Senate leaders comment on passage of state budget

Pro Tem Treat, Appropriations Chair Sen. Hall Comment on Passage of Budget Bill

Senate Bill 1125 first in new budget transparency process 

OKLAHOMA CITY (May 28th) – Senate Pro Tem Greg Treat, R-Oklahoma City, and his Appropriations Chairman, Sen. Chuck Hall, R-Perry, today released the following statements after the state budget bill for Fiscal Year 2025 passed off the Senate floor this morning.

Senate Bill 1125 passed off the Senate floor 31-11.

Legislative leaders hammer out state budget agreement

Over the past week or so, legislative leaders - as well as Governor Stitt - have met in unprecedented public negotiations for this year's state budget (Tres Savage at NonDoc has a great write-up on the saga). Read the official press releases below:

Pro Tem Treat and Speaker McCall Comment on Budget Agreement

Agreement first in budget transparency process by both chambers

OKLAHOMA CITY (May 22nd) – Senate Pro Tem Greg Treat, R-Oklahoma City, and House Speaker Charles McCall, R-Atoka, today released the following statements after Senate and House negotiators reached an agreement on the state’s Fiscal Year 2025 budget.

The budget agreement is the first time all meetings were hosted in public and gave Oklahomans a behind the scenes look on how the state budget is negotiated. 

Senate GOP caucus elects McCortney as Pro Tem Designee

State Sen. Greg McCortney came out on top in the internal Senate GOP vote to determine the presumptive Senate President Pro Tem for next term (NonDoc rundown of the vote here). Handpicked by outgoing Pro Tem Greg Treat, he was the most moderate of the senators vying for the job.

Pro Tem Treat Announces Sen. McCortney as Pro Tem Designee

OKLAHOMA CITY – Senate Pro Tem Greg Treat, R-Oklahoma City, today announced the Senate Republican Caucus convened and voted for Sen. Greg McCortney, R-Ada, to be the Pro Tem Designee after Pro Tem Treat terms out of office in November of this year. 

Oklahoma Voice: GOP political fight brewing over who will be the next OK Senate leader

The below article from Oklahoma Voice is a good synopsis of the battle to be the next leader of the Oklahoma State Senate going on this week. The three Republican candidates are moderate Sen. Greg McCortney (one of the leaders who has killed measures to abolish abortion), conservative Sen. David Bullard, and Sen. Casey Murdock (somewhat in the middle of the two).

As a sign of how very concerned big corporate money and dark political money interests are about McCortney losing this race, they sent out mass text messages Saturday urging people to "thank" McCortney for being "conservative to the core" (he's clearly not). A Bullard win would be a huge deal for Oklahoma conservatives.

In wake of recreational defeat, senators call for guardrails on medical marijuana program

Sen. Garvin calls for more guardrails on medical marijuana program after recreational defeat

OKLAHOMA CITY (March 8th) - On the heels of Oklahomans’ overwhelming defeat of State Question 820 that would have legalized recreational marijuana, Sen. Jessica Garvin, R-Duncan, Wednesday said the result of the recent election shows the state’s medical program needs reformed.

With more than 61% of voters rejecting the state question, not a single county voted in favor of the measure. Opposition to the question included industry leaders, educators, law enforcement officials and community leaders.

Senate Pro Tem Treat announces GOP leadership team

This was sent out last week, along with Treat's assignment of GOP committee chairs and vice chairs. It is worth noting that State Sen. Rob Standridge, the conservative who challenged Treat in-caucus for the President Pro Tempore office and fell just short (allegedly by a vote of 21-19), was left out of leadership, left out of any committee chair/vice-chair position despite greater legislative seniority than most of the caucus, and assigned to the fewest committees among GOP senators.

Vindictive, much?

Senate Pro Tem Treat Announces GOP Leadership Team

OKLAHOMA CITY (Dec. 2nd) – Senate President Pro Tem Greg Treat today announced his Republican leadership team for the upcoming 59th Oklahoma Legislature that begins in February.

“I have chosen these individuals to help lead our caucus and work with the committees to ensure we are passing legislation that is in the best interest of Oklahomans,” Pro Tem Treat said. “I am honored they have accepted the opportunity to help lead the senate in these respective roles. Together, we will ensure the state is being fiscally responsible, agencies are operating efficiently and taxpayer dollars are not being wasted.”

Treat appoints tax reform working group in state senate to study options in special session

There's some passive-aggressive bickering going on between the House and Senate over this "inflation relief" special session:

PPT Treat announces membership of tax reform working group

OKLAHOMA CITY (June 15th) – Senate President Pro Tempore Greg Treat has announced his appointments for a tax reform working group to study proposals in relation to the ongoing special session.

