JOINT GOP PRISON PLAN UNVEILED

OKLAHOMA CITY -- When senators arrive at the state Capitol Tuesday, they
might not have an agreement to approve, House Speaker Todd Hiett said Monday.

Hiett, R-Kellyville, and Sen. Glenn Coffee, R-Oklahoma City, Republican
leader, unveiled a joint plan for the Department of Corrections. The
agreement between the Republican caucuses merges the House GOP short-term
plan and the Senate Republican plan announced earlier.

Concerns the department lacks funds to keep safe staffing levels at prisons
can wait until February, when the Legislature convenes in its yearly
regular session, Hiett said.

"I don't see the need for a special session to address these concerns,"
Hiett said. "When we hit session in February, we will be ready to go."
Coffee said Senate Republicans will show up to vote, but some members might
propose amendments to the Senate Democrat proposal, championed by Sen.
Kenneth Corn, D-Poteau.

"We'll show up and we'll vote. That's our responsibility," Coffee said.

Under request from Senate Pro Tem Mike Morgan, D-Stillwater, senators are
meeting without agreement with the House on whether the issue needs to be
addressed this calendar year. Special session action would cost taxpayers
thousands of dollars.

The Republican-controlled House and Democrat-controlled Senate would need
to pass the same bill before it can become law.

A key disagreement is whether nonviolent drug offenders should be released
early from prison. Democrats' proposal would allow early releases to put
addicts in drug courts and lessen the size of the prison population.

But Rep. John Trebilcock, R-Broken Arrow, chair of the House Public Safety
and Judiciary Committee, said the issue holds nothing to negotiate.

"We are not going to allow early release of drug offenders," Trebilcock
stated. "We are never going to agree to early release."

Gov. Brad Henry, who called the corrections issue into special session,
still believes the shortage of corrections officers needs to be addressed
before the regular session, said Paul Sund, spokesman for the governor.

"Corrections officers have been stretched dangerously thin and need help
now, not next year," Sund said.

Rep. Jari Askins, D-Duncan, Democrat leader, said special session action is
necessary to fix the shortage, but other issues can wait.

Askins said it would help with recruitment for job candidates need to see
state leaders meeting this year.

"We need to say through the media and through our actions that we think
this is important and we believe in you and we are going to properly fund
you," Askins said.

The Joseph Harp Correctional Center and Lexington Assessment and Reception
Center in Lexington could be adversely affected by lawmakers waiting until
February to pass corrections legislation, according to Rep. Wes Hilliard,
D-Sulphur.

The hiring process takes at least three months. Hilliard said the longer
the Legislature waits to provide additional funding, "the more we're
putting the lives of our employees at risk."

Morgan and Sen. Ted Fisher, D-Sapulpa, announced they seek $10 million for
the Oklahoma Centennial Commission in session this week, in addition to the
$11 million the Democrats' corrections plan would cost.

About $94 million in centennial projects around Oklahoma would commemorate
the state's 100th anniversary.

State government is slated to pick up one-third of the cost. So far, it has
appropriated no money for the cause, leaving some community leaders
wondering how far their projects will get by the November 2007 centennial.

And Sen. Randy Brogdon, R-Owasso, said the special session call should
include a fix for the tobacco tax, which has brought in less than expected
since it was implemented in January.

Brogdon said the Legislature needs to ensure that tribal retailers comply
with the tax law, which the people passed in State Question 713.

Luke Engan is CNHI Oklahoma reporter.