Legislative leaders today announced plans to seek a statewide vote on the State-Tribal Gaming Act by introducing a new proposal that would repeal Senate Bill 553 and put the issue on the November General Election ballot.

Senate President Pro Tempore Cal Hobson and House Speaker Larry Adair said new language will be inserted in Senate Bill 1252. The amended bill will combine Senate Bill 553 and provisions that had been slated for a trailer bill.

COMMENT BY SENATOR MIKE MORGAN, D-STILLWATER
“What part of open doesn’t the minority party leadership understand? Weeks ago, I communicated to my Republican colleagues our intentions that this final version of the bill would be written by the committee in public. I guess they’d rather put out a press release than take ‘yes’ for an answer.”

Senate Republican leaders said the announced plan by Democrat legislative leaders to delay consideration of lawsuit reform legislation until the final week of the legislative session is “terrible public policy.” Republicans also demanded that the final version of the bill be written in an open conference committee, and made available for public review at least one week before the end of the legislative session.

State Sen. Jim Reynolds is urging Oklahomans to mail or email petitions to U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe to help secure an appropriate location for a U.S.S. Oklahoma Memorial at Pearl Harbor. Sen. Inhofe, who supports the project, said the more public support he receives, the better the chance he’ll have of convincing fellow members to get behind the project.

Oklahoma Senators Wednesday sent legislation strengthening Oklahoma’s laws prohibiting the sale of tobacco products to minors to the desk of Governor Brad Henry.

State leaders estimate that Senate Bill 1256, if signed into law by the governor, will protect $7 million in federal funding the state receives for substance abuse programs managed by the Department of Mental Health, said Senator Ben Robinson, author of the bill.

A bill to bring art to communities across the state has won final legislative approval. Sen. Penny Williams, D-Tulsa, is principal author of the “Art in Public Places Act.” She said the measure will enrich the state’s cultural development—an investment that will enhance quality of life and boost economic development.

Senator Charles Ford announced the dedication of another original painting depicting a moment in Oklahoma’s rich history. The painting, titled “The Butterfield Stage at Boggy Creek” by artist Joe Beeler of Sedona, Arizona, was unveiled during a ceremony in the Senate Chamber this afternoon.

Senate Republican Leader James A. Williamson, the architect of the “Marriage Protection Constitutional Amendment,” praised the House of Representatives for passing House Bill 2259 Thursday on a 92 to 4 vote.

“This is a proud day for the people of Oklahoma and for the Oklahoma Legislature, and I want to thank the House of Representatives for its quick consideration of the Marriage Protection Amendment,” stated Williamson, R-Tulsa.

“Oklahomans deserve the right to vote to protect traditional marriage, and they’ll get a chance to do so this November,” he said.

Senator Charles Ford announced the unveiling of a portrait of “The Buffalo Skinner’s Cart,” by Gordon Snidow, is the latest in a series of paintings commissioned by the Oklahoma State Senate Historical Preservation Fund, Inc.

Snidow has been the foremost storyteller of the contemporary cowboy for over forty years and is one of America’s outstanding fine artists.

The State Senate has given its final approval to a measure to attract high-paying manufacturing jobs to the state. Sen. Jay Paul Gumm is principal author of Senate Joint Resolution 54, which is aimed at bringing firearm manufacturing to Oklahoma.

“There are parts of the country that are hostile to gun manufacturing. What we want to do is get the word out that we welcome these jobs. Oklahoma has a great western heritage and a college that has a top-notch gunsmith program. We want these companies to know we’d be a perfect fit,” said Gumm.