Senate Review

We have officially passed the March 12 deadline to vote on bills that originated in this chamber. These measures now head to the House of Representatives to begin the committee and floor approving process, and vice versa. We gave approval to just over 350 Senate bills, and the House approved more than 400 of their own.

An important measure did pass the House this past week that now will move to the Senate for consideration. House Bill 3350 would give a cost-of-living adjustment, also known as a COLA, for retirees in six Oklahoma pension plans, including teachers, firefighters, police, public employees and justices and judges. I’ve been extremely supportive of a COLA since this discussion began during the last legislative session and am hopeful it will easily move through the Senate and be signed by the governor. Supporting our retirees is a priority for me, and I know it’s a priority for many of you, too.

I know that the state of panic from the media has been consuming over the last week. I would like to remind you all of a Bible verse I’ve found comforting in these uncertain times, found in Second Timothy 1:7.

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”

There’s a lot of emotion and fear of the unknown right now, and I understand. Let us put our trust in the Lord and turn to him in these troubling times. However, there are also sensible steps you can take to keep yourself and your families safe. Health officials say the easiest way to protect yourself is to frequently wash your hands with soap and water and avoid touching your face. It’s always a good idea to stay away from those who are sick as well. If you are looking for reliable coronavirus information, please visit coronavirus.health.ok.gov. This website is continuously updated with Oklahoma-specific information. You can also call the coronavirus call center line set up by the Oklahoma Health Department at 877-215-8336.

The coronavirus, coupled with the shaky stock market and extremely low oil prices, has caused uncertainty for our economy. I’d like to remind you all of the state’s strong savings account bolstered by the additional $200 million we set aside last year. We thankfully have approximately $1 billion in reserves that we can use if needed. However, it is now more important than ever that we make fiscally smart decisions with our taxpayer dollars. This will be a continually on-going discussion at the Capitol, and we will closely be watching the markets for movement.

In closing, I’d like to extend a huge congratulations to the Garber Wolverines for winning the Boy’s Class 2A State Basketball Championship. This is a great accomplishment, and I know the entire town of Garber and all surrounding communities are very excited and proud of you all.

Thank you for letting me be your voice at the State Capitol. Please feel free to reach out if there is anything we can help you with. You can contact me at 405-521-5630, via email at Roland.Pederson@oksenate.gov, or stop by room 413 at the Capitol.