State Sen. Susan Paddack said she was extremely pleased that Gov. Brad Henry signed Senate Bill 930 into law. The tort reform bill would protect health care providers who do charity work. Paddack, D-Ada, was principal author of SB 930.

“There are doctors throughout this state who want to help fill that need for volunteer services, but may hesitate to do so because of the fear of becoming the target of a frivolous lawsuit,” Paddack said. “SB 930 will give them the protection they need.”

State Sen. Cliff Branan, principal author of Senate Bill 507, said Oklahoma has received another black eye in the national media because of Gov. Brad Henry’s veto of the comprehensive lawsuit reform legislation. The May 10, 2007 Wall Street Journal article said “Oklahoma loses to Texas—again.”

On Wednesday the evenly divided Oklahoma Senate again fell one short of the 32 votes needed to override Gov. Brad Henrys veto of SB 714, a pro-life bill that would prohibit state funds, facilities, and employees from being used to perform abortions except to save the life of the mother.

But Senate Bill 714s author, Sen. James A. Williamson of Tulsa, said he will continue the effort to ban state funding for abortions.

The governor will soon decide the fate of legislation to ensure judges can protect themselves and others in courthouses by allowing them to carry weapons. That legislation won final passage in the Senate on Tuesday and is now awaiting consideration by Gov. Brad Henry.

The leaders of the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma and the Catholic Diocese of Tulsa joined State Sen. James A. Williamson on Tuesday in support of a measure to restrict the performance of abortions at state facilities or by state employees.

Senate Bill 714 was vetoed by Gov. Brad Henry last month. Williamson has vowed to continue bringing up the legislation until he is successful in an override of the veto. Williamson said he intends to move to override when the Senate meets on Wednesday.

A trio of Democratic Senators Tuesday blasted Sen. James Williamson, R-Tulsa, over his latest effort to override Gov. Brad Henry’s veto of Senate Bill 714.

Sen. Kenneth Corn on Tuesday announced that fundraising efforts for “The Greatest Generation Project” will allow 51 World War II veterans in his district to visit the WWII memorial in Washington, D.C.

Together with Rep. Neil Brannon and Rep. Glen Bud Smithson, Sen. Corn initiated fundraising for the project in February, and enough money has been raised to cover all travel expenses for the group of veterans.

Corn said the inspiration behind the project was that all WWII veterans should have the opportunity to visit the memorial, regardless of their ability to pay.

National and state business and education leaders briefed members of the Senate and House Education Committees Tuesday on Oklahoma’s poor showing in a recent education study by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. The report, called “Leaders and Laggards,” gave Oklahoma an overall grade of “D”. Burns Hargis, Vice Chairman of Bank of Oklahoma, called the report “disturbing.”

Two of the principal architects of a measure to strengthen the Teacher’s Retirement System of Oklahoma (TRS) praised Gov. Brad Henry for his support of Senate Bill 357. Sen. Kenneth Corn, D- Poteau, and Sen. Mike Mazzei, R-Tulsa, joined the governor for a signing ceremony at the State Capitol on Monday.

Legislative leaders from the Oklahoma Senate and House of Representatives disputed published comments by Gov. Brad Henry that an agreement is near on a lawsuit reform compromise.

Henry recently vetoed Senate Bill 507, a bipartisan lawsuit reform bill passed by the Legislature. In the May 6, 2007, edition of The Sunday Oklahoman, Henry said he feels a compromise on lawsuit reform is “very, very close.”