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 Saturday, September 04, 2010
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| FKG Legislative Report: March 13, 2010 |
| Saturday, March 13, 2010 |
February Revenue Collections Show Improvement
State Treasurer Scott Meacham announced last week that for the first time since December, 2008, revenue collections have exceeded projections, but the news will probably have little effect on the FY 2011 budget when 12-13% budget cuts are expected. He said the state still faces a $1.2 billion shortfall for FY 2011. Next year’s budget problems will be due in part to the use of one-time monies to balance the current year budget. February collections were still $17.3 million below last year’s February amount. Meacham said the increase was due to better than expected collections from gross production on oil, as well as increases in personal income tax collections.
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| FKG Legislative Report: March 6, 2010 |
| Monday, March 08, 2010 |
FY-2010 Budget Finalized after Partisan Fight
After three days of partisan infighting between Senate Democrats and Republicans, the Senate reached final agreement that allowed it to finalize the FY-2010 budget. The obstacle had been the fate of the state’s senior nutrition program, a program that was eliminated by the Department of Human Services in October. Democrats had locked up on the emergency clauses on bill that impacted funding for, among others, state troopers and correction guards. Without the emergency clause, many troopers and guards faced immediate furloughs. Senate President Glenn Coffee and Minority Leader Charlie Laster announced the agreement on Wednesday. The agreement, which broke the impasse on the appropriations bill, involved the commitment by Senate Republicans to find a way to find fair funding for the program in the next fiscal year, probably under the jurisdiction of another state agency. The agreement is expected to be the final piece to the FY-2010 budget puzzle, one that has undergone several changes since its initial approval last May. It is the intent of legislative leaders and the Governor to now turn their attention to next year’s budget.
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| FKG Legislative Report: February 21, 2010 |
| Sunday, February 21, 2010 |
Governor, Legislative Leaders Reach FY 2010 Accord
Governor Brad Henry and the leadership of the House and Senate reached agreement late this past week on the way to finalize the FY 2010 budget. The agreement specifies how the legislature will handle a $500 million deficit that exists at the end of this fiscal year. The proposal will help the Department of Public Safety avoid furloughs for state troopers and will enable the Oklahoma Health Care Authority hold reductions in Medicaid provider rates to 3.25%, as opposed to the projected 6.75%.
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| FKG Legislative Report: February 14, 2010 |
| Sunday, February 14, 2010 |
Leaders Debate Use of Rainy Day Funds
Legislative leaders and the Governor have still not resolved how much of the state’s Rainy Day Fund will be tapped to balance the 2010 budget. Governor Henry wants to use up to 80% of the fund while the Speaker and Pro Tem favor the use of a smaller amount in order to save much of the fund for the 2011 budget and as a carry-over for later fiscal years. The Governor is worried that the state will forfeit some of its federal stimulus money if Washington determines that Oklahoma used those dollars to replenish the state’s savings account. Both sides are still confident that an agreement can be reached, and the House plans to begin action on appropriation bills next week dealing with the FY-2010 budget deficit. |
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| FKG Legislative Report: February 6, 2010 |
| Sunday, February 07, 2010 |
2010 Legislative Session Begins
Governor Brad Henry opened the 2010 legislative session with a 32-minute “State of the State” address in which he outlined his budget for FY-2011. His proposal, contained in a 300-page budget book, signals the beginning of discussions on the state budget that will last until the session ends, probably at the end of May. |
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