http://www.newsok.com/article/1488532/?template=home/mainBy The Associated Press
Republican Lt. Gov. Mary Fallin's attempt to preside over the Senate was blocked Monday by a parliamentary move of the Senate's Democratic leader.
It was the latest development in a partisan fight over workers' compensation reform.
Fallin was at the podium when Senate President Pro Tem Mike Morgan, D-Stillwater, made an adjournment motion from the floor after noting no bills were on the agenda.
A voice vote followed between Democrats and Republicans and Morgan declared that "the ayes have it. The Senate shall stand adjourned until 1:30 tomorrow."
"What happened today on the Senate floor was a victory for the Oklahoma Constitution and the doctrine of separation of powers," Morgan said. He said the Senate had asserted its constitutional authority to conduct its business without interference from the executive branch.
Fallin said Senate Democrats had interfered with her constitutional right to preside over the Senate.
She said she was disappointed Senate employees showed partisanship and only Morgan's and the majority leader's microphones were in operation.
She said she would try again on Tuesday to preside and force a vote on resurrecting a work comp plan by Sen. Scott Pruitt, R-Broken Arrow.
That's what she did last Thursday as she and Republican senators manned the chamber until midnight. Democrats refused to attend, however.
Both sides accused the other of political gamesmanship.
Sen. Glenn Coffee, Senate Republican leader, said he believed three Democrats would go along with the Senate's 22 Republicans and vote for Pruitt's bill if given the opportunity.
Coffee conceded, however, that he did not know if Republicans could get a two-thirds majority, or 32 of the Senate's 48 members, to suspend the rules and allow a vote on the Pruitt bill.
The fight developed after Pruitt withdrew his bill from consideration last Wednesday after Democrats moved to send the measure to a joint conference committee.
Pruitt wanted the bill passed intact, saying it would be watered down in conference, as have work comp bills in previous years.
Democrats have accused Republicans of trying to get a procedural vote on the work comp bill to use in next year's elections. They charged that Fallin's intercession was part of her anticipated campaign for governor next year.
Morgan said he had lined up enough Democratic votes to pass Pruitt's bill with the title off so it could be considered in a conference committee, along with two House-passed work comp bills _ one containing Republican House Speaker Todd Hiett's program and the other based on the recommendations of a task force appointed by Democratic Gov. Brad Henry.
He said the work comp issue is still alive and said a meaningful compromise bill can be worked out. He said the Senate Republican's stand is not helping that process.
"If they want to shut government down - Newt Gingrich style - then the blood will be on their hands," Morgan said.
Coffee, R-Oklahoma City, insisted the GOP effort "is not about politics" but only about policy.
Coffee called the Democratic maneuvering "unconscionable" and "an indication of the lengths Democrats will go to protect their trial lawyer friends and avoid an up-or-down vote on real workers' comp reform."
Morgan said several constitutional provisions give him the authority to run the day-to-day activities of the Senate and act as presiding officer.
Fallin's supporters cite a constitutional provision that says the president pro tem shall preside over the Senate's deliberations "in the absence or place of the lieutenant governor" as evidence that the Fallin can preside whenever she wants.
Morgan said his attorneys have advised him that the phrase "or place of" gives him the authority to rule over the Senate instead of the lieutenant governor and not just in her absence.
Neither side have indicated any interest at this point in asking the Supreme Court to clarify the issue, although Morgan said that could happen if the stalemate continues.
The Legislature has until 5 p.m on May 27 to wrap up its work and adjourn and Democratic leaders say the work comp fight could set up a special session if it is not resolved soon.
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