State of
Oklahoma
For Immediate Release: May 26, 2009
Sen. Charlie Laster
Senate Democratic Leader Describes Legislative Session in Four
Words:
Special Interest Feeding Frenzy
The tone of the first session of the 52nd Oklahoma
Legislature was set early on when Senate Republicans wrote into
the Senate Rules special protections for insurance companies and
the theme continued until the very last day in what Senate Democratic
Leader Charlie
Laster is describing as a “Special Interest Feeding
Frenzy.”
“Senate Republicans let it be known early they would stop
at nothing to protect those who spent millions of dollars helping
them rise to power and they have continued their “my way
or the highway” attitude continuously throughout this session,”
Laster said. “They have been long on rhetoric and short
on solutions this session and unfortunately the only people who
will benefit from their good ole boy politics are the special
interests that roam these halls looking for giveaways on the backs
of hard-working Oklahomans.”
Laster said today’s vote creating a position that gives
unchecked power and a blank checkbook to one person lacks the
accountability piece Republicans promised Oklahomans during elections
last fall.
“Republicans sold Oklahomans a bag of goods when they promised
them accountability and responsibility,” Laster said. “Instead
they have delivered protections and privileges to special interest
groups who funded their political campaigns.”
Laster said he hopes next legislative session, Republicans will
abandon their desire to protect special interest groups and instead
turn their attention to the needs of every day Oklahomans who
want us to deliver insurance reform, affordable health care and
good paying jobs.
“If I were giving this legislative session a grade, I would
have to give it an “I” for incomplete and inadequate,
and insurance industry victories” Laster said. “It’s
been nothing but a special interest feeding frenzy this session,
and I fear it will not end any time soon.”
For more information contact:
Sen. Laster - (405) 521-5539
