subscribesubscriber servicescontact usabout ussite map
Tue, Feb 09 2010 

Published May 20, 2009 12:08 am - OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma lawmakers debated funding bills for state agencies Tuesday and questioned their spending priorities in a tight budget year as the Legislature moved closer to a planned adjournment on Friday.

Oklahoma: Lawmakers debate budget bills



The Associated Press

OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma lawmakers debated funding bills for state agencies Tuesday and questioned their spending priorities in a tight budget year as the Legislature moved closer to a planned adjournment on Friday.

The House and Senate have taken up dozens of budget limitation and other funding bills to pay for state services in the upcoming year following last week’s agreement on a $7.2 billion spending plan for the fiscal year that will begin July 1.

The state budget plan uses $631 million in federal stimulus dollars to increase spending for education and health care while cutting other agencies by 7 percent overall. But some House members questioned the Legislature’s spending priorities during debate on funding bills for agencies they said are not core functions of state government.

“It’s not an appropriate use of our taxpayer dollars,” said Rep. Mike Reynolds, R-Oklahoma City.

Lawmakers passionately debated funding measures for the Oklahoma Arts Council, the Oklahoma Space Industry Development Authority and the Oklahoma Educational Television Authority, which operates a statewide public TV network.

OETA’s $4.8 million state appropriation represents a 42.5 percent cut from the previous year due to the elimination of $3.2 million for new digital equipment purchased in previous years. But it also represents a cut in its operating budget of $363,607, or about 7 percent, that is in line with other agencies, lawmakers said.

Supporters of the public TV network said it is an important educational and entertainment service that is the only source of news and information for Oklahomans who live in rural areas and cannot afford cable or satellite television services.

“Leave Big Bird alone,” said Rep. Joe Dorman, D-Rush Springs, referring to the full-body figure in a yellow costume featured on the Public Broadcasting System’s children’s television show Sesame Street.

“We know this is a tough year on the budget,” said Rep. Earl Sears, R-Bartlesville.

Sears said he is frustrated that the budget plan includes no raises for school teachers and public employees, many of whom have not received a raise since October 2006.

“It’s called balancing,” Sears said. “Deals have been cut. Let’s don’t take it out on this particular agency.”

But opponents said it is not appropriate to fund nonessential state agencies when core government functions, such as the Oklahoma Highway Patrol and the Oklahoma National Guard’s 45th Infantry Brigade, are asked to take cuts that could result in worker furloughs.

“We want to tell them we want to leave Big Bird alone? Priorities, members, priorities,” said Rep. Mike Ritze, R-Broken Arrow. “We don’t have money to send the 45th overseas but we’ve got money for Big Bird.”

When lawmakers do not fully fund the essential services of government, “we’ve got it upside down,” Ritze said. “We’re looking at funding a TV station instead of funding law enforcement. Frankly, it’s a slap in the face.”



print this story    email this story    comment on this story   

Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.


Add a comment on this story







autoconx
Premier Guide
Find a business

Walking Fingers
Maps, Menus, Store hours, Coupons, and more...
Premier Guide

Announcements

Click here!!

: Special Offer For New Subscribers : 32 buy 1 get 1 free offers

Click Here!


Featured Jobs

FRONT LOADER
driver needed, local routes, experienced driver preferred. Class B license required. Pay $10-$11 per hour. Call for inte...>MORE

LPN FOR MDS COORDINATOR
LPN FOR MDS Coordinator, experience required. Apply at Seneca House, 914 Chickesaw, Seneca, MO or call Holly at 417-776...>MORE

RECEPTIONIST
busy law office seeking full-time receptionist. Previous experience required, mulit-tasking, computer skills, and great ...>MORE

See all ads

Featured Transportation

PONTIAC, 1999 SUNFIRE
148,000 miles, $2750. (417)540-9986...>MORE

2001 GRAND PRIX
Richard Petty Special Edition Package, $4995/offer. 417-317-2000....>MORE

CHEVROLET, 1999 MONTE CARLO
169,000 miles, $2750. (417)540-9986...>MORE

SATURN, 2001 SC-2
154,000 miles, $2850. (417)540-9986...>MORE

See all ads

Featured Homes

VALENTINES GIFT
Unique Gorgeous Valentines Gift
1112 W. 5th, Joplin. Approximaitely 2200 sq. ft, could be 4,000 sq. ft. 3 br, 2 ba
...>MORE

See all ads

Other Cool Stuff

FOR SALE DOBERMAN PUPS

6 males and 1 female, date of birth 1-18-2010 all black and rust, mom and dad for more information please call Je
...>MORE

APR FRENCH BULLDOG

14 week old female. Brindle with white markings. $900. 417-540-7490
...>MORE

MINI SCHNAUZER
4 months, male, $75 with papers and accessories. (417)434-8830....>MORE

See all ads


 

Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc.CNHI Classified Advertising NetworkCNHI News Service
Associated Press content © 2009. All rights reserved. AP content may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Our site is powered by Zope and our Internet Yellow Pages site is powered by PremierGuide.
Some parts of our site may require you to download the Flash Player Plugin.
View our Privacy Policy
Advertiser index

 

 

The Joplin Globe Electronic Edition