Oklahoma: Lawmakers sworn in for 2009 session

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November 18, 2008

Anonymous The Joplin Globe Tue Nov 18, 2008, 11:02 PM CST

The Associated Press

OKLAHOMA CITY — Republicans officially assumed control of the Oklahoma Senate for the first time in history Tuesday after a swearing-in ceremony for newly elected members.

Sen. Glenn Coffee, R-Oklahoma City, presided over the low-key ceremony. Coffee has been designated by his caucus to be the Senate’s first Republican president pro tem.

Several former Republican leaders of the Senate were on hand for the Senate session, including Denzil Garrison of Bartlesville, who remembered the legislative body had only five GOP members when he was first elected in 1960.

“I never thought that we would have the majority in the Oklahoma Senate in my lifetime,” Garrison said. “One-hundred-and-one years is a long time to be out of power.”

Coffee barely noted the significance of the ceremony after opening the Senate meeting and welcoming a crowded gallery. He said there will be plenty of time to discuss and analyze that.

“I am excited about working with our leadership team and the entire Republican caucus to advance pro-family and pro-jobs issues in the state Senate,” he said later in a statement.

Coffee will be officially installed during an organizational meeting of the Legislature on Jan. 6. Lawmakers will begin work on legislation in February.

Sen. Jay Paul Gumm, D-Durant, said it was “disappointing but liberating to some degree” to be in the minority.

“It will be interesting to see how the new GOP majority deals with the cold, clammy hands of responsibility,” Gumm said.

Oklahoma Supreme Court Chief Justice James Winchester administered the oath of office Tuesday to 23 senators. Winchester also swore in newly elected members of the 101-member House, which has had a GOP majority since 2004.

Sen. Jim Reynolds, R-Oklahoma City, will be sworn in Wednesday after his election results are certified. Reynolds’ Democratic opponent has withdrawn a challenge to the incumbent’s close victory.

Republicans hold a 26-22 advantage over Democrats in the Senate after the Nov. 4 general election. Democrats and Republicans operated under a power-sharing agreement the last two years with 24 members each.

The GOP picked up two Senate seats in November and gained four seats in the House to increase its majority to 61-40.

Twenty-four Senate posts were up for grabs this year, but several incumbents were unopposed. Five of the six first-term senators are Republicans. The only incumbent defeated was Democrat Nancy Riley of Tulsa.

Coffee succeeds term-limited Democrat Mike Morgan of Stillwater as president pro tem. Former Oklahoma State University President Jim Halligan was elected to the post Morgan was forced to vacate.

Sen. Charles Laster, D-Shawnee, will serve as the Senate’s first Democratic minority leader.

Rep. Chris Benge, R-Tulsa, returns as speaker of the House and Rep. Danny Morgan, D-Prague, is again Democratic minority leader.

Besides Halligan, other first-term senators are Republicans Bryce Marlatt, Gary Stanislawski, Dan Newberry and Steve Russell and Democrat Jerry Ellis.

Among the House members sworn in were 17 new members — Republicans Mike Christian, Eddie Fields, Corey Holland, Dan Kirby, Lewis Moore, Jason Nelson, Charles Ortega, Leslie Osborn, Pat Ownbey, Mike Ritze, Mike Sanders and Harold Wright and Democrats Dennis Bailey, Seneca Scott, Samson Ray Buck, Cory T. Williams and Steve Kouplen.

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2.6 magnitude earthquake recorded in Oklahoma
The U.S. Geological Survey has recorded a 2.6 magnitude earthquake near Wellston in central Oklahoma.
No injuries or damage is reported.

January 19, 2011
Audit: $108,000 taken from Missouri Veterans Commission JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — A former employee of the state auditor’s office embezzled nearly $108,000 while working as an accountant for the Missouri Veterans Commission, the state auditor alleged Monday.

Stacy Griffin-Lowery was fired by the Veterans Commission in March 2008 and pleaded guilty three months later to a misdemeanor theft charge. She repaid the state $17,665, the auditor’s office said.

But Missouri Auditor Susan Montee on Monday accused Griffin-Lowery of swiping an additional $90,192 by getting reimbursed for cash advances and purchases made on her personal credit card.
April 12, 2010
Race in Kansas’ 2nd District could heat up for GOP incumbent TOPEKA, Kan. — A conservative Kansas legislator said Monday he will announce in a few weeks whether he will challenge freshman U.S. Rep. Lynn Jenkins in the Republican primary.

State Sen. Dennis Pyle’s actions in recent months suggest the Hiawatha farmer, who’s served in the Legislature since 2001, is running against Jenkins in the Aug. 2 primary. He set up a campaign organization in November and has a Web site featuring a brief video of him on his farm, asking viewers for support.
April 12, 2010
Oklahoma tea party leaders, lawmakers envision militia OKLAHOMA CITY — Frustrated by recent political setbacks, tea party leaders and some conservative members of the Oklahoma Legislature say they would like to create a new volunteer militia to help defend against what they believe are improper federal infringements on state sovereignty.

Tea party movement leaders say they’ve discussed the idea with several supportive lawmakers and hope to get legislation next year to recognize a new volunteer force
April 12, 2010
Missouri: Senate panel cuts $500 million from proposed budget JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — A Senate committee declared Thursday that it has sliced more than $500 million from Missouri’s proposed budget for next year — meeting a target set by Gov. Jay Nixon to bring it in balance.
April 8, 2010
Kansas: Wichita-area casino in doubt after governor’s decision TOPEKA, Kan. — A proposed casino south of Wichita was in doubt Thursday after Gov. Mark Parkinson refused to grant its developers a regulatory reprieve. Partners in the $225 million Chisholm Creek project wanted to delay a state board’s decision on their plans.
April 8, 2010
Oklahoma: Groups oppose education spending initiative OKLAHOMA CITY — A coalition of business and labor groups said Thursday it will work to defeat a ballot initiative to dramatically increase spending on public education that coalition members said would devastate the budgets of many other state services and possibly force tax increases.
April 8, 2010
Missouri: Gov. Nixon affirms support for tuition freeze COLUMBIA, Mo. — Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon has no plans to sit idly while lawmakers consider whether to preserve a tuition freeze deal he assembled before the state’s dire financial status was fully known.
April 7, 2010
Kansas: Agency uses YouTube to illustrate road woes TOPEKA, Kan. — It’s one thing to hear about potholes and state budgets. It’s another to see how the two are connected. That’s part of the thinking behind a new video presentation on YouTube this week from the Kansas Department of Transportation.
April 7, 2010
Oklahoma: Pathologist says girl’s throat might have been cut OKLAHOMA CITY — A 7-year-old girl who was found dead in Oklahoma near the body of her suspected kidnapper likely died after her throat was cut, an independent pathologist said Wednesday, the same day the child’s funeral attracted hundreds of mourners.
April 7, 2010
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City wants to buy weather radios for those without

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Oklahoma: Lawmakers sworn in for 2009 session

Joplin City Manager Mark Rohr wants the city to distribute weather radios to all Joplin homes that don’t have one. That’s 11,000 radios. Do you think that’s a good use of $300,440?

Joplin City Manager Mark Rohr wants the city to distribute weather radios to all Joplin homes that don’t have one. That’s 11,000 radios. Do you think that’s a good use of $300,440?

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