Banker: Coffee Loan 'Customary Transaction'

From NBC Bank ~ The bank loan used by Oklahoma Senate President Pro Tem Glenn Coffee to pay his federal tax for 2006 was a standard business loan issued by a federally-regulated bank with normal conditions and requirements like any other loan, according to the president of the bank.

H.K. Hatcher, President of NBC Bank in Oklahoma City, said, "While I appreciate Senator Coffee's desire to avoid exposing our bank to political controversy, I can no longer sit back while a good and honorable man is attacked. I have thus asked Senator Coffee's permission to speak out and clear the air on this matter.

"Our bank has a longstanding business relationship with Glenn Coffee and his family. This loan was made in the ordinary course of business. The interest rate, maturity, collateral and other terms of this loan are in keeping with our standard lending practices. Glenn Coffee, like every one of our customers, had to meet the required conditions before we would agree to loan him the money. He met those requirements and we loaned him the money. As is always the case with Glenn Coffee, he was professional throughout the process."

Hatcher added, "The loan is a straight-forward, customary business transaction in accordance with all the standards set forth by NBC Bank and banking regulations. This loan is no different from the hundreds we transact for customers every month."

"On a personal level, Glenn Coffee and his family enjoy an outstanding reputation with our bank. They have always been thoughtful and responsible in their dealings with us. I have only the highest regard for Glenn and I appreciate and respect his leadership in our state," Hatcher stated.

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Use Of Force To Protect Pregnant Women Measure Passes Legislature, Goes To Henry For Action

From The President Pro Tem's Office ~ Senate Bill 1103 by President Pro Tempore Glenn Coffee will now go before the governor for his signature after receiving unanimous approval from both chambers.

Senate Bill 1103 provides protections for pregnant women who are subject to domestic violence abuse.

The “Use of Force for the Protection of the Unborn Act” defines circumstances that give a pregnant woman the right to use force or deadly force against another to protect her unborn child. Such protection includes reasonable beliefs that the unborn child is threatened, making the use of force immediately necessary for the child’s protection.

“The overwhelming support of this bill shows how important of a safeguard it really is,” said Pro Tem Coffee. “We have chosen today to support a critical measure that allows a pregnant woman to not only save her life but the life of her unborn child as well. I commend my colleagues on rallying together as a legislative body to protect life, and I urge the Governor to join us by signing this bill into law.”

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Race For State Senate Control Starts

By Barbara Hoberock/Capitol Bureau, Tulsa World ~ With the conclusion of last week's party primaries, the race for control of the Oklahoma Senate kicked into a higher gear.

The Legislature's upper chamber is currently tied for the first time in state history with 24 Republicans and 24 Democrats.

Senate Republican leader Glenn Coffee of Oklahoma City is eyeing at least two seats his party could pick up: those held by Democrats Mike Morgan of Stillwater and Nancy Riley of Sand Springs.

Senate Democratic leader Charlie Laster of Shawnee is confident Democrats will retain both the Riley and Morgan seats and possibly make inroads with two seats in western Oklahoma.

"And so, any way you cut the math, if we win two and they win two, we are still tied," Laster said. "Whoever wins three out of four will be in the majority."

Senate District 21: Morgan can't seek re-election due to term limits. Former Payne County Associate District Judge Bob Murphy Jr. of Stillwater moved on to the general election by defeating Democrat rival Gregory M. Wilson of Carney with 63 percent of the vote in Tuesday's primary. Murphy faces former Oklahoma State University President James Halligan of Stillwater on the Nov. 4 ballot.

"Murphy was heavily funded yet didn't have the strongest of showings," Coffee said. "That shows real opportunity."

The district is pretty evenly divided between Republicans and Democrats with nearly 6,000 independents.

"Bob Murphy is a great candidate," Laster said.

Halligan's fundraising is approaching nearly a quarter of a million dollars, while Murphy has raised about $53,250.

Senate District 37: Republican Dan Newberry moved on to challenge Riley in November after defeating Jan Megee in the Republican primary. Riley was originally elected as a Republican, but she switched parties in 2006. The district has 17,215 Democrats, 24,953 Republicans and 5,333 independents, according to state Election Board figures.

To retain the seat, Riley would have to pick up Republicans who voted for Megee, Coffee said. But Laster believes voters in Senate District 37 will vote for the candidate, not the party, adding that Riley, a former school teacher, has represented her constituents very well.

