Senate Democrats discuss unmet budget needs, status of Education rules in final month of session

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Democratic Leader Kay Floyd
Capitol: (405) 521-5610
Kay.Floyd@oksenate.gov 

OKLAHOMA CITY – Senate Democratic Leader Kay Floyd and members of her caucus have called for bipartisan cooperation to address the need for additional funding in key areas of the budget, including education and health care. They also commented on the status of administrative rules proposed by State Superintendent Ryan Walters.

Floyd said leaders needed to come to a budget agreement soon so that taxpayer dollars aren’t wasted with unnecessary special sessions.

“It’s time for us to put the people of Oklahoma over politics and find real bipartisan solutions to the challenges our citizens face,” said Floyd, D-Oklahoma City. “We know Oklahomans are worried about our kids succeeding in school, being able to pay their bills at the end of the month, and seeing their doctor as soon as they need to. We don’t believe the current budget proposals from the House or Senate include solutions to those challenges.”

"Our children deserve the same opportunities as children in all our surrounding states, and that means additional investment," said Sen. Julia Kirt, D-Oklahoma City. "A bipartisan budget would not send more public money to unregulated private schools—it must focus on supporting students in our public schools first. Nothing we heard from the Senate, House or governor in Monday's budget meeting makes me confident we're moving in the right direction."

Senators Michael Brooks and Mary Boren, members of the Senate Administrative Rules Committee, voiced their concerns about rules proposed by the State Board of Education and Superintendent Ryan Walters. Those rules are awaiting action in the House Administrative Rules Committee. Brooks said many Oklahomans are concerned about transparency and accountability in agencies like the State Department of Education.

“As legislators we don’t have much power outside of the budget to guide the direction of executive agencies, but we can act on behalf of our constituents through the administrative rules process. Attorney General Drummond previously issued a formal opinion that Superintendent Walters cannot expand the scope of his authority through those rules,” said Brooks, D-Oklahoma City. “We have an opportunity to work together to address the concerns of parents, teachers, and school administrators by rejecting new, illegal administrative rules that make our students less safe and limit their ability to succeed.”

Boren said it was important to continue working with legislators across the rotunda and the aisle to protect Oklahoma students and teachers.

“We are asking our colleagues in the House to put people over politics by rejecting the proposed education rules. If that doesn’t happen, I’ll offer amendatory language in our Senate committee, and if necessary, on the floor,” said Boren, D-Norman. “We’re not going to give up when it comes to our kids. We hope our colleagues feel the same way.”

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CUTLINE:  Sen. Michael Brooks, D-Oklahoma City, Senate Democratic Leader Kay Floyd, D-Oklahoma City, Sen. Mary Boren, D-Norman, and Sen. Julia Kirt, D-Oklahoma City, share concerns about unaddressed budget needs and the status of pending rules from the State Department of Education.