Tulsa State Lawmakers Form Tulsa (Mafia) Caucus In Legislature

Two state lawmakers from Tulsa, State Rep. Eric Proctor and State Sen. Gary Stanislawski are forming a bipartisan (Mafia) caucus to promote the interests of Oklahoma's second largest city. (ie How much State Tax $$ can we get)

Gary Stanislawski say the new Tulsa (Mafia) Caucus is open to all Tulsa-area legislators and elected officials. It will meet before the end of the year to review legislative priorities. (If you Look like a Mob & Sound like a Mob then you are a Mafia)

Proctor, a Democrat, says Tulsa's needs are being crowded out at the state Capitol. He says it's important that the city's infrastructure needs are met. (Hey Eric, How about Tulsa pay for its own city's infrastructure!)

Stanislawski, a Republican, says Tulsa has been the main economic engine for Oklahoma for over 100 years. But Stanislawski says the city has been a net donor to Oklahoma's treasury. (Come on Gary, talk about a SPIN JOB!)

He says the new caucus wants to make sure Tulsa's interests are not overlooked. (ie making sure that the Tulsa Metro Chamber will not be overlooked)

Bill to Create Task Force on Internet-Based Instruction Heads to House

The number of Oklahoma students getting their education through the internet is growing, and Sen. Gary Stanislawski wants to ensure the education those students are receiving is the same quality as what can be obtained in the classroom. Therefore, he has authored Senate Bill 604 creating a task force to study the efficiency of Internet-based instruction in Oklahoma.

"Internet-based instruction is a great alternative for many students that provides them with the opportunity to continue or finish their schooling from home when being in the classroom isn't an option," said Stanislawski, R-Tulsa. "Because of its tremendous popularity, we want to make sure that this type of instruction is just as beneficial and effective as traditional schooling as well as ensure accountability on the part of the students that they are doing the work that's required."

The task force, consisting of seven members, would review internet-based instruction programs offered throughout the state and make recommendations for any statutory or regulatory changes necessary to improve the accountability and effectiveness of Internet-based instruction. The findings would have to be submitted by November 10, 2009.

SB 604, which was requested by the United Suburban Schools Association, passed the Senate unanimously Tuesday and will next be heard in the House.

Committee Approves Bill to Create Task Force on Internet-Based Instruction

The Senate Education Committee approved a measure Monday to study the efficiency of Internet-based instruction in Oklahoma. Senate Bill 604, by State Sen. Gary Stanislawski, would create a task force to review such programs and make recommendations regarding necessary changes to ensure accountability for those in public schools.

“Internet-based instruction is becoming more and more popular for our middle and high school students. For many, because of time constraints or problems at school, it’s simply easier to get their school work done through this type of program,” said Stanislawski, R-Tulsa. “Because of its growing popularity, I want to ensure that these programs are providing just as good an education as is available in the classroom, and that there is accountability to make sure students are really doing the work they’re supposed to be doing.”

The task force would consist of seven members including the State Superintendent of Public Instruction and two district superintendents from districts that provide students with Internet-based instruction. The task force’s findings would have to be submitted by November 10, 2009. The report could include findings and recommendations for any statutory or regulatory changes necessary to improve the accountability, finding, and effectiveness of Internet-based instruction.

The United Suburban Schools Association requested the bill, which will now go before the full Senate for further consideration.

President Pro-Tem Coffee Announces Official Senate Committee Assignments

Senate President Pro Tem Glenn Coffee, R-Oklahoma City, announced the composition of the twenty standing committees and Appropriations Subcommittees today.

“The citizens of Oklahoma have sent outstanding leadership to the State Senate,” said Coffee. “I appreciate the input of the Minority Leader on the composition of the committees. Nonetheless, we believe we’ve maximized the talents and experience in our membership with the official composition of our committees.

“Contrary to the assertions of the Minority Leader, the Democrats did not “hand over the reigns” to the Republicans,” Coffee continued. “In fact, the citizens of the state of Oklahoma handed the reigns to Republicans on November 4.

“I’m proud to announce the new composition of our committees, and I’m excited and proud to help move Oklahoma forward in this challenging time with this outstanding group of public servants.”

