Oklahoma State Senate
Communications Division
State Capitol
Oklahoma City, OK 73105
405-521-5774

For Immediate Release: December 12, 2006

STATE SENATE LEADERS ANNOUNCE POWER-SHARING AGREEMENT

State Capitol, Oklahoma City –Democrats and Republicans in the Oklahoma State Senate have reached a historic agreement to share power, Senate leaders announced Tuesday. The 48-member Senate has an unprecedented tie of 24 Republicans to 24 Democrats.

The leaders said the historic agreement will ensure that the Senate’s business can be conducted in an orderly fashion, and follows several weeks of intense negotiations. A tentative agreement was reached by negotiators last Friday, and it was formally approved by both parties’ caucuses Tuesday morning.

“I am proud of the agreement we are announcing here today,” said President Pro Tempore Mike Morgan, D-Stillwater.  “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.”

“Many pundits and doubters predicted partisan gridlock in the State Senate because of the tie, but it hasn’t happened. Oklahoma’s state senators today 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,” stated Senate Co-President Pro Tempore Designate Glenn Coffee, R-Oklahoma City.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE STATE SENATE’S POWER-SHARING AGREEMENT

MAJORITY PARTY

·         The power-sharing agreement recognizes that there is no majority party in the Oklahoma State Senate. Both parties will share power.

PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE

·         Democratic Senator Mike 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.

·         Republican Senator Glenn Coffee 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.

·         The President Pro Tempore and Co-President Pro Tempore will jointly share authority in the State Senate.

FLOOR LEADERS

·         Each party will appoint a co-floor leader.