Oklahoma Senate clears gallery for closed-door meeting
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - In a break from its customs, the Oklahoma Senate went into a closed-door session and removed observers and reporters from the gallery.
Senate President Pro Tem Brian Bingman requested the Senate go into executive session during Monday afternoon's session. Senate Democratic leader Sean Burrage then agreed to Bingman's motion.
The Senate sergeants cleared those in attendance from the gallery, including reporters who were covering the Senate from the press gallery.
Bingman spokesman Nathan Atkins says the approximately 30-minute executive session was to discuss ``Senate traditions and Senate decorum.''
The Oklahoma Legislature is exempted from the state's open records and open meetings acts, which limits the ability of public bodies to go into closed-door sessions.
This week is national Sunshine Week, a week dedicated to promoting openness in state government.
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