We have just concluded the sixth week of the 2010 legislative session and successfully met our second important deadline.
March 11th marked the final day to hear legislation from this chamber on the floor of the Senate.
During the three week time frame for floor debate and votes on Senate bills that had been approved by committee, we considered 539 bills, including 353 substantive measures, many dealing with complex statutory revisions.
Some sparked provocative and eloquent discussions and debates, both for and against various issues, yet throughout it all, we maintained a schedule that never kept us on the floor past 6 p.m. and ensured we met our deadline in an orderly fashion. For that I want to express sincere thanks to our Majority Floor Leader, Todd Lamb, who managed the daily agenda with the upmost efficiency and statesmanship.
I am also extremely pleased with the progress of numerous key agenda items—proposals aimed at moving our state forward, ensuring we are creating a firm foundation to build upon when the recession ends and economic recovery begins. We’ve passed legislation to improve the quality and variety of educational opportunities, enhance public policy aimed at promoting job growth, and better promote health and public safety in Oklahoma.
One of those agenda items includes our ongoing efforts to improve Oklahoma’s Worker’s Comp system, ensuring greater fairness to business and injured workers alike. Senate Bill 1973 would address needed reforms, which we believe will result in an improved business climate and job growth.
We’ve approved legislation expanding the authority to create charter schools to our states two larges municipalities as well as giving chartering authority to tribes. These institutions allow creativity, innovation and the flexibility to create an enhanced educational experience for children—and I see that as an extremely positive development in terms of the quality of education we offer students in our state.
This past week we also approved three pieces of legislation by wide bipartisan margins aimed at better protecting the sanctity of human life and better safeguards for the health of Oklahoma women. Each of these measures had been previously approved by the Legislature, also on bipartisan votes and had become law, but were prevented from taking effect by court rulings on the basis that they violated Oklahoma’s single subject provision of the State Constitution. Passed again in separate bills, we believe they will prevail over any potential legal challenges and become law.
I was disappointed that legislation to give voters the opportunity to freeze property taxes for older Oklahomans failed by a single vote in the Senate.
It seems particularly disingenuous that one of the most vocal self-proclaimed advocates for seniors failed to support this critical measure. This proposal would have had the potential to benefit seniors living in every single community in this state, particularly those on fixed incomes, enabling them to keep real dollars to pay for food, medicine and other necessities. When I hear from seniors, by far this is the issue of greatest concern for the vast majority. I believe Oklahoma citizens should have been given the opportunity to decide this issue for themselves.
Coffee Talk
By Senate President Pro Tem Glenn Coffee
March 11th marked the final day to hear legislation from this chamber on the floor of the Senate.
During the three week time frame for floor debate and votes on Senate bills that had been approved by committee, we considered 539 bills, including 353 substantive measures, many dealing with complex statutory revisions.
Some sparked provocative and eloquent discussions and debates, both for and against various issues, yet throughout it all, we maintained a schedule that never kept us on the floor past 6 p.m. and ensured we met our deadline in an orderly fashion. For that I want to express sincere thanks to our Majority Floor Leader, Todd Lamb, who managed the daily agenda with the upmost efficiency and statesmanship.
I am also extremely pleased with the progress of numerous key agenda items—proposals aimed at moving our state forward, ensuring we are creating a firm foundation to build upon when the recession ends and economic recovery begins. We’ve passed legislation to improve the quality and variety of educational opportunities, enhance public policy aimed at promoting job growth, and better promote health and public safety in Oklahoma.
One of those agenda items includes our ongoing efforts to improve Oklahoma’s Worker’s Comp system, ensuring greater fairness to business and injured workers alike. Senate Bill 1973 would address needed reforms, which we believe will result in an improved business climate and job growth.
We’ve approved legislation expanding the authority to create charter schools to our states two larges municipalities as well as giving chartering authority to tribes. These institutions allow creativity, innovation and the flexibility to create an enhanced educational experience for children—and I see that as an extremely positive development in terms of the quality of education we offer students in our state.
This past week we also approved three pieces of legislation by wide bipartisan margins aimed at better protecting the sanctity of human life and better safeguards for the health of Oklahoma women. Each of these measures had been previously approved by the Legislature, also on bipartisan votes and had become law, but were prevented from taking effect by court rulings on the basis that they violated Oklahoma’s single subject provision of the State Constitution. Passed again in separate bills, we believe they will prevail over any potential legal challenges and become law.
I was disappointed that legislation to give voters the opportunity to freeze property taxes for older Oklahomans failed by a single vote in the Senate.
It seems particularly disingenuous that one of the most vocal self-proclaimed advocates for seniors failed to support this critical measure. This proposal would have had the potential to benefit seniors living in every single community in this state, particularly those on fixed incomes, enabling them to keep real dollars to pay for food, medicine and other necessities. When I hear from seniors, by far this is the issue of greatest concern for the vast majority. I believe Oklahoma citizens should have been given the opportunity to decide this issue for themselves.
posted by Mike McCarville @ 2:53 PM
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