“Raising the Lifetime Maximum from $500,000 to $1 million will prevent Oklahomans from losing critical insurance coverage. I am proud to have sponsored this legislation as it affords some of our most vulnerable citizens the critical care they need. This is an excellent example of a public-private enterprise finding solutions for a problem. The High Risk Pool prevents the necessity of heavy handed government insurance regulation and instead offers real answers to Oklahomans in need of help.”

Following the State Board of Education’s approval of stronger test standards for grades three through eight, Senator Clark Jolley - principal author of the Education Accountability Reform Act - made the following statement:

As Texas families this week celebrate the signing of legislation expanding the age of mandatory insurance coverage for children with autism, Sen. Jay Paul Gumm said Oklahoma families struggling to care for autistic children deserve better from their state Legislature.

Texas’ new law expands the age of mandatory insurance coverage for children with autism from the time of diagnosis to their 10th birthday. Gumm noted that Texas’ legislation was approved by a majority Republican Legislature and signed by a Republican governor.

Sen. Jonathan Nichols on Monday commended Gov. Brad Henry for taking a strong stand to protect Oklahoma families by signing legislation that establishes stronger penalties for domestic abuse and possession of child pornography.

Over the course of the next three days more than 80 paintings belonging to the State Senate Art Collection will be removed from the state Capitol. The artwork is being transported to the Gilcrease Museum in Tulsa, where it will be displayed from July through October.

Dr. Duane King, Executive Director of the Gilcrease Museum, said the collection is an extraordinary reflection of the state’s culture.

“We have obviously known this would be a tough budget year with needed revenues not coming in. Just like families and businesses thoughout Oklahoma, your state government will continue to be conscientious and responsible with taxpayer dollars.”

Legislation to exempt Oklahoma soldiers from state income tax on federal pay has been signed into law. Senate Bill 881, authored by Sen. Steve Russell, R-Oklahoma City, and Rep. Gary Banz, R-Midwest City, was signed by Gov. Brad Henry on Tuesday. The tax exemption will apply to all troops, whether they are National Guard, Reserve or active.

Earlier this month, members of an Oklahoma delegation traveled to Washington, D.C. to receive the Partners in Conservation Award from Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar. This coalition of individuals and agencies worked collaboratively with the Bureau of Reclamation and the Chickasaw Nation to protect valuable aquifer resources and to improve water resource conditions in Oklahoma.

The tone of the first session of the 52nd Oklahoma Legislature was set early on when Senate Republicans wrote into the Senate Rules special protections for insurance companies and the theme continued until the very last day in what Senate Democratic Leader Charlie Laster is describing as a “Special Interest Feeding Frenzy.”

With the passage of a landmark lawsuit reform bill; a new centralized function for state information services that will save Oklahoma millions of dollars, as it has in other states; and the new public-private partnership which will ensure OSU Medical Center’s future; a water bill that keeps Oklahomans in control of our most precious commodity; and many other major reforms, the first legislative session under a Republican majority produced unprecedented success and offers more opportunities to continue a reform agenda in 20