By The Associated Press

OKLAHOMA CITY – A bill to allow the death penalty to be assessed against a person who commits a second sex offense against a child under 14 years old passed the state Senate on Wednesday.

The measure heads to the House and will go to the governor if passed by Friday’s adjournment deadline. Gov. Brad Henry has not indicated whether he will sign the measure.

Sen. Jonathan Nichols, R-Norman, resurrected the measure in another bill and easily passed it in committee and on the Senate floor on Wednesday.

The new proposal outlines specific crimes that on a second offense against a child under 14 could subject a person to life in prison or the death penalty. Read More…

By The Associated Press
(excerpt)

A bill to block a tax credit scheme that is costing the state tens of millions of dollars was signed out of a joint House-Senate committee late Wednesday

Under two tax credit programs passed a few years ago, venture capital investors are supposed to get a 20 percent tax credit for investing in startup businesses in urban areas and a 30 percent credit in rural areas.

Oklahoma Tax Commission officials say the programs cost the state about $2 million a year for the past three years, but that soared to an estimated $66 million for 2005. Read More…

By The Associated Press

OKLAHOMA CITY The state Senate’s top Democrat urged Governor Brad Henry to call a special legislative session to write the state budget.

Senate President Pro Tem Mike Morgan’s request comes after lawmakers passed the 11th hour of their regular session without a budget agreement.

Negotiations have stalled over Republican demands for the largest tax cut in state history and Democrat spending priorities for education, health care and roads and bridges. Read More…

By The Associated Press

OKLAHOMA CITY The state Senate’s top Democrat urged Governor Brad Henry to call a special legislative session to write the state budget.

Senate President Pro Tem Mike Morgan’s request comes after lawmakers passed the 11th hour of their regular session without a budget agreement.

Negotiations have stalled over Republican demands for the largest tax cut in state history and Democrat spending priorities for education, health care and roads and bridges. Read More…

By Jerry Bohnen
KTOK-AM (Oklahoma City)

Congress could get taken to the woodshed on Thursday by Oklahoma Senator Tom Coburn as he chairs a subcommittee hearing exploring why Congress violates its own budget rules.

“Congress is in a bad habit of setting its own spending limitations and rules and repeatedly breaking them,” said Coburn in a press release from his office.

He chairs the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Subcommittee on Federal Financial Management.

Coburn points out how since 1990, congress has misused budget rules related to emergency or supplemental spending in order to subvert annual budget caps.

The Associated Press
(excerpt)

OKLAHOMA CITY State and federal authorities yesterday announced the formation of a metropolitan gang task force to fight what they say is a growing problem of gang crime and violence in the Oklahoma City area.

U.S Attorney John Richter and Oklahoma County District Attorney Wes Lane said gang members have taken control of streets and neighborhoods in areas of the city and have threatened and tried to intimidate residents of neighborhoods who reported their activities to police.

Lane analogized the gang task force as an intervention in communities where gangs have taken root, selling drugs and recruiting area children to become involved in their activities.

“We are not waiting for Oklahoma City to have an out-of-control gang problem,” Lane said. Tulsa, with a population smaller than Oklahoma City’s, has a homicide rate that is three times larger, much of it gang related, he said.

“They have essentially taken over small parts of this city,” Lane said. “Our message to gang members is this: We’re coming for you.” Read More…

By Tim Talley
Associated Press

OKLAHOMA CITY – Gov. Brad Henry signed legislation Monday that creates a state Internet crimes law enforcement unit to crack down on online child predators and pornographers. Read More…

By Janice Francis-Smith
The Journal Record

OKLAHOMA CITY – Legislators have pronounced this year’s tort reform bill dead on arrival. Senate Bill 1657 survived long enough to make it to a conference committee, a joint House/Senate committee assigned the task of finding a compromise on controversial pieces of legislation. But when the Senate announced which senators would serve on the conference committee, Republicans gave up hope. Read More…

Twenty-two American Indian tribes have passed a resolution calling for a new deal on cigarette taxes that would double their cost advantage over other retailers.

The resolution calls for compacts between the state and tribes putting the tribal cigarette tax rate at 25 percent of the usual rate. That would work out to about 26 cents a pack

The failure of Indian tobacco compact to produce expected income has been a problem for the administration of Gov. Brad Henry. Read More…

By The Associated Press

OKLAHOMA CITY The author of immigration legislation intended to stop illegal immigrants from receiving tax-supported services says his measure is probably dead for the year.

Moore state Representative Randy Terrill’s bill would’ve required Oklahomans to produce proof of citizenship before they receive government aid like food stamps and Medicaid. State workers also would’ve been required to report anyone who didn’t produce proper identification to federal immigration officials. Read More…