Senate Republicans Unveil Policy Agenda

Senate Republicans unveiled their policy agenda for the 2009 legislative session today. They called for a fairer and more business friendly tax policy, reform of the archaic and business-unfriendly legal system in Oklahoma, and continued improvements in the state’s infrastructure.

In concurrent news conferences in the State Capitol and Tulsa, Senate President Pro Tem Glenn Coffee and Republican Caucus Chairman John Ford said Senate Republicans also desire to reform Oklahoma’s election system, assuring clean and fair elections while imposing term limits on statewide elected officials, as well as provide health care access to more Oklahomans and to continue to promote national energy independence through a vibrant Oklahoma energy industry.

“Republicans have sat in the background in forming public policy for too many years now,” said Senate President Pro Tem Glenn Coffee, “but with thanks to the voters of our state, we will now have a seat at the head of the table.

“We will not squander this opportunity,” he continued. “We believe the voters responded to the better ideas we offered in campaigns across the state, and we will do all we can in cooperation with the Governor and the House to deliver a new brand of government in Oklahoma.”

“Oklahomans have given Senate Republicans a great responsibility,” said Republican Caucus Chairman John Ford. “We recognize the challenge and opportunity that lies ahead of us, and we are committed to working together in bringing positive reforms to Oklahoma.”

Major policy initiatives include: "Establishing a more fair and equitable tax system and responsible budgeting practices in Oklahoma government; Ensuring sufficient funding for our state’s infrastructure, particularly the roads and bridges which will allow our business climate to grow and prosper, and protect the safety of commuters across the state; Protecting Oklahoma families through more affordable healthcare options and providing access to top quality healthcare to all Oklahomans; Shoring up the Oklahoma Teacher Retirement system for all present and future educators in the system, allowing us to attract and keep better teachers for generations to come, and providing more local control and and great choice for school boards and parents; Improving our legal system and business climate by reforming our Workers Compensation system and continuing the charge to reform our tort process, thereby lowering costs, creating jobs, attracting more physicians and protecting the rights of all Oklahomans."

The 2009 legislative session begins Monday, February 2, and runs through the last Friday in May.

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Coffee To Announce GOP Policy Agenda

Senate President Pro Tempore Glenn Coffee, Assistant Majority Floor Leader Mike Mazzei and members of the Senate Republican Caucus will unveil the Senate GOP’s policy agenda for the 2009 legislative session at two simultaneous news conferences on Wednesday, Coffee's office said today.

The announcements will be made at locations in Tulsa and Oklahoma City.

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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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Senate Republicans To Unveil 2008 Policy Agenda

Republicans of the Oklahoma State Senate will release their policy agenda for the 2008 legislative session today. It will call for better roads and bridges, improvements in education and health care, and economic reforms to promote job creation.

Senate Republicans also will pledge to make Oklahoma government more accountable and transparent, keep violent and habitual criminals behind bars, and provide more tax relief for Oklahoma taxpayers.

“Senate Republicans are ready to provide the new leadership Oklahoma needs in its second century,” said Senator Glenn Coffee, R-Oklahoma City, the Senate’s Co-President Pro Tempore. “Today we’re proposing forward-thinking policies and reforms to make Oklahoma a more prosperous and secure place to raise a family, start a business, get a good job, and retire.”

This afternoon, Coffee released details. They include: Establishing an “office of accountability” at the State Legislature to oversee and conduct regular performance audits of state agencies; Ensuring the ROADS Fund for roads and bridges is fully funded each year, and dedicating more motor vehicle taxes and fees for the repair and replacement of state, county, and local roads and bridges; Protecting the public’s safety by keeping violent and habitual criminals behind bars where they belong; Improving education by promoting more school choice, and by ensuring accountability and transparency in student achievement and educational effectiveness; Improving job growth by supporting critical economic reforms, such as lawsuit reform and workers’ comp reform; Ensuring that Oklahoma taxpayers get the income tax cut to 5.25% as planned for 2009; expanding the back-to-school sales tax holiday to include school supplies; and eliminating ineffective and obsolete special interest tax breaks; Protecting the integrity of our elections by requiring voter identification at the ballot box to make sure no illegal votes are cast; Improving health care by supporting free market reforms to improve access and lower costs, and by supporting the use of new technologies, such as e-records, to make healthcare more efficient and secure.

Senate Co-President Pro Tem Mike Morgan, D-Stillwater, issued this statement after seeing the Republican agenda: “Over the past year in an evenly divided senate, the Senate Democratic Caucus has proven we are willing to set aside partisan politics to find common ground on policies that help move our state forward. While there will certainly be disagreements on specific policies initiatives, I believe we will be able to find common ground on some of the proposals set forth by Senate Republicans today. But we must ensure we are doing so without duplicating constitutionally-mandated state services, or limiting opportunities for working and middle-class Oklahomans to have a brighter future. In the coming weeks, we intend to unveil an aggressive, specific legislative agenda that offers opportunity and encourages responsibility for all Oklahomans. We will certainly encourage Republicans to join us in a bi-partisan effort to move Oklahoma into greatness.”

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