The State Senate’s committee Chairs,
Vice Chairs and membership for the
2009-10 session are:

Agriculture Committee:
Sen. Ron Justice, R-Chickasha, Chairman
Sen. Mike Schulz, R- Altus, Vice Chairman
Sen. Patrick Anderson – R
Sen. Don Barrington - R
Sen. Bryce Marlatt - R
Sen. Anthony Sykes – R
Sen. Johnnie Crutchfield – D
Sen. Jerry Ellis – D
Sen. Earl Garrison - D
Sen. Tom Ivester - D
Sen. Charles Wyrick - D

Appropriations Committee:
Sen. Mike Johnson, R-Kingfisher, Chairman
Sen. David Myers, R- Ponca City, Chairman
Sen. Patrick Anderson - R
Sen. Brian Bingman - R
Sen. Randy Brogdon - R
Sen. Brian Crain - R
Sen. John Ford - R
Sen. Jim Halligan - R
Sen. Ron Justice - R
Sen. Mike Mazzei - R
Sen. Jim Reynolds - R
Sen. Gary Stanislawski - R
Sen. Anthony Sykes – R
Sen. Randy Bass - D
Sen. Kenneth Corn – D
Sen. Johnnie Crutchfield – D
Sen. Mary Easley – D
Sen. Jay Paul Gumm – D
Sen. Charlie Laster – D
Sen. Debbe Leftwich – D
Sen. Richard Lerblance – D
Sen. Susan Paddack - D
Sen. Jim Wilson – D

Business and Labor Committee:
Sen. Harry Coates, R-Seminole, Chairman
Sen. Dan Newberry, R-Tulsa, VC
Sen. Randy Brogdon - R
Sen. David Myers - R
Sen. Steve Russell – R
Sen. Tom Adelson – D
Sen. Sean Burrage - D
Sen. Debbe Leftwich – D
Sen. Andrew Rice - D

Education Committee:
Sen. John Ford, R-Bartlesville, Chairman
Sen. Clark Jolley, R-Edmond, VC
Sen. Cliff Branan - R
Sen. Bill Brown - R
Sen. Jim Halligan - R
Sen. Mike Mazzei - R
Sen. Jim Reynolds - R
Sen. Gary Stanislawski – R
Sen. Kenneth Corn - D
Sen. Mary Easley - D
Sen. Jay Paul Gumm – D
Sen. Richard Lerblance - D
Sen. Judy Eason McIntyre – D
Sen. Susan Paddack - D
Sen. John Sparks – D

Energy and Environment Committee:
Sen. Brian Bingman, R-Sapulpa, Chairman
Sen. Randy Brogdon, R-Owasso, VC
Sen. Cliff Branan - R
Sen. Harry Coates - R
Sen. Mike Johnson - R
Sen. David Myers - R
Sen. Jonathan Nichols - R
Sen. Anthony Sykes - R
Sen. Johnnie Crutchfield – D
Sen. Mary Easley – D
Sen. Jay Paul Gumm - D
Sen. Tom Ivester – D
Sen. Andrew Rice – D

Finance Committee:
Sen. Mike Mazzei, R-Tulsa, Chairman
Sen. Gary Stanislawski, R-Tulsa, VC
Sen. Cliff Aldridge - R
Sen. John Ford - R
Sen. Mike Johnson - R
Sen. Clark Jolley - R
Sen. Jim Reynolds - R
Sen. Jonathan Nichols – R
Sen. Tom Adelson - D
Sen. Johnnie Crutchfield - D
Sen. Jay Paul Gumm – D
Sen. Tom Ivester – D
Sen. Andrew Rice - D
Sen. John Sparks - D
Sen. Jim Wilson – D

General Government Committee:
Sen. Cliff Aldridge, R-MWC, Chairman
Sen. Roger Ballenger, D-Okmulgee, VC
Sen. Brian Bingman - R
Sen. Brian Crain - R
Sen. Mike Johnson - R
Sen. Jonathan Nichols – R
Sen. Randy Bass – D
Sen. Constance Johnson – D
Sen. Joe Sweeden – D
Sen. Jim Wilson - D

