Sen. Sean Burrage, Democratic Leader of the State Senate, issued the following statement in reaction to Monday’s selection of Sen. Brian Bingman as President Pro Tempore-Designate for the 54th Legislature:

Senate Republicans Monday voted by acclamation Monday to re-elect Brian Bingman to the position of President Pro Tempore of the Oklahoma state Senate. Bingman, R-Sapulpa, is now President Pro Tempore-Designate for the 54th Legislature. Bingman continues to serve as Senate President Pro Tempore through the end of the 53rd Legislature in 2012. Majority Leader Mike Schulz said Bingman has been an effective leader as lawmakers have worked to promote Oklahoma’s economic recovery with a pro-jobs agenda.

Sen. Dan Newberry today issued the following statement regarding the Governor’s signing of Senate Bill 1274, the Heartbeat Informed Consent Act. The law will require abortion providers to inform patients they have a right to hear the heartbeat of their unborn child before it is aborted.

“There seems to be an irrational political pressure to further erode Oklahoma’s tax base when we have no way to even begin to address all of the needs and obligations we’re currently facing. Reality doesn’t seem to figure into this discussion at all.”—Sen. Sean Burrage, D-Claremore

“We don’t have enough money to pay the bills as it is, and unless natural gas prices start improving, we could find ourselves facing another revenue shortfall in the months ahead. It is beyond irresponsible to still be discussing further cuts in taxes at this point in time.”—Sen. Tom Ivester, D-Sayre

The Governor signed legislation Tuesday to help ensure that blind and deaf students around the state have access to information about available programs that could improve their education. Senate Bill 1119, by Sen. Earl Garrison, would require school districts to provide parents of students with auditory or visual impairments with written information about programs offered by the Oklahoma School for the Blind and the Oklahoma School for the Deaf for which the students might be eligible.

A measure to better protect youth from human trafficking was signed into law earlier this week. House Bill 2518, by Rep. Sally Kern and Sen. Josh Brecheen, strengthens Oklahoma’s human trafficking laws in the hopes of deterring the industry in the state.

Senate President Pro Tempore Brian Bingman today issued the following statement regarding the passage of House Bill 3052. The measure was developed through the Justice Reinvestment Initiative, and is intended to reduce crime while controlling the growth of the state’s prison population.

The Senate today approved legislation intended to reduce unemployment benefit fraud.

Sen. Dan Newberry, Senate author of House Bill 2204, said the bill provides reforms to deter fraud and encourage unemployed workers to actively seek job opportunities.

“Unemployment benefits are intended to provide assistance to those who lose a job, as they transition to new opportunities,” said Newberry, R-Tulsa. “But we must be careful that these benefits do not provide a disincentive to work. This measure helps us strike a better balance between these two concerns.”

State Sen. John Ford said he is gratified that Oklahoma is continuing to pursue ways to further ensure the integrity of the state’s election process. Ford, who represents Washington, Nowata and northern Rogers counties, was the author of a state question requiring voters to provide identification when casting their ballots. The proposed law was overwhelmingly approved by voters in 2010.

Senate President Pro Tempore Brian Bingman today released the following statement on the passage of House Bill 2155, the Oklahoma Option.