State Sen. Debbe Leftwich said it was unconscionable for the Department of Human Services (DHS) to pass out nearly $200,000 in pay hikes at a time when the agency has cut $7.4 million from senior nutrition programs. Leftwich said while many employees at DHS and other state agencies are underpaid, raising salaries while cutting senior nutrition is the wrong thing to do. She applauded House member Randy Terrill, R-Moore, for bringing attention to the situation on Wednesday.
read more.

Sen. Corn's letter to state lawmakers

State Sen. Kenneth Corn is seeking the signatures of state lawmakers on a petition that would enable the Oklahoma Legislature to call itself into an emergency special session to deal with life-threatening cuts to the states senior nutrition programs and any other problems being caused by a massive state budget shortfall.

Although the 2010 elections are still a year away, State Sen. Jim Wilson wants to make sure the campaigns take the high road. Hes filed legislation that would make it illegal for anyone to intentionally lie or spread misinformation in a political campaign.

Every year it seems like the lies and the mudslinging just gets worse and worse. It would be laughable if it wasnt such a serious issuethese lies can and do impact the outcomes of our electoral process, and yet nothing is ever done to hold those responsible accountable, said Wilson, D-Tahlequah. Its got to stop.

A bill filed last week by Democratic Sen. Andrew Rice will give Oklahoma voters the choice to increase the amount of money that can be deposited in the rainy day fund each year from 10 percent of prior year collections to 15 percent. Rice said doing so will guard critical state services which all Oklahomans depend on from the chopping block in times of economic crisis.

Time for Tough Decisions to be Made

"I believe Governor Henry is taking a responsible approach to dealing with the current budget crisis by asking legislative leaders to conduct hearings with agency officials to determine how further cuts are going to affect Oklahoma families.

It is prudent we keep a level head and work together, leaving our political differences at the door as we proceed with any decision to come back for a special session. The Governor has done that, and it is my hope Republican leaders will follow suit.

“The Senate’s review of agency budgets by the appropriations subcommittees is already well underway. We will have the information from these hearings ready in time for a discussion with the Governor preceding a January special session.

“With the state looking at the possibility of a shortfall of up to a billion dollars, it is a high probability that agencies will face deeper cuts, even if a portion of the Rainy Day Fund is accessed in a special session.

Discussions of calling a special legislative session between the governor and legislative leaders are “a move in the right direction” a state Senator who has been pushing for the call said Wednesday, but to delay an emergency session until January may produce “too little, too late” for senior citizens suffering the brunt of Oklahoma’s financial collapse.
read more.

More Cuts ‘Inevitable,’ Better to Act Sooner Rather than Later

The Oklahoma Senate Republican Caucus today called on Governor Brad Henry to call the Legislature into special session in December, rather than waiting until January, as he suggested earlier this week.

“It’s very clear that more reductions in spending are inevitable,” said Senate President Pro Tem Glenn Coffee, “and agency heads are awaiting our direction as to how much their budgets will be reduced.

Sen. Kenneth Corn, who has been pushing for weeks for an immediate special session to deal with senior nutrition program cuts and other catastrophic budget shortfalls, today said Sen. Glenn Coffee’s call for lawmakers to return to the Capitol in December “is the right thing to do for Oklahoma.”
read more.