Health and Human Resources Comm:
Sen. Clark Jolley, R-Edmond, Chairman
Sen. Sean Burrage, D-Claremore, VC
Sen. Brian Crain - R
Sen. Jim Halligan - R
Sen. Dan Newberry – R
Sen. Tom Adelson - D
Sen. Constance Johnson - D
Sen. Jim Wilson – D

Judiciary Committee:
Sen. Patrick Anderson, R-Enid, Chairman
Sen. Susan Paddack, D-Ada, Vice-Chairman
Sen. Brian Crain - R
Sen. Dan Newberry - R
Sen. Anthony Sykes – R
Sen. Kenneth Corn - D
Sen. Charlie Laster – D

Public Safety/
Homeland Security Committee:
Sen. Don Barrington, R-Lawton, Chairman
Sen. Steve Russell, R-OKC, Vice Chairman
Sen. Jim Halligan – R
Sen. Roger Ballenger – D
Sen. Mary Easley – D
Sen. Jerry Ellis - D

Retirement and Insurance Committee:
Sen. Bill Brown, R-Broken Arrow, Chairman
Sen. Cliff Aldridge, R-Midwest City, VC
Sen. Mike Mazzei - R
Sen. Steve Russell - R
Sen. Gary Stanislawski – R
Sen. Roger Ballenger - D
Sen. Randy Bass - D
Sen. Kenneth Corn - D
Sen. Debbe Leftwich - D
Sen. John Sparks – D

Rules Committee:
Sen. Jonathan Nichols, R-Norman, Chmn
Sen. Earl Garrison, D-Muskogee, VC
Sen. Brian Bingman - R
Sen. Cliff Branan - R
Sen. John Ford- R
Sen. Mike Johnson - R
Sen. Todd Lamb - R
Sen. Mike Mazzei - R
Sen. Clark Jolley - R
Sen. Jim Reynolds - R
Sen. Mike Schulz - R
Sen. Anthony Sykes – R
Sen. Judy Eason-McIntyre - D
Sen. John Sparks – D
Sen. Joe Sweeden - D
Sen. Charlie Wyrick – D

Tourism and Wildlife Committee:
Sen. Mike Schulz, R-Altus, Chairman
Sen. Jerry Ellis, D-Valliant, Vice Chairman
Sen. Patrick Anderson - R
Sen. Don Barrington - R
Sen. John Ford - R
Sen. Ron Justice - R
Sen. Bryce Marlatt - R
Sen. Jim Reynolds – R
Sen. Judy Eason-McIntyre - D
Sen. Earl Garrison – D
Sen. Susan Paddack - D
Sen. Joe Sweeden – D
Sen. Charlie Wyrick – D

Transportation Committee:
Sen. Cliff Branan, R-OKC, Chairman
Sen. Bryce Marlatt, R-Woodward, VC
Sen. Brian Bingman - R
Sen. Randy Brodgon - R
Sen. Bill Brown - R
Sen. Harry Coates - R
Sen. Ron Justice - R
Sen. David Myers - R
Sen. Mike Schulz – R
Sen. Randy Bass – D
Sen. Sean Burrage – D
Sen. Judy Eason-McIntyre - D
Sen. Debbe Leftwich – D
Sen. Earl Garrison – D
Sen. Constance Johnson – D
Sen. Joe Sweeden – D
Sen. Charlie Wyrick - D

Veterans and Military Affairs Committee:
Sen. Jim Reynolds, R-OKC, Chairman
Sen. Don Barrington, R-Lawton, VC
Sen. Cliff Aldridge - R
Sen. Mike Schulz - R
Sen. Steve Russell – R
Sen. Randy Bass - D
Sen. Sean Burrage - D
Sen. Tom Ivester – D
Sen. Constance Johnson – D

Appropriations Subcommittee
on Education:
Sen. Jim Halligan, R-Stillwater, Chairman
Sen. John Ford, R-Bartlesville, VC
Sen. Cliff Aldridge - R
Sen. Cliff Branan - R
Sen. Clark Jolley - R
Sen. Bill Brown - R
Sen. Harry Coates - R
Sen. Mike Mazzei – R
Sen. Judy Eason-McIntyre – D
Sen. Jerry Ellis - D
Sen. Jay Paul Gumm – D
Sen. Susan Paddack – D

