Session begins Monday
The off-season is over and now lawmakers will be working to get their Legislation through the hurdles.
The House and Senate will convene at noon. Gov. Brad Henry will give his State of the State Address to a joint session in House.
In his speech Henry is expected to outline his goals for the next year. Henry will also release his budget. Lawmakers will begin the legislative session with an estimated $600 million less than they had last fiscal year. Lawmakers have filed 2,510 bills and 88 joint resolutions to be heard during the legislative session.…
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Inhofe, Coburn Oppose SCHIP Bill
Both of Oklahoma’s senators voted against a bill last night to expand the state children’s health insurance program. The bill passed by a vote of 66-32 and should go to the president’s desk soon.
Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Muskogee, a physician, tried to change the bill so Congress would help people buy private insurance policies rather than expanding the Medicaid-based program. Coburn said Medicaid recipients often receive second-class medical care.
“When senators visit with their constituents, they should ask them whether they would want their children in SCHIP or a top tier plan senators provide to their own kids,” Coburn said today.
“Senators should also ask whether parents should have the right to make choices about health care for their kids or whether those choices should be made for them by career politicians and government bureaucrats.…
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Rice Tries to Rally Support for SCHIP
State Sen. Andrew Rice, the Oklahoma City Democrat who ran unsuccessfully last year against U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe, is helping gather “citizen co-sponsors” of a bill in the U.S. Senate to expand health care coverage for children.
The bill to expand the state childrens’ health insurance program could come up for a final vote today.
Rice’s letter, sent to the e-mail list he used for his campaign, provides a link to a web page sponsored by U.S. Sen. Blanche Lincoln, an Arkansas Democrat who is a major supporter of the bill.…
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Sullivan Writes Letter to Obama
Rep. John Sullivan, R-Tulsa, sent this letter today to President Barack Obama:
The Honorable Barack Obama
President of the United States of America
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20270
Dear President Obama:
I am writing in regard to your repeated call to combat waste fraud and abuse in government programs. The $825 billion stimulus bill currently before the House of Representatives serves as an overwhelming and timely reminder of the dangers and propensity for excessive, wasteful and duplicative government spending.…
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Digital TV Delay
Only Rep. Dan Boren, D-Muskogee, voted today to delay the transition to digital TV until June. Currently, over-the-air broadcasts are scheduled to cease in about three weeks.
Though a majority in the House voted for the delay, the bill fell short of the necessary two-thirds approval, since it was brought up under an expedited process.
Reps. Tom Cole, R-Moore; Mary Fallin, R-Oklahoma City; Frank Lucas, R-Cheyenne; and John Sullivan, R-Tulsa, voted against delaying the switch to digital.…
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Coburn Opposes Holder
As expected, Sen. Tom Coburn today voted in the Judiciary Committee against Eric Holder to be the next attorney general of the United States.
Coburn, R-Muskogee, said last week that he objected to Holder’s position on the 2nd Amendment; Holder believes the amendment gives a collective right, not an individual right to own guns. And he said he disagreed with Holder’s defense of clemency for members of Puerto Rican group (FALN) responsible for murders, bombings and other crimes.
The interest group Alliance for Justice, which supports Holder, criticized Coburn and Sen.…
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House Stimulus Vote Today
The House is expected to vote today on the $825 billion stimulus package. You can read it here.
Regarding the five Oklahoma members of the House: Rep. Dan Boren, the only Democrat in the delegation, predicted that he might be the sole “yes” vote among the Oklahomans. And even he has some problems with it.…
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Ice storm quiets Capitol
Normally a week before the start of the legislative session, the state Capitol is bustling with activity.
A significant ice storm can change all that.
It will be quieter than usual today at the state Capitol as most offices here will remain closed because of the ice storm that is causing dangerous driving conditions. The first session of the 52nd Oklahoma Legislature starts Monday.
Public Safety Commissioner Kevin Ward, as authorized by the governor, announced early today that state agencies may continue to temporarily reduce services for Canadian, Cleveland, Lincoln, Logan, McClain, Oklahoma and Pottawatomie counties.…
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Governor wants to improve state's economic, research edge
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Fallin, Inhofe on Pro-Life March
Rep. Mary Fallin, R-Oklahoma City, spoke today to a pro-life rally in Washington on the 36th anniversary of the Supreme Court’s landmark Roe v. Wade decision.
She said, “I stand with the men, women and children who participated in today’s March for Life, who continue to hope and pray this grave injustice will be corrected and our laws will someday soon reflect those principles which our nation has traditionally held most dear.”
Sen. Jim Inhofe, R-Tulsa, released a statement to the marchers, saying, “To my fellow pro-lifers who are demonstrating today at the U.S.…
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