Riley has raised about $211,364 to Newberry's $124,659.

Senate District 27: Term limits mean Sen. Owen Laughlin, R-Woodward, can't seek re-election to the district, which has 14,292 Democrats, 21,803 Republicans and 3,985 independents. Republican Bryce Marlatt earned nearly 76 percent in the primary against Kevin Evans. Both are from Woodward. Marlatt faces Democrat Bowdy E. Peach of Mooreland in November. Peach is the son of state Agriculture Secretary Terry Peach. His most recent filing with the Oklahoma Ethics Commission indicates he has raised less than $15,000 to Marlatt's nearly $60,000.

Despite that, Coffee said Senate Republicans aren't taking anything for granted and will ensure Marlatt is well-funded.

Laster said the Peach family is well-known in the area.

Senate District 31: Sen. Don Barrington, R-Lawton, faces Democrat Keith Erwin in the district, which has 22,895 Democrats, 9,789 Republicans and 3,872 independents. Barrington has raised nearly twice as much as Erwin.

Impact of presidential politics: The degree of influence that the presidential election will have in the fight for control of the Senate depends on who is asked. Coffee believes the race between Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama bodes well for the GOP, saying Oklahomans vote for Republicans as president. Coffee said there is nothing at the top of the ticket to help Democrats.

"I think we have learned from looking at this stuff over the years is that in highly visible legislative races, people will make the decision based on the candidate and not the parties," Laster said. "When the top of the ticket seems to help is when the legislative race is not all that visible."

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Higher Ed Council Honors Coffee, Morgan

Senate President Pro Tempore Mike Morgan and Co-President Pro Tempore Glenn Coffee have been named recipients of the Lifetime Achievement award by the Higher Education Alumni Council of Oklahoma (HEACO).

The leaders and other members of the Senate will be formally honored next week during HEACO’s annual meeting. The ceremony will be held at noon on Thursday, July 24, at the Nigh University Center of the University of Central Oklahoma.

Morgan, who is leaving office this year due to term limits, said, “When I first came to the State Senate 12 years ago, I recognized how crucial it was to support higher education and help more students gain access to our colleges and universities.”

Coffee said he too was honored to receive the Lifetime Achievement award, and would continue to make higher education a top priority during his final two years in the Senate.

“Creating more Oklahoma college graduates and more economic opportunities to keep them in Oklahoma are keys to greater personal prosperity and a better quality of life for all our citizens,” said Coffee, R-Oklahoma City. “I’m proud that we’ve created a permanent funding source for OHLAP, that we’ve continued to dedicate resources for endowed chairs at our state’s colleges and universities, and that we’ve provided hundreds of millions of dollars in new funds for higher education in recent years. Our investments in higher education are an investment in the future of Oklahoma.”

Senate Appropriations Co-Chairs Mike Johnson, R-Kingfisher, and Johnnie Crutchfield, D-Ardmore, will be recognized with the HEACO Distinguished Service award, while Sen. Patrick Anderson, R-Enid, has been selected for the Courage of Convictions honor.

Freshman State Sen. Sean Burrage, D-Claremore, will be honored with the Legislative Newcomer award, given for his resolve and commitment to higher education’s needs during his first two years in the Senate.

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Henry Vetoes GOP Reform Measure

Governor Henry today vetoed Senate Bill 1865, by Senate Co-President Pro Tem Glenn Coffee, that would have created an Office of Accountability and Innovation at the Legislative Service Bureau. The veto prompted criticism from Coffee.

The office was to conduct regular performance audits of agencies, recommend best practices to improve efficiency in government, review tax policy, and suggest new innovations to make government more accountable and effective for taxpayers.

“Gov. Henry’s veto is a big victory for the good ol' boys don't want us to succeed in making state government more open, more accountable, more efficient, and more innovative,” stated Coffee, R-Oklahoma City.

“There are a lot of people who would prefer that the Legislature didn't try to weed out political corruption or ask questions about why taxpayer dollars are spent on projects such as McAlester dog food plants. These people are very happy that Gov. Henry vetoed this bill,” Coffee said.

“Our proposal for a new Office of Accountability and Innovation is similar in concept to the U.S. Congress's Government Accountability Office. This bill represented an effort to make government better, so I am shocked and disappointed the governor said no to SB 1865.

