The Senate Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee will begin examining wrecker service compensation in the state on Wednesday, September 16. Senator Don Barrington, who chairs the committee, requested the interim study earlier this year.

“I want this interim study to help determine what a fair and equitable charge is for wrecker service. Due to inflation and increased operational costs in the industry, wreckers are not being fully compensated,” said Barrington, R-Lawton. “We need to look at ways for wreckers to be compensated for the services they provide in the state.”

“I don’t think anyone should be surprised by the numbers just reported on state tax revenues. There had been no signs that the economic climate had improved from July to August, and that was confirmed today.

“We will continue to monitor the state revenue picture before making any firm determinations as to how to move forward.

“State agency heads will have to make appropriate adjustments, and we will continue our dialogue with the Governor and Speaker Benge on the long-term solutions to this challenge.”

Members of the media and the public alike can now get updates from the Oklahoma State Senate on Twitter. The tweets will be sent by the Senate Communications Department, a nonpartisan staff division that serves all 48 members of the Oklahoma State Senate. The messages, also known as tweets, will include updates on key committee and task force meetings, press conferences and floor action on specific legislation.

Having played an integral part in facilitating communication and cooperation between the Oklahoma Citizen Advocates for Recovery and Treatment Association (OCARTA) and the state legislature, Sen. Don Barrington was recently named 2009 Legislator of the Year by OCARTA.

OCARTA Executive Director Donna Woods Bauer praised Barrington for his support of the organization and efforts to make a significant contribution to the lives of Oklahomans affected by addiction.

There is a tremendous difference between education and indoctrinationand citizens and parents in every city, county and state of the nation need to pay very close attention to what is planned for September 8, 2009. Thats according to State Sen. Steve Russell, who said he has been inundated with concern from constituents following news reports that President Obama planned a satellite address to the nations school children this coming Tuesday.

Sen. Constance N. Johnson announced on Friday that legislators, Department of Corrections (DOC) officials, members of community-based organizations and the public will meet in the Senate Chamber on Thursday, Sept. 3, for a discussion on the impact of the state’s high incarceration rates.

Senate President Pro Tem Glenn Coffee was recently selected as the 2009 Legislator of the Year by the Oklahoma Rifle Association (ORA).
Founder of the Sportsman Caucus in the Senate and member of the ORA, Coffee is an avid hunter and has consistently supported and even authored legislation that values the right to bear arms. Coffee said he was honored to receive such an award and looked forward to the future.

Wednesday, August 26 marks Women's Equality Day. The date was chosen by Congress in 1972 to commemorate the passage of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, granting women the right to vote. To celebrate the event, Sen. Debbe Leftwich and Rep. Lee Denney will honor leaders of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) during a ceremony at the State Capitol.

A legislative task force to review the 2005 Achieving Classroom Excellence (ACE) Act will hold its first meeting on Tuesday, August 25 at the State Capitol.

Sen. John Ford, Senate Education Chair, was author of the legislation creating the task force to conduct a comprehensive review of ACE and determine whether the program should be modified to better meet its objectives. The task force will be co-chaired by Representative Ann Coody, R-Lawton.

Judge Vicki Robertsons ruling we saw today was obviously disappointing, but as author of the legislation I am considering all available options in this situation including a formal request to the Attorney General to appeal the ruling.