Coates seeks top Senate spot after Coffee's term ends
Choosing the next Senate President Pro Tempore just got interesting.
Sen. Harry Coates, R-Seminole announced today that he plans to run for top Senate spot in 2010, when current Senate President Pro Tempore Glenn Coffee’s term is up.
Coates says his diverse and professional background will help the Oklahoma Senate move forward.
Coates says in the Senate, he has worked to build consensus based on promoting common sense legislation that earned the support and respect of …
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Lawmakers visit Lawton private prison
Members of a House subcommittee went to Lawton today to look at a private prison.
“Private prisons are here to stay,” said Rep. Randy Terrill, chairman of the House public safety and judiciary subcommittee. “They are part of the solution to our corrections challenges; however, they are not the sole answer to our problem.”
Subcommittee members are touring the Lawton Correctional Facility to get information about the state’s prison needs, including possible expansion of private prison usage.
The Lawton prison, owned …
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Drama fades in House Speaker race
If you were hoping for drama in the Speaker of the House race, you’ll have to look elswhere. This morning, Rep. Ken Miller, chairman of the House budget committee, withdrew his bid for top House spot and endorsed Speaker Pro Tempore Kris Steele.
Check out Michael McNutt’s story and stay tuned. Steele, R-Shawnee, will be the likely speaker since no other Republican has expressed interest and current House Speaker Chris Benge, R-Tulsa is term limited and cannot seek reelection.
Here’s …
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GOP leader wants apology over health care rhetoric
A Democratic congressman should apologize for saying recent comments by citizens opposing health care proposals at local meetings across the country are similar to language that drove Timothy McVeigh to blow up an Oklahoma City federal building, the chairman of the Oklahoma Republican Party says.
U.S. Rep Brian Baird, D-Wash., said last week Republican leaders were “egging on” a “coordinated national effort” to disrupt public meetings with shouts and demonstrations, reminiscent of the kinds of things that drove McVeigh to …
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Bad budget news looming?
State budget officials will know early next week whether money given to state agencies should be reduced and by how much because of expected slumping state revenue figures.
Gov. Brad Henry worked until about 9 last night going over preliminary revenue figures. He wouldn’t say as we walked out of the state Capitol together what they showed. He said he still had to digest the early numbers, but he didn’t seem his typical optimistic self.
Maybe he was just tired, …
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Nunya and more
Election season tends to make the wackiest tidbits of information news. Keen-eyed reporter Michael McNutt noticed that when checking campaign finance reports recent and found that Nunya, slang for none of your business, was receiving money from Lt. Gov. Jari Askin’s campaign for governor. Check out the story that was published today.
Folks with Askins campaign say ‘Nunya’ was simply filler data used while getting the forms together. Campaign officials believe it is your business who is getting campaign funds. A new law requiring …
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Employees' association lauds decision not to furlough
The Oklahoma Public Employees Association is claiming a victory after the Corporation Commission announced it would not be furloughing employees. The commission apparently found some money to avoid having to send employees home without pay and close offices one day a week. Read Business Reporter Jay Marks’ story for the full details.
OPEA deputy director Scott Barger said the state employee’s association has been working with the commission in hopes of avoiding days without pay for state employees.
“State agencies …
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