OPEA

 Senate President Pro Tempore Glenn Coffee, left, and Senator Charlie Laster

OKLAHOMA CITY (March 3, 2010) – The Oklahoma Public Employees Association commends Senate Democrats and Republicans for reaching a compromise budget agreement that will provide emergency funding to public safety agencies. The funding was blocked Monday when 21 legislators refused to vote for the emergency clause on HB 2435.

“The legislative process does work,” said OPEA Executive Director Sterling Zearley, one of a handful of leaders recognized for helping put a swift end to a budget impasse. “First, I want to thank our legislators for reaching this agreement that will help keep our dedicated employees of the Department of Corrections and the Department of Public Safety on the job. Second, I want to thank those men and women who go to work everyday to keep the citizens of Oklahoma safe.”

Senate President Pro Tempore Glenn Coffee joined Senator Charlie Laster in announcing the budget agreement. “I want to thank Sterling Zearley and the OPEA for their input in resolving this issue,” Coffee said.

Laster said he agrees with Coffee in that a compromise was the only solution. “We could have had our fight, and been out there slugging it out on the floor. It’s a compromise,” Laster said.

Oklahoma Public Employees Association (www.opea.org) is a non-profit labor organization that has represented the interests of state employees at the Capitol in Oklahoma since 1975.

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