Hot off the press – what follows are the high priority agenda items for the next legislative session. I heard my Senator speaking about this last night. He hopes that they under promise and over deliver. Translation: it would be wise to pick a few of these key issues and get something accomplished. I think he is right on the money, after all, Rome wasn’t built in a day.

( I am sure there is a version of the Oklahoma Senate Democrat’s high priority agenda items – but I have not been able to locate a copy. Rest assured, that when I get my hands on one, I’ll post it. After all, the Senator’s wife likes to be well versed on all sides of the aisle. )

Oklahoma Senate Republicans
2009 Legislative Agenda
Presented Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Taxes and Fiscal Responsibility
Senate Republicans will make fiscal responsibility a priority in the state budget by opposing irresponsible budgeting practices.
Limit growth of government and reduce the tax burden of Oklahoma families.
Expand the successful back-to-school sales tax holiday by adding school supplies to the list of tax-exempt items.
Eliminate ineffective and obsolete special interest tax breaks, freeing up money for more broad-based tax relief.
Help Oklahomans keep more of their hard-earned dollars by fighting to reduce the income tax rate and curb the growth of property tax assessments as much as fiscally responsible.

Education
Take steps to ensure the Oklahoma Teacher Retirement System is fiscally sound for current and future generations of teachers and retirees.
Support giving parents more choices in the education of their children, particularly those who are trapped in low performing schools.
Give local school boards more control, providing these schools a chance to improve student learning by freeing them from the burden of many state mandates.

Health care reform
Support efforts to reduce the uninsured by creating more affordable insurance options.
Support efforts to increase the number physicians in Oklahoma, partially by ensuring the continuity of the OSU Medical School in Tulsa.

Government Reform
Enact meaningful election reform, including:
Voter ID. Republicans believe it is neither unreasonable nor inconvenient to require identification of voters in the polling places to ensure clean, fair elections and assuring one person, one vote.
Make all statewide elected officials, such as the lieutenant governor, attorney general, and corporation commissioners, subject to the same 12-year term limits that apply to state legislators.
Create an Office of Accountability and Innovation to eliminate waste in state government.

Transportation
Republicans are committed to ensuring sufficient funding for roads and bridges.

Energy Policy
Lead the country in actions to develop energy independence through Oklahoma energy sources.

Legal reform and workers’ compensation reform
Reform the judicial nominating process by requiring Senate confirmation of appointments to the Workers Compensation Court and appellate courts.
Protect teachers and school officials from being sued for enforcing discipline and other school policies in the classroom, provided state law and school policies are followed.
Reform Oklahoma’s Workers Compensation system to maximize benefits to employees and reduce costs to Oklahoma employers
Reform Oklahoma’s legal system to ensure fairness, lower the costs, create jobs, attract more physicians and protects the rights of all.

Once I’ve had time to read all of this, ( and ask my Senator a few questions), I’ll weigh in with my thoughts!

Enjoy!

There’s a new sheriff in town, or rather down at the marble palace. Today, like in 49 minutes, the sheriff and his deputies (the Republican leadership team) will be rolling out their agenda with a press conference. I will have those details along with some Senate trivia later this afternoon.

Meanwhile, back at the homestead, the Senator’s wife is flying by the seat of her pants. Is it possible to use an entire tank of gas in one day? Yes, of course, if you are on a road trip, but doing errands and carpools? I think I’m going to be car sick.

Just a little FYI happening down at our state’s Capitol today. The legislative members will officially “organize” to elect their leaders. Yes, I know, their leaders were officially elected and selected in November, this is just the official part of the program. However, what I didn’t know before becoming a Senator’s wife, is that this is mandated in our state’s constitution that they convene today and “officially” conduct this little piece of business.

Here is the schedule for today’s events:

Beginning at 9:00 am, the legislators will all gather to caucus. Caucus? What, you ask is a Caucus? That would be our vocab word of the week: to caucus, where members of a like-minded group meet together.

I have been told that there is a rural caucus meeting, a republican caucus and a democrat caucus meeting today. Oh, but wait, there are plenty more caucuses. There is the black caucus, a native American caucus and a cancer caucus. I asked my Senator if there was a angry, white male caucus but he did not respond. I am sure there is not a female legislative caucus because you could count them all on one hand…well, maybe two. That makes me want to run for office, so I will quickly get back to today’s events.

After the “caucusing” takes place, they will re-convene in the chamber to formally elect the Senate Pro Tempore and the Minority Leader. Because there are more Republicans than Democrats, the Pro Temp will be an “R” and the Minority Leader a “D”… majority rules! In theory, the Pro Temp is the head honcho, large and in charge of all that goes on in the Chamber. The fact that this position is now held by a Republican is historic in that it has never happened before in Oklahoma history, where the “R” is in the top Senate leadership spot. There will be a few congratulatory speeches, after all, this is a noteworthy occasion, and then they will adjourn.

Next, they head across the hall to the House of Representatives. Probably to congratulate the Speaker and exchange more pleasantries. Then, they will adjourn again, ( hopefully to have lunch, a bathroom break, or fly to Miami), only to re-convene in the Senate Chamber to discuss the rules.

I anticipate this particular portion of today’s events will produce a nice fireworks display. The passing of the torch is always complex, but when the rules change, so does the way the game is played. If you would like to watch this live on your computer, go to http://www.oksenate.gov. It should be a good show. Like, way better than reality t.v. because you might actually know some of the people.

If I were a guessing girl, I would bet the new majority of members are planning to change a lot of rules. I would. After serving in the minority since statehood, I am confident they plan to offer up an entirely new perspective on how to play the game. Stay tuned.