State Sen. Jim Reynolds and Rep. Gary Banz announced they will donate an American flag that flew over the USS Oklahoma National Memorial to the Norman Veterans Center. The lawmakers will also present the staff with a citation thanking them for their dedication to caring for Oklahoma veterans. The lawmakers will make their presentation on Friday, December 19 at 10:00 a.m. at the Veterans Center. Reynolds said his first-hand experience with the staff prompted the tribute.

Senate President Pro Tem Designate Glenn Coffee, R-Oklahoma City, announced the composition of the twenty standing committees and Appropriations Subcommittees today.

“The citizens of Oklahoma have sent outstanding leadership to the State Senate,” said Coffee. “I appreciate the input of the Minority Leader on the composition of the committees. Nonetheless, we believe we’ve maximized the talents and experience in our membership with the official composition of our committees.

Lawmakers at the state and federal levels are looking for ways to spur economic growth, and an Oklahoma legislator has a plan to boost his state’s economy.

Senator Jay Paul Gumm says a tax cut geared toward working and middle class Oklahomans is “a sure-fire way” to strengthen Oklahoma’s economy. That is why the Democratic senator from Durant has continued his fight to remove the sales tax on groceries.

The weak economy is negatively impacting many industries including construction. Due to the economic slowdown, many commercial construction projects are getting put on hold across the state. State Sen. Harry Coates says that construction professionals are seeing even more of their job opportunities go to out-of-state entities because of an unfair state law.

While the legislative session will not get into full swing until February, momentum is already building for Senate Bill 1, also known “Nick’s Law.” The legislation would require health insurance companies to cover diagnosis and treatment of autism in children.

Senate President Pro Tem Designate Glenn Coffee, R-Oklahoma City, named the Senate’s new committee Vice-Chairs on Wednesday. Committee chairs were announced last week.

Under the new committee structure, which was reduced last week from 22 full committees and standing subcommittees to 20, fifteen Republican Senators and five Democrats will assume leadership roles in their respective committees in the 2009-10 legislative session.

State Sen. Sean Burrage has been named as one of only 24 elected public officials to be selected for the Aspen Institute’s Rodel Fellowships in Public Leadership 2008 Class of Fellows. Each of the members of the class was selected based on their reputation for intellect, thoughtfulness, and a bipartisan approach to governing. The class is evenly divided between Republicans and Democrats and represents Fellows from 22 states, serving both local and state levels of government. Burrage is the only elected official from Oklahoma chosen for the 2008 class.

Sen. Kenneth Corn has announced plans to file legislation that would prohibit students under the age of 18 from dropping out of school. The measure would also implement a Statewide Truancy Court Program, providing every District Attorney in the state with a truancy officer. The proposal is supported by the Oklahoma District Attorney’s Council, Corn noted.

Corn said reducing Oklahoma’s dropout rate is critical to ensuring future economic growth in the state.

Oklahoma State Senate President Pro Tempore Designate Glenn Coffee announced Tuesday that he has finalized his majority leadership staff for the 2009 legislative session.

Coffee’s staff includes:

Fred Morgan, Senior Policy Advisor and Legal Counsel to the President Pro Tempore
Former State Rep. Morgan continues in his role as Coffee’s top aide.

Becky Woodie, Personal Assistant to the President Pro Tempore
Ms. Woodie has served as Coffee’s personal assistant since he was first elected to the State Senate a decade ago.

Oklahoma State Senate President Pro Tempore Designate Glenn Coffee, R-Oklahoma City, announced Monday that he is reducing the number of Senate committees and subcommittees by two, from 22 to 20. Coffee also named the Senate’s new committee chairs on Monday.

Changes to the Senate’s committee structure include:

The elimination of the Criminal Jurisprudence Committee.
Combining two Appropriations subcommittees – Health and Social Services, and Human Services – into a single Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Services.