A tougher, more responsive complaint process to help guard against abuse or neglect, uniform procedures for nursing home inspections and increased funding for better staffing are among the reforms being suggested by a Tulsa state legislator who is leading a State Senate review of the
industry.

Senator Penny Williams is working to pass reform legislation to address problems uncovered in the ongoing investigation of the State Health Department's nursing home inspection process.

Statement by Senator Stratton Taylor,
Senate President Pro Tempore

With veterans groups set to rally at the State Capitol Tuesday, State Senator Sam Helton renewed his call for Governor Keating not to pursue his proposed cut to veterans programs in the final weeks of the legislative session.

A Tulsa state legislator will lead a Senate review of the Oklahoma nursing home industry, with plans to offer reform legislation before the legislative session concludes at the end of May.

Senator Penny Williams, who has been working to improve staffing levels in nursing homes for a number of years, said the ongoing investigation of the State Health Department's nursing home inspection process underscores the need for a thorough review and legislation this year.

The budget leader of the Oklahoma State Senate is asking Governor Keating to present legislative leaders with a revised executive budget reflecting available funds and a detailed listing of the obligations that still must be met before the conclusion of the legislative session at the end of the month.

After a meeting with the Governor Wednesday morning, Senator Kelly Haney said it was clear that the chief executive had no plan in place for meeting remaining state budget obligations.

OKLAHOMA CITY - A bill that would enable Oklahomans to hold their HMO's legally responsible for health care decisions has been signed into law by Governor Keating. That's according to the legislation's author, Senator Brad Henry.

Senate Bill 1206 enables members to sue their HMO if it improperly denied them necessary medical treatment ordered by their primary physician or made other health care decisions that were found to be detrimental to them.

Statement by Senator Stratton Taylor, Senate President Pro Tempore

"It's my hope that we can work out an agreement with Governor Keating that will deliver meaningful tag reform to Oklahoma motorists. Despite all the rhetoric we've heard on this issue, I really don't think we're that far apart."

Oklahomans would already be enjoying low tag prices comparable to those in Virginia if Governor Keating had not vetoed a car tag bill last year in an effort to use the issue in this year's elections, according to a State Senate leader.

Senator Cal Hobson was responding to comments made by Governor Keating and Virginia Governor Jim Gilmore at the State Republican Party Convention in Oklahoma City Saturday.

The State Corporation Commission was simply trying to protect its "political turf," not Oklahoma consumers, when it issued a report citing objections to an electric deregulation bill earlier this week, according to the Senate author of deregulation bill.

A tag reduction bill advocated by Governor Keating and Republican legislators would hit education hardest, delivering an annual cut ranging from $76 million to $84 million to public school budgets, according to a Senate budget leader who is advocating a more responsible tag cut. The Governor and minority party members are pushing a tag bill that would cut $139 million out of the state budget pie, the largest slice of which is reserved for education.