How will Oklahoma Senate Republicans vote tomorrow: to end abortion -- or save it?

Tomorrow, State Senator Joseph Silk (R-Broken Bow) will make a motion to bring Senate Bill 13 (the Abolition of Abortion in Oklahoma Act) directly to the floor of the Senate for immediate consideration. Republicans will be fully responsible for either voting to hear the bill, or voting to prematurely kill the bill like the 5,000 babies murdered in the womb every year in this state.

This happens tomorrow:

A motion is going to be made in the State Senate on Wednesday to bring SB13 directly to the floor for a hearing. A motion to table this motion will likely be made by an establishment Republican and that motion to table will get a vote immediately. So, on Wednesday, the Senate will vote on whether to hear SB13 or whether to table it for good.

On February 11, three thousand people showed up to the State Capitol for the Abolition Day rally to demand SB13. Thousands of abolitionists from across the state have been constantly emailing and calling their state Senators asking them to support SB13. The Oklahoma Baptists, Oklahoma Free Will Baptists, and Oklahoma Republican Party all passed resolutions demanding SB13. Yet because of Greg McCortney and Greg Treat hardening their hearts, the bill hasn’t even been heard. It was tabled in committee and the deadline for bills passing out of committee has passed.

A bill does not have to pass out of committee, however. It can be brought straight to the Senate floor if a motion to do so is filed and a majority of the Senate votes in favor of hearing the bill.

Up until now, Senate Bill 13 has languished in the Health and Human Services Committee. Under two different chairmen, during two legislative sessions, the measure has been denied a fair hearing. The twelve senators on the committee are the only members of the Oklahoma Senate that have had the opportunity to directly act on SB13. Up until this point, the rest of the 48-member Senate has been able to say that they had no ability to vote on the Abolition of Abortion in Oklahoma Act.

That ends tomorrow.

On Wednesday, each and every member of the Oklahoma Senate will cast literally the most important and life-impacting vote of their entire legislative career until this point. Nothing that they have done previously will have the most direct impact on life and death as this impending vote will carry.

Tomorrow's vote will truly determine the foundational ethic of each and every Senator. Their vote will demonstrate whether they really want to see abortion ended in Oklahoma, or whether they are a-okay with it continuing.

Every year, 5,000 babies are murdered in Oklahoma by the act of abortion. Each and every year, the death toll continues to pile up. Abortion is on an upward trajectory in Oklahoma over the past few years, despite everything that past pro-life legislatures have done.

• 2016 abortions in Oklahoma: 4,294
• 2017 abortions in Oklahoma: 4,723
• 2018 abortions in Oklahoma: 5,014 (source: Oklahoma State Department of Health)

We can end this. It can begin to end tomorrow, if and only if the Oklahoma Senate lines up on the side of God Almighty and the Sanctity of Human Life, and against the cult of Death and the legislative enabling of abortion.

Every senator will be on full record tomorrow. There will be no "I'm not on that committee" excuse. There will be nothing to hide behind, nobody to use as a shield. The searing light of truth will expose the character of every member, whether for better or for worse.

I will lose readers over this post. I am sure I will see unsubscribes when this article goes out on the MuskogeePolitico email newsletter. Quite frankly, I. Do. Not. Care. I don't write to be on everybody's good side. This is far more important than that. Right stands resolute in confrontation of Wrong. Truth must be spoken.

Most of the Oklahoma state senators profess to be Christians. Many of them are active in their churches. Some of them serve or have served as pastors, elders, or deacons. Bible-believing Christians recognize that all life is a gift from God (Ps. 139:13-16), that we are all made in the image of God (Gen. 1:27), and that God hates the shedding of innocent blood (Ex. 20:13, Gen. 9:6, Prov. 6:17). We are called to love our neighbor (Matt. 22:37-40), to defend the fatherless and seek justice (Isa. 1:17, Mic. 6:8), and to deliver those that are drawn away to death (Prov. 24:10-12). The Bible declares that God hates unrighteous decrees (Isa. 10:1-2). We ought to obey God rather than men (Acts 5:29).

To quote my pastor, "Good men cannot be silent while the babies scream for life."

The following faces will be responsible for weighty action on Wednesday. This will be the ultimate test of their campaign rhetoric and pro-life espousals. Future lives will literally depend on the outcome.

