Alva Review-Courier -

We’re now in the closing weeks of the session, and work continues on the state budget daily. On the floor, we’re continuing to vote on bills that have come through conference committee – these are bills that were passed in slightly different versions in each chamber, so conference committees work to develop a final version that will be voted on one last time by the Senate and the House.

We’re also holding floor votes on executive nominations – these are appointments the governor makes to various boards, commissions and agencies, but they only become final once the Senate has given approval, first in committee, then on the floor. It’s a part of the checks and balances to ensure each appointment is a good fit for the position they’ve been nominated for.

I have to say, one of the high points for me this past week was on Tuesday, when the Senate approved my resolution naming May 4 as Oklahoma Beef Day and recognizing the importance beef throughout the month of May. As part of the celebration, the Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association grilled burgers for lunch for folks at the Capitol, and I have to say it was absolutely delicious. I want to extend my thanks to everyone that helped with this event promoting the beef industry in Oklahoma.

What a great way to bring attention to one of our state’s top industries. Between the terrible ice storm last fall, the sub-zero temperatures during the February storms, and the difficulties of the pandemic, this past year has been a challenging one – but through it all, our ranchers and processing facilities have worked hard to keep food in the stores and on our tables.

On Wednesday, we also honored another very important sector of our communities, counties and state – Oklahoma’s law enforcement community. The work they do is often thankless, yet you and I depend on our police, sheriff’s departments and other law enforcement agencies to be available around the clock, every day of the year. As the resolution we approved stated, every day, thousands of Oklahoma law enforcement officers put on their badges and say goodbye to their families knowing there’s a chance they may not come home, yet they bravely choose to put the safety of others before their own. The resolution also noted that in 2020, six Oklahoma law enforcement officers died in the line of duty, and we honored each of them.

Lastly, I also want to give a shout out to Stran Wagner, a senior at Boise City High School who paged for me this past week at the Capitol. Stran plays several sports, is a member of FFA, Fellowship of Christian Athletes and 4-H. After graduation, he plans to attend OSU to study mechanical engineering. I’m sure his parents Justin and Gretta Wagner, are very proud of his accomplishments, and I really appreciated having him here.

Our Senate page program gives some of Oklahoma’s best and brightest high school students the opportunity to assist members and staff with day-to-day assignments, giving them a firsthand look at state government. They attend committee and floor sessions, meet with Senate President Pro Tempore Greg Treat and Governor Kevin Stitt, and even participate in a mock legislative session where get to present, debate and vote on actual bills that were introduced this year.

I’m sure there are a lot of people here at the Capitol who became interested in public service after being high school pages. It’s a wonderful program, and I’m grateful to Stran and all the students who have participated this past year—thank you for your service.

It is my honor to serve you in the Oklahoma State Senate. You can reach me by calling 405-521-5626 or emailing [email protected].