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