Appropriations Subcommittee
on General Government:
Sen. Randy Brogdon, R-Owasso, Chairman
Sen. Brian Bingman, R-Sapulpa, VC
Sen. Bryce Marlatt - R
Sen. Dan Newberry - R
Sen. Mike Schulz – R
Sen. Mary Easley – D
Sen. Tom Ivester - D
Sen. Constance Johnson – D
Sen. Joe Sweeden – D

Appropriations Subcommittee on
Health & Human Services:
Sen. Brian Crain, R-Tulsa, Chairman
Sen. Patrick Anderson, R-Enid, VC
Sen. Gary Stanislawski – R
Sen. Sean Burrage – D
Sen. Jim Wilson - D


Appropriations Subcommittee on
Natural Resources and
Regulatory Services:
Sen. David Myers, R-Ponca City, Chairman
Sen. Ron Justice, R-Chickasha, VC
Sen. Steve Russell – R
Sen. Roger Ballenger - D
Sen. Johnnie Crutchfield – D

Appropriations Subcommittee on
Public Safety:
Sen. Anthony Sykes, R-Moore, Chairman
Sen. Jim Reynolds, R-OKC, Vice Chairman
Sen. Don Barrington - R
Sen. Jonathan Nichols- R
Sen. Randy Bass – D
Sen. Charlie Laster – D
Sen. Richard Lerblance - D

These appointments will be finalized on January 6, when the Senate is officially organized for the 2009-2010 legislative session.

President Pro-Tem Coffee Names Oklahoma Senate Committee Vice-Chairs

Senate President Pro Tem Designate Glenn Coffee, R-Oklahoma City, named the Senate’s new committee Vice-Chairs on Wednesday. Committee chairs were announced last week.

Under the new committee structure, which was reduced last week from 22 full committees and standing subcommittees to 20, fifteen Republican Senators and five Democrats will assume leadership roles in their respective committees in the 2009-10 legislative session.

“I’m very excited by the energy and expertise represented in this bipartisan list of committee and subcommittee vice-chairs,” said Coffee. “Our state will benefit greatly by the very capable leadership these members of both parties will bring to their new roles over the next two years.”

The State Senate’s committees and committee vice-chairs for the 2009-10 session are:

Agriculture Committee:
Sen. Mike Schulz, R-Altus

Appropriations Committee:
Sen. David Myers, R-Ponca City

Business and Labor Committee:
Sen. Dan Newberry, R-Tulsa

Education Committee:
Sen. Clark Jolley, R-Edmond

Energy and Environment Committee:
Sen. Randy Brogdon, R-Owasso

Finance Committee:
Sen. Gary Stanislawski, R-Tulsa

General Government Committee:
Sen. Roger Ballenger, D-Okmulgee

Health and Human Resources Committee:
Sen. Sean Burrage, D-Claremore

Judiciary Committee:
Sen. Susan Paddack, D-Ada

Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee:
Sen. Steve Russell, R-Oklahoma City

Retirement and Insurance Committee:
Sen. Cliff Aldridge, R-Midwest City

Rules Committee:
Sen. Earl Garrison, D-Muskogee

Tourism and Wildlife Committee:
Sen. Jerry Ellis, D-Valliant

Transportation Committee:
Sen. Bryce Marlatt, R-Woodward

Veterans and Military Affairs Committee:
Sen. Don Barrington, R-Lawton

Appropriations Subcommittee on Education:
Sen. John Ford, R-Bartlesville

Appropriations Subcommittee on General Government:
Sen. Brian Bingman, R-Sapulpa

Appropriations Subcomm. on Health & Human Services:
Sen. Patrick Anderson, R-Enid

Appropriations Subcommittee on Natural Resources:
Sen. Ron Justice, R-Chickasha

Appropriations Subcommittee on Public Safety:
Sen. Jim Reynolds, R-Oklahoma City

For the first time in the state’s history, Republicans have the majority in the Oklahoma State Senate.

Senate Republicans picked up two seats on Election Day to win a 26 to 22 majority.