OK In-Depth; Mike Morgan Interview

As the 2007 Oklahoma legislative session begins this week, all eyes are on the Senate, where party leaders have forged the unique power-sharing agreement. Lawmakers say they're optimistic the arrangement will hold, but they admit it's a tenuous balance. Democratic Senate President Pro Tem Mike Morgan says that maintaining that balance will in fact be his primary focus in the months ahead. Well, I think priority one for all of us in the Senate this year is to make sure that the session works, that we are productive and that we're able to move initiatives through in an efficient manner, you know, with a 24-24 tie, no majority minority party, you know, we're going to have to have that as a priority every day. Now having said that and assuming that we will be able to accomplish that goal, I'm hopeful that we can maintain some of the momentum that I think we have started in area of education particularly scholarships, OLAP program, I hope to expand that and to find a permanent funding source.

And I think it's important that we continue the momentum that we've had with regard to Tire Ed and the funding for institutional priorities. Also important I think that we concentrate on keeping our promises, teacher pay raise, and making sure that we get the best qualified teachers in the classroom. With this tie, as you mentioned in the Senate, you and Republican co-president Pro Tem Glenn Coffey have of course worked out this power sharing agreement. Still some political observers are predicting that many of the most controversial bills may possibly die in the Senate because it will be hard to round up 25 votes for them to pass and I'm wondering if you think that's the case and if this will be a budget-only session. I think that certainly is a possibility. I think it's safe to assume that the political footballs, the things that are socially important but probably not all that important to actually functioning of state government are the things that are likely to not be heard or to die in committees. Our attitude on that is that clearly the budget needs to be a priority as far as the

issues that we're dealing on and if we have bipartisan support for those other things then they will come out. If they do not then they will die and that's frankly as it should be. What kind of approach will you take this session when you have such an even split between the two parties? Having the people of Oklahoma are kind of clearly divided and there doesn't seem to be a mandate for either Democrats or Republicans will that affect how you'll govern? Absolutely, I will. I think we are all committed to working together and recognizing that we do not have a mandate. No one has said we want you to do this at all costs so we have to come together. We have to have consensus and it will affect how we operate. The most important thing is that we act in good faith. We have got to recognize everything we do and look at the other person's viewpoint on it before we do something. If we have controversies and debates that have the potential to blow up and to cause bigger problems, it will be important for us to pause, to collect our thoughts and to work those things out in a bipartisan good faith way.

We're going to have fights, we're going to have debates and there will be issues on the floor that the votes will be divided, but that's the kind of thing we're used to. What we've got to guard against is the all out war that stops us from being able to be productive. We're pretty optimistic at this point and I know a lot of people are wondering if we're just crazy but check with us in May and we'll let you know. Mike Morgan is the Democratic President Pro Tem of the Oklahoma Senate. Tomorrow we'll hear from Republican Senate co-president Pro Tem Glen Coffey. I'm KGOU News Director Scott Gourian.