Not the Senate from the Old Days

Capitol Considerations

A Weekly Column by Senator Micheal Bergstrom

Not the Senate of the Old Days

During this past week, a short week for the Senate since we recessed after Wednesday, we dealt with a wide variety of bills. They ranged from bills where we simply cleaned up language in statutes, to stopping or delaying tax cuts, to licensing nursing facilities, to strengthening the language in a statute that deals with the sex trafficking of minors.

As the week progressed and we came into Wednesday I realized I was not feeling well and that I might want to head out as quickly as possible.

Then I heard the news and I knew I wasn't going anywhere else for a while.

When I was told of the news reports about Senator Ralph Shortey, I was disappointed to say the least. The Oklahoma Constitution gives the Senate the ability to punish its members for disorderly behavior and it was soon decided that the Republican Senate Caucus would vote to suspend Senator Shortey.

The Senate could not allow such behavior to disrupt the business of the Senate.

That afternoon the Senate as a whole, Republicans and Democrats, voted unanimously to suspend Shortey. It was swift, it was fair, and it's considerably better for our state and our government than how some of the controversies of the past were dealt with.

Since that vote, the district attorney has filed charges against Shortey and leadership has asked him for his resignation from the Senate.

With that being said, it's time for prayer for the young man that Shortey was found with, for that boy's family, for Shortey's family, his wife and children, and yes, for Ralph Shortey. We do not know how all this will play out, but I'm sure each of these that I have mentioned can use God's mercy and grace and a sense of hope.

As always, I offer this for your consideration.

As always, I am interested in feedback from my constituents, so if you have any questions or comments, please email me at bergstrom@oksenate.gov. My office can also be reached by phone at 405-521-5561.

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