In The News

In one of those weird things that occur occasionally in politics, voters will choose tomorrow a new lawmaker to represent Senate District 43, which covers parts of far southern Oklahoma County and northern Cleveland County–for a while, at least.

Neither Republican Greg Childers, 41, of Del City, nor Democrat Kenneth Meador, 30, of Moore—whoever wins between the two—should get too comfortable in the seat.

It’s going mobile, you see.

Beginning Jan. 1, 2012, Oklahoma school teachers and state employees using HealthChoice for insurance benefits will be forced to fill their prescriptions through an out-of-state mail order pharmacy, Sen. Patrick Anderson said Wednesday. The bureaucratic decision will result in the loss of approximately $75 million from the Oklahoma economy to New Jersey.

The newest member of the Oklahoma State Senate is now officially on the job. Sen. Greg Childers was officially sworn in during a special ceremony in the Senate Chamber on Wednesday. Among the many friends, relatives and supporters attending the State Capitol ceremony were Childers’ wife, Melanie, and sons Cameron, 12, Connor, 8 and Cole, 6, who joined Childers on the floor for the oath of office.

OKLAHOMA CITY (October 17, 2011) Rep. T.W. Shannon has been elected House Speaker-designate for the 54th Oklahoma Legislature.

The House Republican Caucus elected Shannon, R-Lawton, as Speaker-designate during a caucus meeting Monday morning at the Capitol.

Should Republicans maintain their majority in the House following next year’s election cycle, Shannon will be next in line to serve as Speaker of the House beginning in November 2012, when current House Speaker Kris Steele leaves office due to term limits.

OKLAHOMA CITY – A Florida judge’s ruling on the Obama administration’s health care law could buttress Oklahoma’s own lawsuit against the law, a legal expert said Thursday.

After officially being elected President Pro Tempore on Tuesday, Brian Bingman (Bing-man), R-Sapulpa, announced his Judicial Nominating Commission selection today. State Question 752, which passed by a vote of the people on November 2nd 2010, grants both the President Pro Tempore and the Speaker of the House a selection to the Judicial Nominating Commission. The appointments will result in two additional members and give more input into the judicial selection process.

OKLAHOMA CITY (January 7, 2011) – House Speaker Kris Steele today named David K. Hill, chief executive officer of Kimray, as his appointee on the Judicial Nominating Commission.