COMANCHE COUNTY DEMOCRAT

SENATOR RILEY JOINS DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS

Oklahoma City, OK - Aug 03, 2006 - Senator Nancy Rileys decision to leave the Republican Party is yet another indication of the growing dissatisfaction with the failed policies and leadership of the Republicans from the White House to the Oklahoma State House. Their extreme right wing agenda is increasingly out of step with regular Oklahomans. Right wing Republican politicians are proving time and time again they cannot be trusted to govern, said Lisa Pryor, Oklahoma Democratic Party Chairman. Two years ago, the people of Tulsa gave Senator Riley 66% of the vote as she won re-election. Last week she surprised political observers with an unexpectedly strong showing by getting more that 23% of the votes in the Republican primary for Lieutenant Governor. Clearly, her message of promoting Oklahoma and providing positive leadership resonated with Oklahoma voters. As a young, widowed mother with two small children, Nancy Riley saw first-hand how good government can lift people up and give them a chance to succeed. And, as a teacher for thirteen years, she recognized the value of a good education. As a Democratic State Senator we believe Nancy Riley will be a strong advocate for the core Democratic principals of community, accountability, responsibility and equality. The Democratic Party is truly the party of the people. Democrats can be trusted to provide strong, steady, honest leadership and competent, effective government that works for all Oklahomans, not just the privileged few. On behalf of the Oklahoma Democratic Party I welcome Senator Riley to the Democratic family. We applaud Senator Riley for showing the courage to voice her convictions and urge other Republicans to join her in switching to the Democratic Party, Pryor said. Republicans who have had enough of extremist right wing politics and no longer feel that the Republican Party speaks for them can officially change their registration from September 1 to October 13. Voter registration applications may be submitted at any time. However, valid application must be received at a motor license agency or a designated voter registration agency, or postmarked (if submitted by mail), more that 24 days prior to an election in order for the applicant to participate. Oklahoma Democratic Party Jason McCarty email: jasonmccarty@okdemocrats.org phone: 405.427.3366

LAWLER PLEASED PRO-LIFE BILL PASSES

Daisy Lawler said Friday she is pleased a major pro-life measure has cleared the Senate and is on its way to Gov. Brad Henry's desk.

Lawler, D-Comanche, said Senate Bill 1742 builds on the pro-life advances for which she won Legislative approval last year, and called this year's legislation a major victory for the pro-life movement in Oklahoma. She also said education can play a key role in reducing the number of abortions in Oklahoma.

"Women who choose to end their pregnancies often do so because they are unaware of other options that are available to them," said Lawier. "Like House Bill 1686, which I authored a year ago, this bill will help educate Oklahoma women of all then" choices.

"The votes to pass this legislation were widely bi-partisan in both the House and Senate. It's not about scoring political points. Rather, it's about advancing pro-life measures."  SB 1742's provisions include: requiring the consent of one parent before a minor can receive an abortion; expanding the recognition of an unborn child as a separate victim if a crime is committed against the mother; ensuring a woman is informed that her unborn baby, if 20 weeks or older, may feel pain during an abortion and that anesthesia could be administered to the baby to relieve that pain; ensuring a woman seeking an abortion has the option to view her unborn baby by ultrasound prior to the abortion; and allowing funding to be directed to organizations that help pregnant women with pro-life counseling and support-services.