The resignation of State Sen. Cal Hobson from his position as state Senate president pro tempore shouldn"t hinder the passage of bills related to higher education, some legislators and observers said Thursday.
Hobson, D-Lexington, whose district includes OU, stepped down from his leadership position Wednesday at the urging of fellow senate Democrats amid concern about his alcoholism, according to The Associated Press. He will remain in the senate and will serve on several committees, including the appropriations sub-committee on education.
'I"m actually looking forward to being one of 48 members of the Oklahoma State Senate, representing the people of District 16,' Hobson said in a statement issued Wednesday.
Danny Hilliard, OU"s director of governmental relations, said he doesn"t expect the change to jeopardize higher education issues, including budget appropriations for universities and the proposed capital improvements bond issue.
Hilliard said Mike Morgan, newly appointed president pro tempore, and Johnnie Crutchfield, the incoming chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, told him they support the bond issue.
'They all assured me that things would continue to move on that issue,' he said. 'I don"t perceive that as being a problem.'
Sen. Kenneth Corn, Democratic caucus chairman, said he thinks the new leader will support OU"s issues as strongly as Hobson did.
'Higher education will still have, very much, a big cheerleader in the president pro tempore"s office,' he said.
Corn said the Senate will continue functioning smoothly despite the changes.
'We"re still going to move our agenda forward, which includes higher education,' he said.
Other senators said they think Hobson will remain a key figure in the legislature. Hobson said in a statement issued Thursday that he will use his position on the appropriations sub-committee on education to work for schools and universities.
'Education must truly be our first priority as a state,' Hobson said. 'Investing in our school children and our college students is a very real investment in the future of Oklahoma.'
OU President David L. Boren expressed support for Hobson in a statement issued Wednesday.
'As Sen. Cal Hobson steps down as president pro tempore of the state Senate, his many contributions to a better Oklahoma deserve to be remembered and appreciated,' he said. 'We wish him well as he confronts his personal health challenges.'
Boren said he thinks Morgan was a good choice for taking over Hobson"s position.
'I have every confidence that positive and constructive leadership will continue in the state Senate under the new president pro tempore, Sen. Mike Morgan,' Boren said. 'He has a proven record for integrity as a public official and has demonstrated his commitment to important state priorities, including education.'
In a statement issued Wednesday after the announcement of Morgan"s appointment, Morgan said the Senate will consider the bond issue next week.
'A number of important issues remain unresolved,' he said. 'I look forward to working with Gov. [Brad] Henry and other legislative leaders in the nine remaining weeks of this session to resolve them.'
All of the senators are on the appropriations committee, Hilliard said. Therefore, passage of the bond issue in committee would virtually guarantee its passage in the full Senate, Morgan said.
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