Senator Allen campaigns on being pro-life and against abortion. Senator Bergstrom campaigns on being pro-life and against abortion. Senator Bice campaigns on being pro-life and against abortion. Senator Boggs campaigns on being pro-life and against abortion. Senator Bullard campaigns on being pro-life and against abortion. Senator Coleman campaigns on being pro-life and against abortion. Senator Dahm campaigns on being pro-life and against abortion. Senator Daniels campaigns on being pro-life and against abortion. Senator David campaigns on being pro-life. Senator Dossett campaigns on being pro-life and against abortion.

Will they vote to end abortion, or will they vote to facilitate the continued abortion holocaust in Oklahoma? Who will take a bold stand, and who will not?

Senator Dugger campaigns on being pro-life and against abortion. Senator Hall campaigns on being pro-life and against abortion. Senator Haste campaigns on being pro-life and against abortion. Senator Howard campaigns on being pro-life and against abortion. Senator Jech campaigns on being pro-life and against abortion. Senator Kidd campaigns on being pro-life and against abortion. Senator Leewright campaigns on being pro-life and against abortion.

Will their vote match their professed belief? Which of these will go down in the record unafraid to slay the abortion dragon?

Senator McCortney campaigns on being pro-life and against abortion. Senator Montgomery campaigns on being pro-life and against abortion. Senator Murdock campaigns on being pro-life and against abortion. Senator Newhouse campaigns on being pro-life and against abortion. Senator Paxton campaigns on being pro-life and against abortion. Senator Pederson campaigns on being pro-life and against abortion. Senator Pemberton campaigns on being pro-life and against abortion. Senator Pugh campaigns on being pro-life and against abortion. Senator Quinn campaigns on being pro-life and against abortion. Senator Rader campaigns on being pro-life and against abortion. Senator Rosino campaigns on being pro-life and against abortion. Senator Scott campaigns on being pro-life and against abortion.

Tomorrow, can the unborn count on these men to defend their right to life, or will the abortionists be able to pat them on the back and thank them for not terminating their business of death? It will be one or the other.

Senator Sharp campaigns on being pro-life and against abortion. Senator Shaw campaigns on being pro-life. Senator Silk will be voting to abolish abortion -- will any of his colleagues join him? Senator Simpson campaigns on being pro-life and against abortion. Senator Standridge campaigns on being pro-life and against abortion. Senator Stanislawski campaigns on being pro-life and against abortion. Senator Stanley campaigns on being pro-life and against abortion. Senator Thompson campaigns on being pro-life and against abortion. Senator Treat campaigns on being pro-life and against abortion. Senator Rader campaigns on being pro-life and against abortion.

Which of these will champion the right to life, and which of these will vote to keep the abortion mills fed? 

You will never know the faces of those babies in the womb who will be affected by this vote, whichever way it goes. But you will know the faces of those who will vote to affect the very lives of those babies.

Remember these faces. Remember how they vote on Wednesday. Remember the next time they are on the ballot whether they voted to protect the babies, or whether they voted to protect the abortion houses.

Let these Senators know which side they should be counted on. Let them know that this vote is the most important that they will ever cast. Let them know that you are watching and waiting for them to take the right stand.

Find your Senator at this link, then send them an email (listed below alphabetically by last name) right now asking them to vote to hear and approve Senate Bill 13, the Abolition of Abortion in Oklahoma Act:

Mark.Allen@oksenate.gov,
Micheal.Bergstrom@oksenate.gov,
Larry.Boggs@oksenate.gov,
Mary.Boren@oksenate.gov,
Stephanie.Bice@oksenate.gov,
Michael.Brooks@oksenate.gov,
David.Bullard@oksenate.gov,
Bill.Coleman@oksenate.gov,
Nathan.Dahm@oksenate.gov,
Julie.Daniels@oksenate.gov,
Kim.David@oksenate.gov,
J.J.Dossett@oksenate.gov,
Tom.Dugger@oksenate.gov,
Kay.Floyd@oksenate.gov,
Chuck.Hall@oksenate.gov,
John.Haste@oksenate.gov,
Carri.Hicks@oksenate.gov,
Brent.Howard@oksenate.gov,
Allison.Ikley-Freeman@oksenate.gov,
Darcy.Jech@oksenate.gov,
Chris.Kidd@oksenate.gov,
Julia.Kirt@oksenate.gov,
James.Leewright@oksenate.gov,
Kevin.Matthews@oksenate.gov,
Greg.McCortney@oksenate.gov,
JohnMichael.Montgomery@oksenate.gov,
Casey.Murdock@oksenate.gov,
Joe.Newhouse@oksenate.gov,
Lonnie.Paxton@oksenate.gov,
Roland.Pederson@oksenate.gov,
Dewayne.Pemberton@oksenate.gov,
Adam.Pugh@oksenate.gov,
Marty.Quinn@oksenate.gov,
Dave.Rader@oksenate.gov,
Paul.Rosino@oksenate.gov,
Paul.Scott@oksenate.gov,
Ron.Sharp@oksenate.gov,
Wayne.Shaw@oksenate.govJoseph.Silk@oksenate.gov,
Frank.Simpson@oksenate.gov,
Rob.Standridge@oksenate.gov,
Gary.Stanislawski@oksenate.gov,
Brenda.Stanley@oksenate.gov,
Roger.Thompson@oksenate.gov,
Greg.Treat@oksenate.gov,
Darrell.Weaver@oksenate.gov,
George.Young@oksenate.gov,

