Lawmakers make history with deal in state Senate
Democrats and Republicans to share power
Brendan Hoover
OKLAHOMA CITY—The Democratic and Republican caucuses in the Oklahoma state Senate have reached an agreement to share power in the upcoming legislative term, due to the tie created by the outcome of the Nov. 7 election, Senate leaders announced on Dec. 12, according to a state Senate press release.
The 48-member Senate has an unprecedented tie of 24 Republicans and 24 Democrats.
The agreement recognizes that there is no majority party in the Senate. Barring any seat changes during the next two years, power will be shared in all daily operations, including committees, floor leaders and presiding officers.
Sen. Kathleen Wilcoxson (R-Oklahoma City) said the new arrangement is state history and called the Republicans’ newfound leverage in the Senate a major victory for her party.
The Republicans picked up two seats in November to create the tie.
“This is history in the Oklahoma legislature. In our 100-year state history the Senate has always been controlled by the Democrats. There’s never been anything like this in Oklahoma. By the will of the people, Democrats don’t have total power anymore,” Wilcoxson said on Dec. 19.
Sen. Ron Justice (R-Chickasha) said the split in power would force the parties to work together on certain issues.
“I’m very pleased about the agreement. It will allow for us opportunities to work together across party lines. Our vote is going to be very important on every issue. It will make people show up and work very hard to get things done,” Justice said on Dec 21.
Wilcoxson and Justice represent Mustang in the state Senate.
President Pro Tempore Mike Morgan (D-Stillwater) said the agreement would help both parties avoid gridlock in the Senate.
“Faced with the challenge of an equal partisan divide, the members of the state Senate have chosen to respond with a bipartisan accord that will ensure that the Senate will continue to efficiently and effectively undertake the people’s business and provide a steadying hand for our state,” Morgan said in the state Senate press release.
Morgan will serve as President Pro Tempore for the next two years, except from July 1 through July 31, 2007, when he will serve as Co-President Pro Tempore.
Senator Glenn Coffee (R-Oklahoma City) will serve as Co-President Pro Tempore for the next two years except from July 1 through July 31, 2007, when he will serve as President Pro Tempore.
“Oklahoma’s state Senators have put aside partisanship to reach this historic agreement. Republicans and Democrats alike realize that we must work together to make sure the people’s business gets done,” said Coffee in the press release.
Per the terms of the agreement, each party will appoint a co-floor leader. The leaders will share responsibility for scheduling the daily legislative calendar and rotate the management of floor activities on a daily basis.
Democrats and Republicans will share presiding duties, rotating daily. On days when one co-floor leader is managing floor activities, the other party will preside in the chair.
Each committee in the Senate will have equal numbers of Democrats and Republicans, and will be headed by a Republican and Democratic co-chair, who will share leadership responsibilities.
The agreement will remain in effect unless a special election to fill a vacancy changes the balance of power in the Senate.
In the event of a tie vote on any particular piece of legislature during the next term, Lieutenant Governor-elect Jeri Askins (D-Duncan), acting as the President of the Senate, will cast the tie-breaking vote.
“I want to complement and commend the Democratic caucus leadership and members for conceding power to the Republican caucus,” Wilcoxson said.
“This is the first time in state history that Republicans will have a significant impact on the legislative process in the State Senate. We look forward to adding our new leadership and fresh ideas to the Senate committees during the upcoming legislative session,” Coffee said in a Dec. 20 press release.
In the past, 16 other states in the past have had similar ties in power in one legislative body or the other, and had to adopt special rules. When the tie became apparent within Oklahoma’s Senate, a special bipartisan committee was organized. Senators Morgan and Coffee worked together on the agreement, piecing parts of other states’ rules into an arrangement that worked for Oklahoma, Wilcoxson said.
“I am excited to begin the First Session of the 51st Oklahoma Legislature because I know we have a unique opportunity to lay aside partisan politics and move common sense measures through the legislative process,” Morgan said in a Dec. 20 press release.
Wilcoxson suggested that now the majority party would not be able to impose its will on the minority, as both parties would have half the power and half the time on the Senate floor.
“That’s where we’re going to have to learn how to strategize,” she said. “Last year I had several bills pass through both chambers’ committee and floor, only to die on final approval in the Senate because it wouldn’t get heard.”
Wilcoxson serves as a whip for the Republican caucus.
“I expect this (agreement) to work beautifully, but it may get hot at times,” she added.
The Senate will convene at noon on Tuesday, Jan. 2.
