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May 22, 2013
5-day Forecast Tulsa World  
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Obama headed to Oklahoma on Sunday; 6 missing now accounted for

Authorities said early Wednesday that they do not expect to find additional survivors of the EF5 tornado that struck Moore and that the task has now turned toward recovery.

Oklahoma Senate votes to tap fund for tornado relief
Before and after: Images of what the tornado did to Moore
Obama to visit tornado-ravaged Oklahoma town
State Medical Examiner's Office releases names of Oklahomans who died in Moore tornado
NJ Gov. Chris Christie: Oklahoma tornado victims deserve aid
Oklahoma City mayor: Up to 13K homes hit by tornado
Moore mayor wants to require tornado shelters
2013 Moore Tornado: Find all the coverage from the Moore tornado, including photo slideshows and a video from the World’s award winning photographers.
How to help those affected by the Moore tornado
VIDEO: Gov. Fallin talks about cleanup efforts in Moore
SLIDESHOW: Aerial photos show Moore tornado's destructive path
SLIDESHOW: Residents begin cleanup after devastating tornado strikes Moore
SLIDESHOW: Tornado hits Moore

 
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Shock's Cambage lands in Tulsa

Cambage flew into Tulsa International Airport around 6:15 p.m. after traveling nearly 9,000 miles from her native Australia.

 
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Tornado has insurance industry poised for deluge of claims

As Oklahoma communities grapple with the devastation caused by this week's deadly tornadoes, the financial impact from the loss of homes and other property remains unclear.

 
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Brian Hunt: Budget must prioritize public education

We will be the first to admit, we were hoping for more to fund reforms.

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We have two pair of Paul McCartney tickets to give away. Want 'em?

Here’s your (two) chance(s) to win one of two pairs of tickets to see Paul McCartney perform May 30 at the BOK Center.

 
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Photos and stories from the 2013 Moore tornado. Who is Tulsa's next mayor?
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Capitol Report

Overview: This site is home to all of the Tulsa World's reporting on the Oklahoma Legislature.

Capitol Bureau Chief Barbara Hoberock
Hoberock has covered the statehouse for 18 years, including four governors. She covers the legislature, state agencies, elections and appellate courts. She has 23 years of journalism experience. Hoberock was part of a team covering the April 19, 1995, bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building and the trials of Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols.

Senior Writer Wayne Greene
Greene has been covering Oklahoma news for 25 years, including four years in the Tulsa World State Capitol Bureau and 13 years as the World's city editor. He is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the University of Oklahoma and has won many peer-judged awards as a reporter and editor.

Staff Writer Randy Krehbiel
Born and raised in Oklahoma, Krehbiel is in his fourth decade of reporting on his home state. He has been at the Tulsa World since 1979.
HEADLINES

Oklahoma Senate votes to tap fund for tornado relief   5/22/2013

Gov. Mary Fallin urged lawmakers to consider the bill, which is expected to be given final legislative approval Thursday in the House.
Legislature OKs bill to tap Oklahoma's 'rainy day' fund

Legislature OKs bill to tap Oklahoma's 'rainy day' fund   5/22/2013

House and Senate panels on Tuesday passed a measure to tap the state's 'rainy day' fund to assist communities recently hit by tornadoes.

State Senate panel OKs measure to tap rainy day fund for tornado relief   5/21/2013

Senate Bill 249 would provide up to $45 million from the fund, which contains nearly $600 million.

State backs off plans for Tulsa popular culture museum   5/21/2013

“We need to be thinking first of our fellow Oklahomans who have suffered from this devastating disaster,” said Bob Blackburn, executive director of the Oklahoma Historical Society.

Hearing scheduled in state's challenge to 'Obamacare'   5/21/2013

U.S. District Judge Ronald White has set a June 20 hearing in Oklahoma's challenge to IRS rules to implement so-called 'Obamacare' in the state.
House Speaker derails Fallin's plan to save Insure Oklahoma

House Speaker derails Fallin's plan to save Insure Oklahoma   5/21/2013

Oklahoma House Speaker T.W. Shannon pulled the plug Monday on Gov. Mary Fallin's plans to save the Insure Oklahoma program, which provides health care for working poor Oklahomans.

Gov. Fallin approves $7.1 billion state budget   5/21/2013

Gov. Mary Fallin signed a bill on Monday setting a $7.1 billion state budget for fiscal year 2014.

House speaker won't save Insure Oklahoma   5/20/2013

“It is unfortunate these Oklahomans will be without health insurance due to President (Barack) Obama’s policies, despite the guarantees that everyone would be covered,” Shannon said in a prepared statement.

House committee advances Indian museum funding   5/20/2013

A similar bill to fund the proposed OKPOP museum in Tulsa is expected to be heard this afternoon.
Oklahoma becoming more reliant on private prisons

Oklahoma becoming more reliant on private prisons   5/20/2013

As Oklahoma's prison population continues to grow, the state has become more and more reliant on private prisons to house offenders.
Lawmakers benefit from private prison donations

Lawmakers benefit from private prison donations   5/19/2013

Private prison interests have given nearly $200,000 in campaign dollars and gifts to 79 of the 149 members of the state Legislature since 2004, a Tulsa World analysis shows.