Bill to raise minimum age for tobacco products passes Senate committee

Senate Committee approves McCortney legislation to raise minimum age on tobacco

The Senate’s Health and Human Services Committee voted Monday in favor of legislation increasing the age to buy or use tobacco products from 18 to 21.  Senator Greg McCortney, chair of the committee, is the author of Senate Bill 1423.

In December, President Donald Trump signed the Tobacco-Free Youth Act into law, prohibiting the sale of cigarettes, e-cigarettes, cigars and other tobacco products to anyone under the age of 21.  McCortney, R-Ada, said SB 1423 brings Oklahoma into line with that federal change.

“Even though the federal law has changed, we still needed to follow through in the Legislature, because enforcement takes place at the state and local level,” McCortney said.  “This change will help avoid confusion or ambiguity and ensure clarity for the public, businesses, state agencies and law enforcement.”

Currently, state law sets a minimum age of 18 for tobacco sales and use.  Under SB 1423, the minimum age would be raised to 21 for purchasing or using tobacco products, and it would be illegal to sell or give tobacco products to anyone younger than 21.

McCortney said the change would also help improve Oklahoma’s health outcomes.  According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 90 percent of adult cigarette smokers report they first tried smoking before the age of 18.

“Tobacco use remains the leading cause of preventable disease disability and death in this country.  Raising the age limit for tobacco products has long been promoted as a way of reducing tobacco use, so this change will help us with our goal to improve public health in our state,” McCortney said.

SB 1423 will next be considered by the full Senate.

Muskogee Pastor's open letter to Senator in support of SB13 and abolishing abortion

From Muskogee pastor Brett Baggett:

This is my letter to Senator Greg McCortney concerning SB 13:

Beloved Senator McCortney,

Thank you for your service as one of our Oklahoma State Senators and as the chairman of the Health and Human Services Committee. And thank you for your time to read this email.

My name is Brett Baggett and I am an Oklahoma Baptist pastor of Ekklesia Muskogee. I have been an Oklahoma Baptist my entire life. My grandfather was an Oklahoma Baptist pastor for 50 years, my father was an Oklahoma Baptist pastor for 35 years, and I have been an Oklahoma Baptist minister/pastor for 13 years. I am grateful to know that you are an Oklahoma Baptist as well.

As a fellow Oklahoma Baptist, a citizen of Oklahoma, and a pastor whose purpose is to preach God’s word and shepherd a portion of His flock, I exhort you to obey God and not man. On behalf of the pre-born, let SB 13 go through the legislative process. Please bring it up for discussion in the committee and also, I implore you, vote yes. I am happy to provide any kind of testimony needed. I will have your back. This is a righteous bill that lines up with what God declares in Genesis 9, Psalm 82, and Romans 13, to name a few passages.

Brother, you and I both know we stand before our holy God and both of us will stand before Him to give an account for everything we have and have not done. For the sake of God’s glory, your conscience, and for the sake of the 5,000 plus pre-born Oklahoma citizens being slaughtered every year in Oklahoma, let SB 13 get a hearing. Again I say, I will have your back, come what may. Oklahoma Baptist’s will have your back, come what may. Abortion must be abolished.

SB 13 is not a secession bill, it is constitutional, and many other states are bringing these kind of abolition bills forward.

Jesus does not say please (though I have and will). Jesus makes commands and we obey. He commands governing authorities to “Give justice to the weak and the fatherless; maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute. Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked” and condemns those who "show partiality to the wicked" (Psalm 82).

I beg you, serve God and care not for the opinions of man. Given what He says in His word, I am confident that He will smile upon your bringing SB 13 up for discussion and subsequently voting yes. This is right. Abortion must be abolished so that all human lives—people made in the image of God—are equally protected.

I praise God that He sent his Son to do the opposite of abortion for us. He did not kill us for his sake, He gave himself up to be killed for our sake. O how glorious the gospel is!

I am praying for you, I have your back, and I will honor you before others if you let SB 13 go forward. You can go down in history as a man who stood up for those being carried away to the slaughter and said, "No more murder of anyone created in the image of God." What an opportunity!

