Laughlin To Laster: Make Up Your Mind

Senate Republican Floor Leader Owen Laughlin (left) responded today to last week's attack on Senate Republicans by Democrat Floor Leader Charles Laster (right), saying one criticism in particular made him chuckle.

“Senator Laster criticized Republicans for defeating a bill that would have recreated the State Board for Property and Casualty Rates, insinuating that bringing back this government bureaucracy would somehow reduce insurance costs,” said Laughlin, R-Woodward.

“That’s pretty funny because in 2006 Senator Laster actually authored the bill that repealed this board from state law. I guess he was against it before he was for it,” he said.

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Senate 'Pro-life' Veto Override Attempt Fails

The evenly divided Oklahoma Senate today fell a vote short of the 32 votes needed to override Governor Brad Henry’s veto of a pro-life bill after Democrat Senator Charles Laster (pictured) of Shawnee flip-flopped by voting against an override motion after voting 3 previous times in favor of the legislation this session, once in committee and twice on the Senate floor.

But Senate Bill 714’s author, Senator James A. Williamson of Tulsa, said he will press on with future attempts to override Henry’s veto.

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Laster Bill Would Ban Robocalls

A Shawnee lawmaker wants to put an end to what some say are obnoxious automated phone calls on behalf of candidates and issues.

Senate Bill 1008 by Sen. Charles Laster, D-Shawnee, would remove an exemption granted under the Oklahoma Telemarketer Restriction Act, which allows calls from charitable or religious groups, candidates, causes and organizations, or any activity of a nonprofit entity. The measure still would allow candidates to make personal campaign calls. But it would ban the use of random-dialing, automated devices used to generate calls for candidates, causes or organizations.

Laster said outrage from constituents prompted him to write the bill. "I hate them (the automated calls), as well," he said.

The Attorney General's Office, which oversees the state's "don't call" list, receives numerous complaints about automated calls during election season, spokesman Charlie Price said.

Laster, an attorney, said he doesn't know whether such a bill has been filed before or whether his will even receive a hearing. He also doesn't know whether it will pass legal scrutiny if approved.

A court might have to decide whether the public's desire to be left alone at home outweighs a candidate's right to communicate with the electorate. "I would think there would be tremendous public support for it," Laster said of his proposal. "I am sure there will be some concerns about constitutionality." Laster said that in some cases, outside groups unknown to candidates pay for the calls. He said the calls were worse before November's election than in previous years. "It is a very inexpensive tool candidates are tempted to use," he said.

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