For Immediate
Release: August 29, 2005
Senate
Leaders: Press Conferences Alone Won’t Keep Oklahoma Families
Safe
Senate President Pro Tempore Mike
Morgan said today he is disappointed, but not surprised by
the Republicans’ latest political stunt in response to the
public safety crisis in Oklahoma created by a shortage of corrections
officers in the state’s prisons.
“Their solution to this serious public safety crisis is
to hold a press conference. Senate Democrats intend to return
to work tomorrow and Wednesday and pass a funding plan that will
once again make Oklahoma families safe,” Morgan said.
More than six weeks ago, Senate Democrats unveiled a comprehensive
solution to address the public safety crisis during the current
special session as Governor Brad
Henry has asked them to do. Monday, House and Senate Republicans,
held a joint press conference to announce they believe the public
safety crisis can wait until next year.
“Their collective ‘my way or the highway’ attitude
gets us no closer to an agreement and no closer to giving corrections
the funding they need to keep Oklahomans safe,” said Morgan,
D-Stillwater.
Senator Kenneth
Corn, Chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Public
Safety and Judiciary, said the ‘wait until next year’
plan unveiled by Republicans Monday asks the Department of Corrections
to engage in deficit spending until session begins in February.
“It just goes to show that when you have spent 80 years
in the minority party governing doesn’t come easy. If they
had any clue at all how to govern they would understand they are
asking us to agree to something that is irresponsible and reckless,”
Corn said.
Corn said he was offended by comments that said Senate Democrats
have been engaging in fanfare and theatrics all summer.
“Traveling across the state visiting with corrections officers,
wardens and even inmates is far from theatrics. It’s called
responsible government,” Corn said. “Republicans will
say anything at this point in an attempt recover from the ‘do-nothing’
approach to this public safety crisis they have taken all summer
long.”
Corn said Republicans are misleading the public by trying to deny
that Oklahoma is facing a public safety problem and by calling
the Senate Democrat plan an “early release” plan.
“Our plan does not include any early release proposals.
It is shameful and wrong for Republicans to mislead the fine people
of this state who depend on us to be their voice.” Corn
said. “The are using the term ‘early release’
as a shiny object to distract Oklahomans who agree with us that
something needs to be done now to keep Oklahomans safe.”
Morgan said despite the latest distraction attempt by Republicans,
the Senate will still return to the Capitol Tuesday and Wednesday
to act on a plan to ease the staffing shortages at the Department
of Corrections.
“In the Senate, we’re going to do more than just hold
press conferences to try and distract Oklahomans from the real
issue. We are going to pass legislation that will make Oklahoma
families safe again,” Morgan said.
For
more information contact:
Senate President
Pro Tem's Office - (405) 521-5605
