Governor disappointed with latest budget proposal

OKLAHOMA CITY – Governor Mary Fallin today issued the following statement after the House of Representatives passed a “Plan B” budget measure, House Bill 1019X, which now goes to the full Senate for consideration.

“I’m very disappointed that we weren’t able to come to an agreement on a way to fix our structural issues within our state budget. Let me be clear, these same agencies that provide for the health and safety of our communities, the elderly, poor, mentally ill, and children will continue to be at great risk. The Legislature is leaving close to a $550 million budget gap for next session, which starts in three months, mainly by using one-time gimmicks,” Fallin said.

She continued, “Next year is an election year, and if we don’t have the courage or will to put our house in order after one full legislative session and nearly eight weeks of special session, next year will be devastating. Just this week, I have been told we are losing out on new job and investment opportunities. The Department of Commerce has been notified ‘we’ve taken Oklahoma out of consideration’ because its budget is so unstable, it can’t keep teachers and underfunds vital services. We are setting Oklahoma up for failure that will take many years to undo the damage we have done to our state’s image.”

Despite eight weeks of being in the extra session, progress has not been made.

“The special session is into its eighth week, and we have talked about different revenue proposals and ways to restructure our budget. Over my last three State of the State speeches, I have repeatedly urged the Legislature to stop kicking the can down the road and put our state on a budget path for success,” Fallin said.

Fallin continues to encourage the Legislature to go back to Plan A.

“As I told the speaker and pro tem as well as other leaders, my preference would be a revote on “Plan A+” that received 71 votes, just five votes short of passing. The leadership feels members won’t change their votes. Secondly, I asked last week and this past Monday for at least a stand-alone vote on the cigarette tax, which is the reason why we are having special session. The leadership and I have been told that the Democrats will not vote for the cigarette tax as a stand-alone vote. So it’s dead, too, yet the Senate still has a vote on the latest budget plan.”

Fallin says she is ready to veto a bill that would make deep cuts to state agencies.

“This is not what I want, and I can tell you the majority of the Legislature doesn’t want it either. The House did get to 71 yes votes on a revenue-raising plan, which, when you include the Senate’s 37 yes votes on a similar measure, was more than a majority of the Legislature. However, getting past the hurdle of State Question 640, which was passed by voters in the early 1990s and requires three-fourths passage on revenue-raising measures, has been difficult,” Fallin said.

She concluded, “I have told our legislative leaders that I would veto any bill that makes severe cuts of $90 million or more to state agencies and spends the $83 million in cash reserves. When a budget bill comes to my desk, I will need to review any additions or changes to what has previously been discussed with our leaders.”