Please call, text, or email if I can serve you or pray for you in any specific way. I look forward to receiving your return email, call, or text.

Your brother in Christ,

Brett Baggett
Lead Pastor - Ekklesia Muskogee
www.EkklesiaMuskogee.church

OK Senate Republicans elect new caucus chair, vice chair

Senate Republicans elect new caucus chair, vice chair

OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma Senate Republicans have elected Senator Dave Rader caucus chair and Senator Greg McCortney caucus vice chair, the President Pro Tempore’s Office announced Wednesday.

The elections were necessary due to the resignation of Senator Jason Smalley, who previously served as caucus chair.

Rader, R-Tulsa, previously served as caucus vice chair. McCortney, R-Ada, recently was appointed chair of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee to fill a vacancy created by the resignation.

“Caucus chair and vice chair are important leadership roles, and I know Senator Rader and Senator McCortney will do a great job on behalf of the Senate Republican Caucus,” said Senate President Pro Tem Greg Treat, R-Oklahoma City.

Treat announces new Senate HHS committee chair, other leadership changes

Senate Pro Tem Greg Treat announces new HHS committee chair, other leadership changes

OKLAHOMA CITY – Senate President Pro Tempore Greg Treat on Friday announced leadership changes made necessary due to the recent resignation of a member of the Senate.

“With a new legislative session drawing upon us, I am making these changes so the Senate can seamlessly move forward with our role in the legislative process. I am very confident in the members stepping into these new leadership roles and know they will do a great job for the Senate and the people of Oklahoma,” said Treat, R-Oklahoma City.

Treat said he has named Sen. Greg McCortney, R-Ada, to serve as the new chair of the Senate Health and Human Services (HHS) Committee to replace Sen. Jason Smalley, who had served as chairman but has resigned from the Senate effective January 31. Treat has named Sen. Paul Rosino, R-Oklahoma City, to replace McCortney as vice chair of the HHS committee. McCortney previously served as chair of the Rules Committee but will relinquish that role to serve as the new HHS committee chair.

Treat has named Sen. Darcy Jech, R-Kingfisher, the new chair of the Senate Rules Committee. Sen. Mark Allen, R-Spiro, will remain vice chairman of the Rules Committee.

Sen. Brenda Stanley, R-Midwest City, will fill the vacancy on the Senate Education Committee, Treat said.

Additionally, Treat announced the appointment of Sen. Lonnie Paxton, R-Tuttle, as an assistant floor leader to replace Sen. Stephanie Bice, R-Oklahoma City, who has stepped down from that leadership position. Bice will remain chair of the Senate Finance Committee.

The resignation also created a vacancy in the position of Republican Caucus chair. Treat said Republicans will hold an election in the coming days to select a new caucus chair.

Gov. Stitt issues first veto, nixing new task force

Governor Kevin Stitt has issued the first veto of his tenure, disapproving House Bill 1205, which passed the House by a vote of 91 to 4, and the Senate by a vote of 41 to 4. The measure was authored by Rep. Carol Bush (R[INO], Tulsa) and Sen. Greg McCortney (R-Ada), and would have created the Oklahoma Home and Community-Based Services Ombudsman Program Task Force.

Gov. Stitt's veto message, posted above, indicated his preference to address in-home and community-based care issues through existing state agencies rather than the creation of yet another task force.

Of note, the handful of legislators who voted against the measure and seemingly agreed with Stitt's assessment all belong to the conservative wing of the legislative GOP.

OCPA decries advancement of Senate Medicaid expansion/waiver bill

OCPA statement on Senate Bill 605

After Senate Bill 605 by Greg McCortney (R-Ada) passed the Retirement and Insurance Committee today, Jonathan Small, president of the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs (OCPA), released the following statement:

“It’s disappointing that Senate Bill 605, which will significantly reduce the incentives for work and create a new medical welfare entitlement program for up to 628,000 able-bodied, working-age adults, passed the Retirement and Insurance Committee today.

“Annually, more than one million Oklahomans are on Medicaid. Oklahoma’s Medicaid population and costs have already exploded. If Senate Bill 605 becomes law, it will expose Oklahoma to potentially $321 million in new, required Oklahoma taxpayer spending annually.

“Just like the federal government did with teaching hospitals, historical Oklahoma FMAP rates, and Insure Oklahoma, it will eventually reduce its responsibility of any expansion and the next liberal president will gut any ‘Oklahoma Plan’ just as the Obama administration gutted Insure Oklahoma and hurled thousands of Oklahomans into the failed Obamacare exchanges.”