Democrats and Republicans to share power
Brendan Hoover
OKLAHOMA CITY—The Democratic and Republican caucuses in the Oklahoma state Senate have reached an agreement to share power in the upcoming legislative term, due to the tie created by the outcome of the Nov. 7 election, Senate leaders announced on Dec. 12, according to a state Senate press release.
The 48-member Senate has an unprecedented tie of 24 Republicans and 24 Democrats.
The agreement recognizes that there is no majority party in the Senate. Barring any seat changes during the next two years, power will be shared in all daily operations, including committees, floor leaders and presiding officers.
Sen. Kathleen Wilcoxson (R-Oklahoma City) said the new arrangement is state history and called the Republicans’ newfound leverage in the Senate a major victory for her party.
The Republicans picked up two seats in November to create the tie.
“This is history in the Oklahoma legislature. In our 100-year state history the Senate has always been controlled by the Democrats. There’s never been anything like this in Oklahoma. By the will of the people, Democrats don’t have total power anymore,” Wilcoxson said on Dec. 19.
Sen. Ron Justice (R-Chickasha) said the split in power would force the parties to work together on certain issues.
“I’m very pleased about the agreement. It will allow for us opportunities to work together across party lines. Our vote is going to be very important on every issue. It will make people show up and work very hard to get things done,” Justice said on Dec 21.
Wilcoxson and Justice represent Mustang in the state Senate.
President Pro Tempore Mike Morgan (D-Stillwater) said the agreement would help both parties avoid gridlock in the Senate.
“Faced with the challenge of an equal partisan divide, the members of the state Senate have chosen to respond with a bipartisan accord that will ensure that the Senate will continue to efficiently and effectively undertake the people’s business and provide a steadying hand for our state,” Morgan said in the state Senate press release.
Morgan will serve as President Pro Tempore for the next two years, except from July 1 through July 31, 2007, when he will serve as Co-President Pro Tempore.
Senator Glenn Coffee (R-Oklahoma City) will serve as Co-President Pro Tempore for the next two years except from July 1 through July 31, 2007, when he will serve as President Pro Tempore.
“Oklahoma’s state Senators have put aside partisanship to reach this historic agreement. Republicans and Democrats alike realize that we must work together to make sure the people’s business gets done,” said Coffee in the press release.
Per the terms of the agreement, each party will appoint a co-floor leader. The leaders will share responsibility for scheduling the daily legislative calendar and rotate the management of floor activities on a daily basis.
Democrats and Republicans will share presiding duties, rotating daily. On days when one co-floor leader is managing floor activities, the other party will preside in the chair.
Each committee in the Senate will have equal numbers of Democrats and Republicans, and will be headed by a Republican and Democratic co-chair, who will share leadership responsibilities.
The agreement will remain in effect unless a special election to fill a vacancy changes the balance of power in the Senate.
In the event of a tie vote on any particular piece of legislature during the next term, Lieutenant Governor-elect Jeri Askins (D-Duncan), acting as the President of the Senate, will cast the tie-breaking vote.
“I want to complement and commend the Democratic caucus leadership and members for conceding power to the Republican caucus,” Wilcoxson said.
“This is the first time in state history that Republicans will have a significant impact on the legislative process in the State Senate. We look forward to adding our new leadership and fresh ideas to the Senate committees during the upcoming legislative session,” Coffee said in a Dec. 20 press release.
In the past, 16 other states in the past have had similar ties in power in one legislative body or the other, and had to adopt special rules. When the tie became apparent within Oklahoma’s Senate, a special bipartisan committee was organized. Senators Morgan and Coffee worked together on the agreement, piecing parts of other states’ rules into an arrangement that worked for Oklahoma, Wilcoxson said.
“I am excited to begin the First Session of the 51st Oklahoma Legislature because I know we have a unique opportunity to lay aside partisan politics and move common sense measures through the legislative process,” Morgan said in a Dec. 20 press release.
Wilcoxson suggested that now the majority party would not be able to impose its will on the minority, as both parties would have half the power and half the time on the Senate floor.
“That’s where we’re going to have to learn how to strategize,” she said. “Last year I had several bills pass through both chambers’ committee and floor, only to die on final approval in the Senate because it wouldn’t get heard.”
Wilcoxson serves as a whip for the Republican caucus.
“I expect this (agreement) to work beautifully, but it may get hot at times,” she added.
The Senate will convene at noon on Tuesday, Jan. 2.
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