“Gov. Henry’s veto is not the end of this story, though, because Senate Republicans will be back again next year fighting to change state government for the better by making it more efficient and more accountable to the people of Oklahoma,” he said.

In his veto message, Henry said, "While it is critical for the state to conduct regular performance reviews of state agencies and programs, state law already assigns those responsibilities to the Oklahoma Legislature, the Office of State Finance and the State Auditor and Inspector. Creating a new layer of bureaucracy to perform the same duties is duplicative and unnecessarily increases the size and cost of government. In 2003, the Legislature established a joint zero-based budgeting committee, also known as the Legislative Oversight Committee on State Budget and Performance, to conduct state performance reviews. State law specifically charged it with reviewing a specified number of agencies and programs each year. Rather than establish a new state entity, the Legislature should use the existing zero-based budgeting committee to conduct performance reviews and accountability assessments not already duplicated by other state entities."

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Dank's Ethics Reform Measure Approved

The Senate and House today voted overwhelming approval for Rep. David Dank's ethics reform bill and it nows to Governor Henry for action.

House Bill 2196 bans campaign contributions from lobbyists and lobbyist principals during regular legislative sessions. The ban applies to contributions to the campaigns of state legislators and candidates for a state legislative office.

The bill was coauthored Senate Co-President Pro Tem Glenn Coffee, R-Oklahoma City.

“This is a giant step forward for clean and open government,” Dank said. “It puts some important distance between giving money and passing legislation. We finally succeeded in separating the lawmaking process from campaign cash. I am less worried about Granny Smith sending ten dollars to her legislator than I am with deep-pocket lobbyists giving big bucks to the same people who are considering their bills.”

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Senate Passes Accountability Bill

The Oklahoma Senate voted 32 to 15 Monday to send Governor Henry legislation to make state government more accountable, effective and innovative.

Senate Bill 1865, by Co-President Pro Tem Glenn Coffee, creates an Office of Accountability and Innovation at the Legislative Service Bureau. The office will conduct regular performance audits of agencies, recommend best practices to improve efficiency in government, review tax policy, and suggest new innovations to make government more accountable and effective for taxpayers.

The bill is a key piece of the Senate Republicans’ 2008 legislative agenda.

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Coffee: 'Trial Lawyers Have A True Friend'

Senate Co-President Pro Tempore Glenn Coffee today responded to Governor Henry’s veto of House Bill 2458, a bipartisan lawsuit reform bill.

“It is disappointing, but not surprising, that Gov. Henry has once again vetoed a bipartisan lawsuit reform bill. Instead of continually saying ‘no’ to lawsuit reform with his veto pen, the governor needs tell the Legislature which reforms he will say ‘yes’ to,” said Coffee, R-Oklahoma City. “The trial lawyers have a true friend in Gov. Brad Henry.”

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NBA Team Owners Approve SuperSonics Move

NBA team owners voted 28-2 today to approve the relocation of the Seattle SuperSonics to Oklahoma City.

One of the first to respond to the announcement was House Speaker Chris Benge, R-Tulsa, who said, “I am thrilled the NBA relocation committee voted today to allow the SuperSonics to move to Oklahoma City. Having a major league sports team in Oklahoma elevates our state to a new level nationally and internationally.”

“State and Oklahoma City officials came together to craft an economic incentive package that proved to the Sonics ownership we are serious about becoming a major league state. And today the committee showed they see Oklahoma’s potential.”

Senator Jim Inhofe said, “The relocation of the NBA Supersonics franchise to Oklahoma City is a slam-dunk for not only the city, but the whole state of Oklahoma,” Senator Inhofe said. “Oklahoma City proved itself to be a first-rate city for a NBA franchise after its strong support for the Hornets franchise and the City of New Orleans while it recovered from the devastation of Hurricane Katrina.

“Despite last-minute lobbying by Washington State's political leaders to derail the vote on relocation, Oklahoma City and our entire state have taken the latest step toward being the permanent home of a NBA franchise. As evidenced by the lopsided vote of the owners, Oklahoma City and the Sonics management presented a strong case to the NBA.

“The Sonics’ relocation to Oklahoma City has truly been a team effort: from the state legislature's passage of and the Governor’s support for the Quality Jobs incentive legislation, the efforts of Mayor Mick Cornett and the local Oklahoma City business and civic community, to the outstanding leadership of Clay Bennett, Aubrey McClendon, Tom Ward, Jeffrey Records and the rest of the Sonics ownership team. Finally, our state can boast some of the best fans in the country - this move is a testament to their dedication.”

