For Immediate Release:
February 2, 2004
Senate
President Pro Tempore Cal Hobson (front) along with Senate
Majority Leader Ted Fisher, Senate Appropriations Vice Chairman
Ben Robinson and Senate Appropriations Chairman Mike Morgan
(L-R)
give their reactions to the governor's State of the State
address.
Senator Hobson Comments on Governor Henry’s
Second State of the State Message
“I
think it was obvious again that we have a young governor
with a vision for our state and the boldness to lead. A
true leader doesn’t just point out the problems, he
proposes real world solutions and that’s what this
governor did today.
“I was particularly impressed by his continued dedication
to improving education in our state and his recognition
that teachers are the engine that make our education system
go. Educating the next generation of Oklahomans is the best
way to ensure a prosperous future for our state.
“I think the governor’s education priorities
are our priorities – full funding of the health insurance
premiums for teachers and the Oklahoma Higher Learning Access
Program, improved teacher pay and funding to expand Senator
Fisher’s Partnership for School Readiness Act into
rural areas.
“I was also appreciative of the emphasis Governor
Henry placed on health care issues and on saving Oklahoma’s
horse racing industry. As he said, we can’t turn a
blind eye to these problems. Lives and livelihoods are at
stake.
“We need to build a world-class cancer center, establish
a sustainable statewide trauma care network and dramatically
reduce the number of Oklahomans without health insurance.
Governor Henry not only made these proposals today but he’s
identified mechanisms in his budget to fund them –
an increase in the tax on tobacco products and targeted
fee increases.
“And we need to allow our horsemen to run for larger
purses by granting them parity with the more than 80 tribal
casinos in our state.
“I’m hopeful that with the level of support
the governor showed for these measures today that we’ll
be able pass legislation to improve the health of our state
and keep the 50,000 horse racing industry jobs at home in
Oklahoma where they belong.”
“Our state has historically been at the bottom of
the list when it comes to how much we pay our state employees.
The governor recognized that today and offered his support
to one mechanism that will save us money that could be used
to boost their pay – reducing the number of non-violent
offenderss we keep behind bars by better utilizing drug
courts and other alternative forms of sentencing.”
For
more information contact:
Senate
Communications Division
- (405) 521-5605
