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November 3, 2009

2 senators to sleep outside Capitol

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Two Oklahoma senators plan to spend the night outside the state Capitol to draw attention to cuts to senior nutrition programs due to a deepening state budget shortfall.



Democratic Sens. Kenneth Corn of Poteau and Tom Ivester of Elk City plan to camp outside the Capitol Tuesday night.



The senators are protesting a decision by the Commission for Human Services to cut $7.4 million from a program that provides meals to seniors in response to declining state revenues.



Corn, a candidate for lieutenant governor, is calling for a special session to restore the funding cuts. He says seniors citizens should be a priority in state government and should not be shut out in the cold.



Seniors plan to rally at the Capitol on Wednesday to ask lawmakers to restore funding for the programs.

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