Laughlin Eyes State Treasurer's Race

Former Senator Owen Laughlin, The Oklahoman's Michael McNutt reports online (www.newsok.com) today, is considering a run for the Republican nomination for state treasurer.

Woodward resident Laughlin, 58, was elected in 1996 to the Senate seat representing 10 counties in northwest Oklahoma. He served the maximum 12 years allowed in the Legislature and could not seek re-election in 2008.

Incumbent Treasurer Scott Meacham, Democrat, has not announced his political plans.

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Republicans Challenge Henry On Veto Of Lawsuit Reform Measure

Republican said today that when it comes to choosing trial lawyers or teachers, Oklahomans now know where Gov. Brad Henry’s loyalties lie: The trial lawyers.

In a news release, Republicans said Henry "vetoed a bipartisan lawsuit reform bill that would have curbed lawsuit abuse against teachers and school administrators who enforce discipline in the classroom. The veto is a major blow to teachers and schools, but it protects Henry’s allies in the trial lawyer industry."

The School Protection Act, Senate Bill 1024, is authored by State Senate Co-Floor Leader Owen Laughlin, R-Woodward, and State Rep. Dan Sullivan, R-Tulsa. The bill was supported by the Oklahoma Education Association.

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Official English 'Obstruction' Cited By GOP

Supporters of the bill to make English the official language said today they are disappointed that Senate Democrats utilized a rarely-used procedural maneuver to block an up-or-down vote on the bill by sending it to a conference committee.

The bill’s author, Senate Republican Floor Leader Owen Laughlin, said the Democrats’ obstruction likely kills Senate Bill 163 for the 2008 session.

“Making English the official language of our state is an issue whose time has come in Oklahoma. I am very disappointed that Senate Democrats voted in lock-step to block an up-or-down vote on this important issue,” stated Laughlin, R-Woodward. “Senator Morgan sent a pretty strong signal on the floor that the Democrat leadership plans to kill this bill in conference.”

Other supporters of SB 163 also expressed their concerns about the Senate Democrats’ action.

“Republicans have made the Official English proposal a priority for many years. We believe the people overwhelmingly agree that English should be our official language. I am sorry that the Senate Democrats have continued to block the people’s right to vote on this important issue,” stated Sen. James A. Williamson, R-Tulsa.

“I’m disappointed but not surprised by the Senate Democrats’ actions. Instead of allowing the people of Oklahoma to vote on this critical issue, they maneuvered it into a conference committee where they can gut and kill the Official English bill,” said Sen. Randy Brogdon, R-Owasso.

“The Senate Democrats’ substitute language is just a piece of paper that does not change the status quo. It still requires the state to expend funds to provide unnecessary translations for government services. Our version would have stopped the silly lawsuits that seek to force our state to provide services in any number of foreign languages,” said Sen. Anthony Sykes, R-Moore.

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Senate Ties On Term Limits Measure

The Senate tied 23-23 when voting on whether to accept House amendments to the statewide term limits bill on Monday and Lt. Gov. Jari Askins, a Democrat, declined to vote because the state Constitution prevents her from voting on an issue that would directly affect her office.

The lieutenant governor can vote to break ties in the Senate, which is currently split between 24 Democrats and 24 Republicans.

Senators Nancy Riley, D-Sand Springs, and Andrew Rice, D-Oklahoma City, did not vote on whether or not to accept House amendments.

Senator Harry Coates, R-Seminole, voted against accepting House amendments. Coates had previously voted for the measure and declined to comment on his vote Monday. Republican Senator Randy Brogdon, author of the measure, said he was "totally shocked" with Coates' vote.

Senate Democrat leaders refused a request to help bring compromise language the bill, Brogdon said.

“Senate Democrat leaders have refused to help us bring the bill out of a conference committee with the changes that were suggested by the Attorney General. So instead of sending this bill to conference, we plan to push ahead for a Senate vote on the bill as it is written. We’re not going to allow the Senate Democrat leadership to quietly kill this issue in a conference committee. There will be a vote,” said Brogdon, R-Owasso, before the vote occurred.

“The intent of the current language is that the term limits apply prospectively, not retroactively. We have made a good faith effort to help reassure the attorney general and others that the term limits won’t be retroactive by agreeing to incorporate General Edmondson’s legislative language in our proposal. So it is very disappointing that Senate Democrat leaders aren’t interested in working with us to make that happen,” Brogdon said.

