Senate Republicans gathered Wednesday to demand a vote on an income tax cut agreement previously reached between Governor Fallin, Speaker Steele, and President Pro Tem Bingman. The agreement, announced on May 17th, was used in the final crafting of House Bill 3061. Senate President Pro Tem Brian Bingman, flanked by the entire Senate Republican caucus, condemned House Republicans for backing out of a deal reached in good faith.

The Oklahoma Legislative Black Caucus issued the following statement today regarding the Senate’s refusal to hear the nomination of Jim Roth to the State Election Board.

“We are disheartened by the Senate Rules Committee’s refusal to allow Gov. Mary Fallin’s nomination of Jim Roth to the State Election Board to be heard in committee. Committee Chair Sen. Rob Johnson’s statements that he did not have the votes to pass the nomination are insufficient to address his refusal to even give Mr. Roth a chance to receive an up or down vote.

The Senate unveiled the latest artwork commissioned by the Oklahoma State Senate Preservation Fund Wednesday. The portrait of oil entrepreneur and Phillips Petroleum Company founder, Frank Phillips, was painted by renowned Oklahoma artist Wayne Cooper and sponsored by Sen. John Ford, Rep. Earl Sears, Rep. Steve Martin, ConocoPhillips and Phillips 66.

Before serving in the Senate, Sen. Ford had a 34-year career with the Phillips Petroleum Company so he was pleased to honor its founder.

Sen. Sean Burrage, D-Claremore, released the following statement Wednesday after the Senate Rules Committee refused to consider Gov. Mary Fallin’s nomination of former State Corporation Commissioner Jim Roth to serve on the State Election Board.

The Senate General Conference Committee on Appropriations has given approval to Senate Bill 1230, a measure Senate author Mike Mazzei said would result in meaningful income tax reductions that would stimulate the economy while truly protecting core services such as education, public safety, health care and transportation. The plan would reduce the top income tax rate to 5 percent in 2013 and 4.75 percent in 2014.

Hundreds of breast cancer survivors and patients along with their friends and families and other Oklahomans interested in learning about the disease gathered at the State Capitol Tuesday for the 4th Annual Breast Cancer Awareness Day. Sen. Judy Eason McIntyre and Rep. Tommy Hardin co-chaired the educational event.

Being a five-year breast cancer survivor, Eason McIntyre knows the importance of early detection, which is why she has hosted the event ever since finding out she had breast cancer in 2006.

State Sen. Clark Jolley said news that the cooler had broken down at the state medical examiner’s office was just one of many examples of why it was crucial to move forward with plans to construct a new facility. The breakdown meant having to transfer 28 bodies to two refrigerated trucks.

The Senate today approved a resolution commemorating the Centennial of Jim Thorpe’s gold-medal winning performances in the 1912 Olympic Games. Authored by Sen. David Holt, Senate Resolution 61 also celebrates Oklahoma’s rich Olympic tradition and the growing Olympic movement in Oklahoma.

Sen. Jim Wilson today said he has filed Senate Resolution 65, affirming support for the constitutional definition of the flash test for kerosene, as a result of the precedent set by yesterday’s passage of Senate Resolution 62. The resolution reaffirmed support of traditional marriage.

“According to its author, Sen. Clark Jolley, Senate Resolution 62 merely says “we have not changed our minds” about language in the Oklahoma Constitution,” said Wilson, D-Tahlequah. “In other words, we REALLY mean it.”

The full Senate has reaffirmed support of traditional marriage with the passage of Senate Resolution 62 by Sen. Clark Jolley on Monday. Jolley said the resolution, which was approved 40 to 4, was in reaction to President Obama’s recent announcement supporting same sex marriage.

“I believe traditional one man, one woman marriage is still the bedrock of our society. While the president’s stated views may have changed, I do not believe it reflects the values of this state,” said Jolley, R-Edmond. “That’s why I authored this resolution.”