Oklahoma Republicans express confidence in upcoming elections

MIDWEST CITY, Okla. (AP) _ Oklahoma Republicans expressed confidence Saturday they will make history next year by taking over the Oklahoma Senate. <br/><br/>Many of the 660 delegates and 100 guests at

Sunday, April 17th 2005, 11:36 am

By: News On 6

MIDWEST CITY, Okla. (AP) _ Oklahoma Republicans expressed confidence Saturday they will make history next year by taking over the Oklahoma Senate.

Many of the 660 delegates and 100 guests at the Reed Center also were optimistic a Republican could win the Executive Mansion in November 2006.

The Republicans have ``a great opportunity'' to win three more seats in the Senate, which would give them a majority, said Oklahoma Republican Party Chairman Gary Jones, who was unopposed and won re-election to a second two-year term as head of the state party.

Nine senators cannot seek re-election next year because of term limits and all nine are Democrats.

Lt. Gov. Mary Fallin, using the convention's theme of ``The Journey Continues,'' implored Republicans to get involved and support candidates in next year's campaigns.

The Republican National Committee and the White House have pledged their support to the state Republican party and to the GOP gubernatorial nominee, Fallin said.

U.S. Sen. George Allen, R-Va., who was keynote speaker, said an effort should start this month to eliminate filibusters in the Senate over President Bush's appointees to federal appeals courts.

Democrats since last fall have blocked the most conservative of Bush's nominees. Allen said he wants to change Senate rules so Democrats no longer can block Bush nominees with filibusters requiring just 41 votes. Democrats have blocked 10 of Bush's 52 appeals court nominations through filibuster threats, while allowing the confirmation of 34 others.

``It's time for the Senate to do what they were elected to do and that is vote,'' Allen said. ``We're put in these positions to do something, not just warm a seat.''

U.S. Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Muskogee, said Republicans want to support Bush's nominees who ``know the difference between making law and interpreting the Constitution.''

Fallin attacked Gov. Brad Henry for his votes while in the Senate against GOP-supported issues such as right to work, workers' compensation and lawsuit reform and for his endorsement last year of Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry.

She also criticized Henry's support in getting an education lottery on last year's ballot. About 65 percent of those voting in November supported the lottery.