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Oklahoma Senators to camp outside Capitol to protest budget cuts

Sen. Kenneth Corn, D-Poteau (left) and Sen. Tom Ivester, D-Elk City (right).

By BARBARA HOBEROCK World Capitol Bureau
Published: 11/3/2009 1:34 PM
Last Modified: 11/3/2009 4:29 PM

OKLAHOMA CITY - Two Oklahoma senators say they will spend the night outside the Capitol to show their solidarity with seniors who have been left out in the cold due to state budget cuts.

Sen. Kenneth Corn, D-Poteau, and Sen. Tom Ivester, D-Elk City, plan to camp outside the Capitol Tuesday night to protest a decision by the Commission for Human Services to cut $7.4 million from a program that provides meals to seniors. The cuts were made in response to declining state revenues.

Corn, who is running for lieutenant governor, said leadership in the Republican-controlled Legislature has failed to address the issue. He has called for a special session to restore the funding cuts.

"I don’t think it is a publicity stunt," Corn said, adding that he and Ivester are trying to send a message.

"We don't believe seniors citizens should be shut out in the cold and they should be a priority in state government," Corn said.

The office of Senate President Pro Tem Glenn Coffee, R-Oklahoma City, was not immediately available for comment.

Meanwhile, seniors are expected to rally from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday on second floor of the Capitol to protest the cuts. By BARBARA HOBEROCK World Capitol Bureau

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Reader comments for this story have been moved to the most updated version of the story, now under the headline "Lawmakers bunk outside to show empathy with seniors," which was published on 11/4/2009. So far, 24 comments have been made.