requested by Senator Dick Wilkerson, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee.

"I wanted to see what the final numbers were after the dust settled from the legislative session," said Senator Wilkerson.

"In the final analysis, I think legislators did a pretty good job of responding to the people's concerns about taxes, from property taxes to income taxes."

By suggesting that motor vehicle revenue currently earmarked for education will be diverted to transportation needs if his new urban turnpikes are not built, Governor Keating is once again threatening the budgets of public schools, according to a Senate budget leader.

Governor Keating convened day three of his revisionist history lesson on his education record today, enlisting the aid of two Republican legislators to help him in his continuing effort to cover his anti-education tracks.

"Me thinketh he protest a bit too much," said Senator Cal Hobson, paraphrasing a famous line from Shakespeare that best describes Governor Keating's recent protestations and gesticulations about his education record.