Currie Ballard was an extraordinary individual. He was a respected historian and journalist as well as a dedicated public servant. He was not defined or limited by his past, but rather, he was strengthened by it. Currie was an inspiration to many, including me. I feel so fortunate to have known him and to have had the opportunity to work with him in the State Senate. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends, and we join them in mourning the loss of this truly great Oklahoman. Senate President Pro Tempore Brian Bingman.

OKLAHOMA CITY Citing conflict of interest, Sen. Ralph Shortey said Friday the chairman of the Statewide Virtual Charter School Board should resign. Shortey, R-Oklahoma City, points to a clear conflict of interest involving John Harrington of Edmond, who currently serves as the chairman of the Statewide Virtual Charter School Board, while at the same time serving as the Chief Executive Officer of Funds for Learning, LLC, a company that he owns that performs e-rate consulting services for Oklahoma public schools.

Oklahoma’s incarceration rates, especially for nonviolent offenders, have grown significantly in recent years filling prisons to capacity and costing the state millions of dollars. To address this growing problem, Sen. Josh Brecheen and House Speaker Jeff Hickman authored Senate Bill 1720, which was recently signed into law. The act will strengthen community supervision requirements of offenders to ensure proven behavior modification methods are used to lower the state’s high recidivism/incarceration rates and help these individuals become productive, self-sufficient citizens.

The Oklahoma State University Museum of Art today packed 55 pieces from the Oklahoma State Senate art collection for transportation to the University’s new Postal Plaza Gallery in downtown Stillwater. The paintings will be featured in the University’s upcoming exhibition entitled Framing History: Highlights from the Oklahoma State Capitol Senate Collection.

The 15,000 square foot gallery is Oklahoma State University’s first dedicated museum facility. The public exhibition will run from July 7, 2014, to Oct. 25, 2014.

President Pro Tempore Brian Bingman comments on the death this week of former state Sen. William “Bill” Schuelein, 86, of Miami. A Democrat, Schuelein represented District 1 in the Oklahoma Senate from 1972 to 1992. He passed away on Wednesday at his home.

Sens. Josh Brecheen and Anthony Sykes issued the following statements after today’s Senate approval of House Bill 3399. The measure, approved by a vote of 31 to 10, repeals the Common Core standards and prevents federal control over standards and assessments.

The Senate concluded the 2nd session of the 54th Legislature a week ahead of schedule Friday.

President Pro Tempore Brian Bingman said the session was challenging, yet productive, citing many accomplishments passed into law this year, including:

Senate President Pro Tempore Brian Bingman comments on House Joint Resolution 1033, which will allow for the issuance of up to $120 million in bond indebtedness with a 10-year repayment term to repair the state Capitol.

“We disagree with Mr. Fent’s assessment and are hopeful the courts will as well. When the people of Oklahoma added this provision to our state’s constitution in 1992, it was clear that it was meant to protect Oklahomans from tax hikes, not tax cuts. We believe the courts will agree that this lawsuit represents a manipulation of the intent of this constitutional provision and will be thrown out, allowing Oklahomans to see a reduction in their taxes as promised.” –Senate President Pro Tempore Brian Bingman, R-Sapulpa.

Senate President Pro Tempore Brian Bingman comments on Senate passage of House Bill 2562, which sets the state’s gross production tax rate at 2 percent for any new wells drilled in the state for the first 36 months of production, followed by a permanent rate of 7 percent thereafter.