Senate Co-President Pro Tem Glenn Coffee said, “Oklahomans already knew we were ready to become the permanent home for a big league sports franchise, and today’s decision by NBA owners shows that they agree. This is a proud and exciting day for the entire State of Oklahoma, and is evidence that when Oklahomans work together we can make great things happen."

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Terrill Says Coates' 'Paranoia Starting To Show'

By Barbara Hoberock, Tulsa World ~ The state Senate is conducting an internal investigation into the theft of documents from the legislative office of a vocal opponent of a controversial anti-illegal-immigration law.

Sen. Harry Coates (left), R-Seminole, said printed copies of e-mails were taken from his office and posted on an Internet blog.

Coates is a vocal critic of House Bill 1804, an immigration reform law that passed last session. Efforts by opponents to make changes to the measure have not been successful.

Among other things, HB 1804 makes it a felony to knowingly transport illegal immigrants, creates state barriers to hiring illegal workers and requires proof of citizenship to receive certain government benefits. After July 1, it will require state contractors to check the immigration status of workers.

Coates believes that those who support the bill are behind the stolen documents -- which contained conversations about HB 1804 -- and phone calls made to his office and house. He also said someone posed as him to post comments on a Web site that published a story about HB 1804.

Coates called the theft and other actions an attempt to embarrass and intimidate anyone who does not agree with the immigration law. He said the phone calls contained offensive language but did not threaten bodily harm. The threats were political in nature, he said.

"The Senate is currently conducting an internal investigation in an attempt to discover who is behind this," Coates said. "Once we learn their identity, that information will be turned over to law enforcement, and we would expect it to be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law."

The internal probe involves reviewing camera images of the hallway outside his office.

Senate Co-President Pro Tem Glenn Coffee, R-Oklahoma City, said security breaches will be addressed aggressively.

"We are trying to find out the facts internally," Coffee said. "At some point, we probably would bring in the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, once we find out what has gone on."

Coates said he does not believe that any lawmakers are behind the theft of the file with the e-mails.

He said the publication of the private e-mails on a blog could stifle debate on issues. "Some of the material has been taken out of context with the rather obvious purpose of embarrassing anyone who dares to defy those who relish the thought of ridding our state of people who speak another language, legal or illegal," Coates said.

Rep. Randy Terrill (top right), R-Moore, the author of House Bill 1804, called the incidents "bizarre."

He said he doesn't believe that supporters of his legislation are behind the missing documents.

"The pressure of being on the wrong side of an 80-20 issue has apparently gotten to Sen. Coates," Terrill said. "The paranoia is starting to show a little bit."

Coates has taken a public position against a popular law, he said. "Now, he is feigning shock and surprise that he is hearing from people other than friends, family and employees who disagree with him," Terrill said.

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Coffee Says OSBI May Join Stolen File Probe

From www.okinsider.com ~ A Senate investigation into the matter (of a file stolen from the Capitol office of Senator Harry Coates) is currently under way, and the matter has been reported to the Attorney General's Office. Coates said that they are reviewing surveillance footage to see if anything turns up.

In a separate press conference on the same day, Senate Co-President Pro Tempore Glenn Coffee, R-Oklahoma City, said that Coates had "asked that we make some internal investigations to find out what's going on, and I believe he has also spoken with the attorney general."

"I absolutely am concerned if we have security issues within members' offices," Coffee said. "That's not something that we take lightly, and we will certainly address aggressively."

Coffee stated that, for the moment, he and President Pro Tempore Mike Morgan, D-Stillwater, are just trying to figure out what has happened internally, though he suggested that the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation might get involved.

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Coffee Lauds Passage Of Education Reform Agenda

Major components of the Senate Republicans’ education reform agenda received bipartisan support in the Oklahoma Senate on Thursday.

The Senate voted in favor of a tax credit for private school scholarship programs, an expansion of charter school sponsors to include federally-recognized Native American tribes, and a pilot program that would deregulate 10 public school districts.

“These reforms are critical to improving education in Oklahoma,” stated Senate Co-President Pro Tempore Glenn Coffee, R-Oklahoma City. “We’re very happy to see bipartisan support for the Senate Republicans’ plan to improve education for the children of Oklahoma.”

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