Tied membership creates culture shock in state Senate

Thursday, February 1st 2007, 9:51 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- With the state Senate split among Democrats and Republicans and the legislative session starting Monday the leaders of the two parties are promising to work together.

The state Senate has an agreement in which Democrat Mike Morgan and Republican Glenn Coffee are co-president pro tems and each Senate committee will have co-chairmen -- one from each party.

Coffee says the uniqueness of the situation is a bit of a culture shock, but Morgan says he doubts there will be gridlock or tie votes because both sides realize a bill can't be passed without at least one vote from the other side.

In case of a tie the deciding vote would be cast by Lieutenant Governor Jari Askins -- who is a Democrat.