This legislative session marked the first time in state history that Republicans controlled both houses of the Oklahoma Legislature, and the party has used its newly found power to successfully push its conservative agenda.

Before the session began, Republican leaders announced plans to tackle several priority issues, including tort reform energy independence.

To aid in this effort, House Speaker Chris Benge, R-Tulsa, put a major emphasis on the promotion of alternative energy sources as a way to reduce dependence on foreign oil. He personally proposed several bills, which have received bipartisan support, to incentivize alternative energy use.

In a March 10 story in The Daily, political science professor Keith Gaddie said state Republicans were having success in moving their agenda, but they may face political opposition in the form of vetoes from Gov. Brad Henry, a Democrat. But the legislature has managed to override some vetoes in spite of opposition from Henry.

The Republicans ran in to other problems this session. Sen. President Pro Tempore Glenn Coffee, R-Oklahoma City, dealt with legal and financial troubles that were reminiscent of the problems former House Speaker Lance Cargill had last year, and Rep. Todd Thomsen, R-Ada, took flack nationally for authoring a resolution criticizing OU’s decision to host evolutionary author Richard Dawkins.

But despite these obstacles, Oklahoma Republicans made progress this session. Gaddie said the new majority allows the party to have a better chance of passing legislation, or at the very least getting it heard on the Senate or House floor.