Senator Judy Eason McIntyre along with the a group of Buffalo Soldiers were in attendance with Governor Brad Henry for a ceremonial bill signing today that honors African American soldiers that served in the Civil War. Senate Bill 659 was signed into law on Wednesday, May 18, 2005.

A pair of Republican state senators from the Tulsa area called on Gov. Brad Henry Tuesday to add tobacco tax parity legislation to the agenda for the Legislature’s special session.

News reports last weekend quoted State Treasurer Scott Meacham – the architect of Henry’s poorly-designed tobacco tax program – as saying the governor is “surveying” members of the legislature to determine whether there is support for parity legislation.

Senator Kenneth Corn, Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Public Safety, said today that comments made by Speaker of the House of Representatives Todd Hiett, after Monday’s meeting of the State Board of Equalization show a lack of commitment to keep the citizens of Oklahoma safe.

Two state senators are working together to ensure a Department of Transportation plan to reconstruct the I-240 and I-35 interchanges in two years doesn’t result in eliminating access to a road taken by nearly half of Crossroads Mall’s customers. Sen. Debbe Leftwich, D-OKC, and Sen. Jim Reynolds, R-OKC, said the proposal could take a terrible toll on businesses and their employees.

(Oklahoma City) Senator Adelson announced a five-part plan to reduce healthcare costs in Oklahoma Thursday following the release of a national study that found that the privately insured in Oklahoma pay nearly double the national average in additional premiums to cover the cost of healthcare for the uninsured.

Governor Brad Henry signed a bill into law this week that will consolidate and reorganize the duties and functions of the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department.

"The Department is a conglomeration of various government entities and the current set up is not working efficiently," said Sen. Jim Wilson, D-Tahlequah. "This year, the Department received a 25-percent budget cut which caused the agency to have to restructure it divisions to streamline costs, personnel and activities.

Two tax reduction bills signed into law Tuesday by Governor Brad Henry will mean that Oklahoma working families will soon be paying fewer state income taxes, Senate Finance Chairman Jay Paul Gumm said.

“The tax cuts signed into law by the governor today will strengthen families by putting money back in the pockets of every Oklahoma taxpayer and help us make a better tomorrow for our children,” said Gumm, a Democrat from Durant.

A bill to outlaw the impersonation of a veteran or member of the military has been signed into law. Gov. Brad Henry signed the measure on Monday. Sen. Don Barrington is principal author of Senate Bill 777 which includes fines and jail time for the crime.

“The idea that someone would even do this is a slap in the face to the men and women who really have risked their lives for our country. But when you have an emergency or disaster situation, these impersonators could wind up putting people in harm’s way,” said Barrington, R-Lawton.

Senator Kenneth Corn today called on the Oklahoma Corporation Commission to adopt competitive bidding rules for utilities that would save Oklahomans thousands of dollars on their electric bills.

In testimony before the Commission Monday, Corn, D-Poteau, told commissioners that requiring utility companies to competitively bid electric power generation and fuel purchases will save money for rate payers.

“I am thankful for the leadership Governor Henry has displayed by expanding the special session to include funding priorities for the Oklahoma Department of Corrections (DOC).
“On Tuesday I asked the Governor for his help on this matter because I was fearful that waiting any longer to address the issue of additional funding for DOC would seriously compromise the safety of Oklahoma communities.