DATABASE: Search a database of private prisoncontributions to elected officials.

Sunday Morning Quarterback   5/19/2013

Signs a long-sought income tax cut into law.
Oklahoma Democrats re-elect party chairman Wallace Collins

Oklahoma Democrats re-elect party chairman Wallace Collins   5/19/2013

Oklahoma Democrats chose Saturday to give their party chairman another two-year stint in office instead of selecting a state senator who promised she would bring diversity to the party.
Capitol Report Q&A: Rep. Fred Jordan

Capitol Report Q&A: Rep. Fred Jordan   5/19/2013

I had the opportunity in 2002 to deploy to Guantanamo Bay as part of the operation down there.

Capitol Notebook: Dank irate   5/19/2013

State Rep. David Dank, R-Oklahoma City, unloaded on his colleagues late last week, saying some of them were trying to quietly slip tax incentives into last-minute legislation.

Capitol Report: Progress Report   5/19/2013

Eliminates felony charge for properly licensed person carrying handgun on public bus.
Capitol Report: Quotable

Capitol Report: Quotable   5/19/2013

'I think sending a warm fuzzy to Kansas ... is a waste of time.'
Fallin asks lawmakers to save Insure Oklahoma before session ends

Fallin asks lawmakers to save Insure Oklahoma before session ends   5/17/2013

“Insure Oklahoma is currently delivering affordable health insurance options to 30,000 Oklahomans with a great deal of success. But rather than support this program, the president is dismantling it and pushing more and more people into the government health care system outlined in Obamacare,” Gov. Fallin said.

Senate panel OKs funds for pop culture museum, American Indian Cultural Center   5/17/2013

In a surprise move, a Senate panel approved a measure Thursday to fund construction of a pop culture museum in Tulsa and another to finish the financially troubled American Indian Cultural Center and Museum in Oklahoma City.
Gov. Mary Fallin signs abortion reporting bill

Gov. Mary Fallin signs abortion reporting bill   5/17/2013

Gov. Mary Fallin signed a bill Thursday that expands what doctors who perform abortions are required to report to the Oklahoma State Department of Health.
Capitol briefs

Capitol briefs   5/17/2013

Legislation will be heard next week that would keep from taking effect next year nationwide academic standards that were approved three years ago by lawmakers and then adopted by the state Board of Education, House Speaker T.W. Shannon said Thursday.
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BY THE NUMBERS
Partisan Control: There are 72 Republicans and 29 Democrats in the Oklahoma House. Republicans have had majority control of the House since 2004. There are 36 Republicans and 12 Democrats in the Oklahoma Senate. Republicans have had majority control of the Senate since 2008.



Gender: There are 85 men and 16 women in the Oklahoma House. Sixty-one of the men and 11 of the women are Republicans. There are 45 men and three women in the Oklahoma Senate. Thirty-five of the men and one of the women are Republicans.



Term limits

The terms of state House members are two years. The terms of state senators are four years.

The state Constitution limits lawmakers to no more than 12 years total service in the House and Senate.

Seven members of the House and four members of the Senate will reach their term limits at the end of the 2013-14 legislative session.

Rep. Don Armes, R-Faxon
Rep. Gus Blackwell, R-Laverne
Rep. Dale DeWitt, R-Braman
Rep. Joe Dorman, D-Rush Springs
Rep. Rebecca Hamilton, D-Oklahoma City
Rep. Mike Reynolds, R-Oklahoma City
Rep. John Trebilcock, R-Broken Arrow
Sen. Cliff Aldridge, R-Choctaw
Sen. Cliff Branan, R-Oklahoma City
Sen. Jerry Ellis, D-Valliant
Sen. Harry Coats, R-Seminole

Legislators who reached term limits in the 2011-12 session were:
Speaker of the House Kris Steele, R-Shawnee
Rep. Charles Key, R-Oklahoma City
Rep. Ron Peters, R-Tulsa
Rep. Paul Roan, D-Tishomingo
Rep. Sue Tibbs, R-Tulsa
Rep. Purcy Walker, D-Elk City
Sen. Jonathan Nichols, R-Norman
Sen. Jim Wilson, D-Tahlequah

Salaries



Lawmakers who live outside of the Oklahoma City metro receive $148 a day in per diem for each day the Legislature is in session. They also receive mileage reimbursement, a benefit allowance and retirement benefits. Legislators can opt out of the state health insurance program, but few have done so.

The calendar:

The first session of the 54th Oklahoma Legislature convenes at noon Feb. 4 with Gov. Mary Fallin’s State of the State address. Fallin also will present her proposed budget for the year.

The Legislature must adjourn by 5 p.m. May 30.
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