State Sen. Andrew Rice has filed legislation to stop employers from improperly misclassifying workers as “independent contractors” in order to avoid paying unemployment and other taxes. Senate Bill 1384 would allow the Oklahoma Tax Commission, Oklahoma Workers’ Compensation Court and Oklahoma Employment Security Commission to share information and coordinate investigative and enforcement efforts in order to find employers who intentionally misclassify individuals as independent contractors rather than employees.

State Senator Richard Lerblance recently filed legislation to help improve Oklahoma’s state lottery. SB 1279 would eliminate the requirement that net proceeds must equal at least 35 percent of the gross proceeds.

When the New Year begins at midnight, a new law takes effect that its author says will speed refunds to Oklahoma taxpayers.

Senate Bill 11, by Senator Jay Paul Gumm, was passed by lawmakers and signed by the governor during the 2009 session of the Oklahoma Legislature. The measure requires the Oklahoma Tax Commission to make speedy refunds to taxpayers, or pay the same interest to taxpayers that taxpayers would have to pay on delinquent tax payments.

Given the reality of our state financial condition as certified by the State Equalization Board today, Im ready to continue the discussions weve been having with Governor Henry and Speaker Benge and our leadership teams, and make some hard but necessary decisions. At this point, no agreements have been made beyond January, so I look forward to moving forward with the framework we now have before us.

OKLAHOMA CITYIncoming Senate Democratic Leader Andrew Rice said budget numbers certified today by the Board of Equalization prove that Republicans have not delivered on their economic promises to Oklahomans who put their trust in them when they voted to turn over control of the Legislature to Republicans beginning in 2004.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Left to its own devices, the heath care reform bill the US Senate is about to pass would cause catastrophic repercussions to Oklahomas state budget in good times, said Senate President Pro Tem Glenn Coffee, but added to our already $1 billion budget hole, the consequences could prove cataclysmic.

State Sen. Kenneth Corn on Monday issued the following statement on the passing of Joe Paul Hemphill, former Howe High School Principal, Vice President for Student Affairs at Carl Albert State College and State Regent for Regional Colleges:

Joe Paul Hemphill was uniquely Oklahoman, and he embodied the very values and spirit that make our state grand.

He was a big man in stature, and had a heart for everyone he met. He was a longtime educator who helped instill a love of learning in the lives of countless young people.

Sen. Dan Newberry (R-Tulsa) today issued the following statement regarding the passing of Oral Roberts:

“Today the world mourns the passing of a great man, a great leader and a great mentor, who leaves behind an indelible legacy of ministry and service.

His impact stretched beyond the boundaries of our state to every corner of the world. Age never diminished his passion for the gospel. He finished the race with zeal, and in a manner befitting a man of his tremendous character and unwavering faith.

Sen. Constance N. Johnson announced at a state Capitol press conference on Monday her intention to renew efforts to repeal the death penalty in Oklahoma. Johnson said both economic and ethical concerns make this the right time for the state to reopen dialogue on abolishing the death penalty.

Oklahoma has executed the third-highest number of prisoners since 1976, when the Supreme Court permitted the death penalty to resume.

Oklahoma’s Republican Senate Majority Leader and his fellow GOP legislators are gutting law enforcement agencies by refusing to deal immediately with dangerous levels of budget cuts – cuts that are beginning to endanger public safety, one of the state’s leading law enforcement advocates said today.