"All along we have said the intent of this bill is not for it to apply to any seated statewide office holder retroactively, and that is still the case," said Rep. Trebor Worthen, R-Oklahoma City. "We made a good faith effort to work with the attorney general to allay his concerns with the bill, but the Senate Democrats have made it clear they are not willing to continue to work on the language in conference. The people of Oklahoma deserve to have a voice on this issue, so we will move forward with a vote on the bill in its current form."

Brogdon said he is hopeful a majority of senators will support the SB 1987. Seven Democrat senators voted for the term limits bill in March.

“Term limits are good public policy, so I remain hopeful a majority of senators will agree to send this to a vote of the people. It’s hard to envision seven senators flip-flopping just to help the Democrat leadership kill term limits on a partisan, party-line vote,” Brogdon said.

Senator Owen Laughlin, R-Woodward, was the Senate author of SB 1987, but has transferred the bill to Brogdon. It was Brogdon who authored an amendment to the bill on the Senate floor in March to include the term limits referendum. Worthen is the House author of SB 1987.

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Official English Bill Passes House Vote

Members of the Oklahoma voted today to make English the official language of state government.

Senate Bill 163, by Reps. Randy Terrill and George Faught and Senator Owen Laughlin, would put the English question to a statewide vote next November.

The proposed constitutional amendment would make English the official language of state government in Oklahoma.

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Laughlin Responds To Democrats' Complaint

State Senate Republican Floor Leader Owen Laughlin responded to Monday’s news conference by Democrat members of the Senate and House of Representatives.

“Republicans and Democrats have worked pretty well together in the tied State Senate during the past two sessions. That’s why it was so disappointing to hear about an election-year news conference where Democrat senators and representatives played politics by whining and complaining that a few liberal bills are having a difficult time making it through the legislative process,” said Laughlin, R-Woodward.

“Ironically, when Democrats ran the State Senate for nearly a century they regularly killed conservative bills without blinking an eye. Now that Republicans have an equal say in the Senate, issues such as term limits for statewide officials, tax relief, education reform, lawsuit reform, protecting victims’ rights, new funding for roads and bridges, and voter identification have finally gotten a chance for up-or-down votes. The Democrats are complaining today because Republicans are having more success in making government more conservative,” he said.

The Senate is currently tied with 24 Republicans and 24 Democrats. The State Senate operates under a power-sharing agreement between the two parties. Democrats ran the State Senate from 1907 to 2006.

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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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Laughlin Seeks To Reverse Inmate Care Ruling

State Senator Owen Laughlin, R-Woodward, has filed legislation that seeks to reverse this week’s state Supreme Court ruling that makes counties liable for the cost of medical care for jail inmates even if the health condition existed prior to being jailed.

“This court ruling could literally bankrupt some county governments, especially in rural areas like my district, so it is imperative that the Legislature fix this problem,” said Laughlin, who represents northwest Oklahoma and the panhandle.

“My bill will make it clear that an inmate in custody at a county jail is responsible for the cost of his medical care for pre-existing conditions or self-inflicted injuries,” he said.

Laughlin, the Senate’s Republican floor leader, has filed Senate Bill 1168 for the 2008 legislative session.

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Laughlin Says Term Limits 'A Great Thing'

Term-limited State Senator Owen Laughlin is about to enter his final year in office, and he believes legislative term limits have been a great thing for Oklahoma, he said today.

Laughlin said he is disappointed that a senior Democrat Senator, Mary Easley of Tulsa, has introduced a bill for the 2008 legislative session that would repeal term limits for state legislators.

“Term limits were overwhelmingly approved by the people, and they have been a wonderful thing for the Legislature and for the state of Oklahoma. Getting rid of term limits would be a very bad idea,” stated Laughlin, R-Woodward, the Senate’s Republican floor leader.

“Thanks to term limits, the Oklahoma Legislature has attracted new legislators who have experience in the ‘real-world.’ There is a different mindset because the newer legislators have come here to serve for a finite time, and to make a difference. They don’t want to make a career out of being in the Legislature,” Laughlin said.

He noted that the change of leadership at the Legislature is a positive development for the state.

“The Legislature now has a new generation of leaders who are energetic and forward-thinking. We’re considering fresh ideas and dynamic reforms that would not have seen the light of day back when members of the ‘Old Guard’ dominated the Capitol,” Laughlin said.

“I can’t think of a single good reason to repeal term limits,” Laughlin stated. “If anything, we need to look for ways to expand term limits to other offices in our state.”

Easley’s legislation is Senate Joint Resolution 35.

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