State Sen. J. Berry Harrison (D-Fairfax) was honored by his fellow members of the Oklahoma State Senate on Tuesday. Harrison, who is completing his sixteenth year in the Senate, will be leaving the district 10 post due to term limits.

Over 500 international high school and college students descended Tuesday on the State Capitol for International Student Awareness Day.

State Senator Bernest Cain (D-Oklahoma City), who serves as the co-chair of the Special Joint Committee on International Development, said 57 countries were represented at the event.

The event was sponsored by the Special Joint Committee on International Development, the Governor’s International Team and the Oklahoma Department of Commerce. Rep. Shane Jett, (R-Tecumseh) was the event’s House co-chair.

Calling the measure “exceedingly harsh” and saying it goes “way too far,” the Senate author of a bill that criminalizes offering humanitarian assistance to undocumented immigrants said Monday that he will not seek a hearing on the measure in committee.

Senator Jeff Rabon, D-Hugo, sent a letter Monday afternoon to Senate Health and Human Resources Committee Chairman Bernest Cain, explaining that he would not be requesting a hearing for House Bill 3119.

Using pension obligation bonds to fulfill the unfunded liability in state pension system is a risky venture that lawmakers should avoid, State Senator Kenneth Corn said Friday.

Pension obligation bonds are, at best, politically-motivated and risky short-term fixes for long-term problems. It would be like borrowing money from the bank to pay off your credit card debt, Corn said. You just trade one debt for another and in all likelihood youre going to go out and charge up your credit cards again.

Senator Jeff Rabon, Chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Natural Resources and Regulatory Services, noted the recent wildfires that have swept across this state has prompted the Senate to boldly step forward with a plan that will help create a safer Oklahoma.

“The Senate felt like we had to step in, and put forth a plan that will give these rural fire departments the ability to continue to be the first line of defense against wildfires that threaten our homes, our churches, our businesses and our farm and ranchland.” Rabon said.

The Senate Finance Committee passed a measure Tuesday that will provide an income tax deduction for volunteer fire fighters, reserve police officers and reserve sheriff's deputies. House Bill 2073 is principally authored by Senator Jim Wilson (D-Tahlequah) and Representative Glen Smithson (D-Sallisaw).

As part of National Agriculture Week, which continues through March 25, State Sen. Daisy Lawler will present a resolution on the Senate Floor Wednesday proclaiming March 22, 2006, to be Agriculture Day in the State of Oklahoma. The resolution will be heard when the Senate convenes at 1:30 p.m.

Upper Chamber Completes Work on Senate Bills Ahead of Deadline

Senate President Pro Tempore Mike Morgan touted the accomplishments of Senate Democrats Wednesday saying that the first third of the 2006 legislative session has been a tremendous success.

The Oklahoma State Senate approved a resolution Wednesday thanking and recognizing the efforts of firefighters in dealing with Oklahoma’s recent drought and the resulting wildfires. Senator Richard Lerblance, D-Hartshorne, is the principal author of SR 71. All other Senate members are coauthors of the measure.

A bipartisan bill to protect property owners from abuses of government’s power of eminent domain was unanimously approved by the Senate on Wednesday.

The Oklahoma Property Owners Protection Act would prohibit any public entity from seizing private property solely for the purpose of economic development, and would require municipalities to provide relocation assistance for those who are forced to move by an eminent domain proceeding.