Oklahoma lawmakers mulling special session
August 19th, 2009
Top state lawmakers are discussing the possibility of a special legislative session to address budget issues as the state's revenues continue to shrink.
Paul Sund, spokesman for Gov. Brad Henry, said the governor is "in general discussions with legislative leaders about the state's revenue outlook and (has) made no final definitive decisions on anything yet."
Possible topics of the special session could include additional budget cuts or using money from the Rainy Day Fund, which has nearly $600 million in it.
Earlier this month, state agency leaders were told to brace for additional budget cuts after tax collections for July, the first month of the state's fiscal year, came in $75.9 million below what is needed to pay the state's bills. Officials borrowed about $54 million from the state's cash reserves and other funds to make up the difference. The revenue shortfall prompted state agencies to cut their August budgets by 5 percent.
A special session could be called as early as the end of this month. Sen. Jay Paul Gumm, D-Durant, said while there is no official word, he's not making any other plans for the end of the month.
"We haven't been given an official notification, but I'm not making any plans for the week of Aug. 31," he said. "None of this is rocket science. We've got to decide if we look to allow automatic budget cuts to happen, or if we should make targeted cuts. It will be interesting."
House Speaker Chris Benge would not comment on the possibility of a special session. A spokeswoman for Senate President Pro Tempore Glenn Coffee, R-Oklahoma City, said the governor had spoken to legislative leaders but there was no final decision made.
The Oklahoman - Staff Reports