State Senator Mary Easley (D-Tulsa) wants to protect the privacy of mourning families from picketers and other public demonstrations seeking to disrupt funerals in order to bring attention to their causes.

Easley, who serves as vice-chair of the Senate Energy and Environment Committee, filed a measure that would make it illegal to picket prior to, during and following the commencement of a funeral. The House co-author is Rep. Wade Rousselot (D- Waggoner).

Oklahomans now have even greater access to events at the State Capitol via the Internet. As of Wednesday, February 1, streaming audio and video will be available from two Senate committee rooms as well as in the Senate Chamber. In addition, beginning Monday, all floor votes on bills can be viewed in real time on the Senate website.

Senate President Pro Tempore Mike Morgan said the Senate has been on the cutting edge when it comes to utilizing new technology to open up the legislative process.

Senator Tom Adelson, chairman of the Senate Appropriations Sub-Committee on Health and Social Services, today congratulated the Oklahoma Health Care Authority for identifying a way to reduce billing errors and save the state $30 million.

The senator said that he now plans to reduce the OHCA budget by a corresponding amount.

The Senate author of the “Back-to-School” sales tax holiday said the tax cut, targeted directly to middle class families, will be among the first bills considered by the Senate Finance Committee.

Senator Jay Paul Gumm, D-Durant and chair of the Finance Committee, said he was pleased Gov. Brad Henry joined Senate Democrats in putting the sales tax holiday at the top of the tax cut agenda. The governor announced Wednesday the proposal would be a centerpiece of his tax cut agenda; Senate Democrats did the same a week earlier.

Senate President Pro Tempore Mike Morgan announced Wednesday that intends to fast-track through the Senate a measure that would expand college scholarship opportunities for high school students in Oklahoma.

Morgan’s plan calls for raising the maximum income level under which students are eligible to take part in the Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program from $50,000 to $75,000. The measure would increase the number of students eligible to take part in the program by 20 percent.

Senate President Pro Tempore Mike Morgan and members of the Senate Democratic Caucus today announced their “Agenda for a Safer Oklahoma” at the Oklahoma State Capitol.

“We believe government should be accountable for the safety of its citizens – those people who work hard and play by the rules and ask only that they be allowed the chance to raise their children in a secure community,” Morgan said. “Our agenda will do that by making sure our prisons are adequately staffed and that our state law enforcement agencies and our rural fire departments have the resources they need.

An Oklahoma state senator’s fight to enact harsher penalties for repeat child molesters came to a top-rated national cable news network Saturday evening.

Senator Jay Paul Gumm appeared on the Jan. 28 edition of “The Big Story Primetime”, broadcast nationally on the Fox News Channel. Gumm, D-Durant, was invited to appear to discuss Senate Bill 1747, a measure he wrote that would make repeat child molesters eligible for the death penalty or life without parole.

Senate President Pro Tempore Mike Morgan and Senator Stratton Taylor, chairman of the Appropriations Sub-Committee on Education, today announced funding proposals for Higher Education and CareerTech completing Senate Democrats $300 million education funding plan.

The co-chairs of Oklahoma’s Cancer Caucus said the loss of Sen. Robert M. Kerr underscores the need to raise awareness about cancer and use every resource possible to fight the deadly disease.

The organization was formed last June making Oklahoma only the third state in the nation to have an official caucus to develop and pass legislation dealing with cancer research, prevention and treatment. Sen. Debbe Leftwich, D-Oklahoma City, and Rep. Kris Steele, R-Shawnee, are co-chairs of the Caucus.

Senator Robert M. Kerr’s tomorrows were always more important to him than his yesterdays. After expecting the news for weeks, we learned Senator Kerr from Altus passed away in Oklahoma City early Wednesday morning. He is not the first nor will he be the last great man or woman to succumb to the cancer cell’s wrath, but his legacy won’t be just his valiant fight with cancer.