Hobson takes over as Oklahoma Senate leader

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ The Senate's new top leader urged his colleagues Tuesday to put aside partisanship and realign spending priorities to overcome the state budget crisis. <br><br>``If we can come

Wednesday, January 8th 2003, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ The Senate's new top leader urged his colleagues Tuesday to put aside partisanship and realign spending priorities to overcome the state budget crisis.

``If we can come all come together in a bipartisan way, we can give Oklahoma a great chance of continuing the improvements it has experienced in recent years,'' said Cal Hobson, D-Lexington, after his election as the Senate's president pro tem.

House Speaker Larry Adair, D-Stilwell, said lawmakers have had over a year to get used to the fact that state finances are insufficient to meet budget commitments.

``The people of Oklahoma elected us to lead the state through the difficult times, as well as the good times,'' he said.

The Oklahoma Constitution mandates that lawmakers meet for one day in January after an election year to organize and elect leaders. The Legislature will reconvene on Feb. 3 and must finish its work by 5 p.m. on the last Friday in May.

The 49th Oklahoma Legislature will be historic not only for its financial challenges, but because it will be the last one before term limits kick in in 2004.

Adair, elected to a second two-year term, is among the lawmakers who will be ineligible to run again under the 12-year limit imposed by voters.

Hobson succeeds Stratton Taylor, D-Claremore, as the Senate's No. 1 leader.

Taylor, who served a record eight years in the post, said Hobson is the hardest working member of the Legislature and the senator best prepared to help incoming Democratic Gov. Brad Henry during difficult times.

Hobson urged lawmakers to have the goal of protecting children and senior citizens as they put together the budget.

In light of the worst budget crisis in a generation, Hobson said it is time to rethink spending priorities, such as the amount of money given to prisons.

``Let's stop locking up so many people and divert the money to education,'' he said.

He paid tribute to a dozen senators facing term limits, saying they had 334 years of legislative experience.

They include Sen. Gene Stipe, D-McAlester, who has been in the Legislature for 54 years, spanning six decades.

In addition to Adair, members of the House elected Rep. Danny Hilliard, D-Sulphur, as speaker pro tem.

Rep. Todd Hiett, R-Kellyville, is leader of the House minority. Sen. Jim Williamson of Tulsa is Republican leader in the Senate.

As president pro tem, Hobson, 57, is second in the line of succession to the governor, serving as chief executive when both the governor and lieutenant governor are out of the state.

After separate meetings, the House and Senate fulfilled a constitutional requirement by meeting in a brief joint session to approve the results of last November's general election.