State Government
House Democrat angered over move of Obama portrait
Written by Dick Pryor Friday, 12 March 2010 21:10
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - Oklahoma House Speaker Chris Benge says he will not publicly admonish a member suspected of moving a portrait of President Obama that hangs in the House chamber. Benge, R-Tulsa, did not identify the member suspected of moving the portrait and said the matter would be handled internally.
Rep. Mike Shelton, D-Oklahoma City, expressed frustration that the portrait that hangs in the back of the chamber had been moved several times. Shelton, who is black, called it "the most childish thing he's ever seen." Shelton also declined to identify which of his colleagues moved the photograph. Benge said he believes the incident was not racially motivated but stems from the president's philosophy being "out of line with Oklahomans."
Oil gives much-needed boost to state revenues
Written by Dick Pryor Tuesday, 09 March 2010 20:03
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - For the first time in more than a year, state revenue collections exceeded the official estimate last month, due mostly to increases from the production tax on oil. State Treasurer Scott Meacham reported Tuesday that collections still trailed prior year figures by $17.3 million, or 7.3 percent.
Meacham reported General Revenue Fund collections for February were $220.6 million, which was less than 1 percent above the estimate. Meacham says personal income tax collections also were significantly higher than anticipated for the month and are beginning to show signs of recovery.
Budget outlook for 2011 remains bleak
Written by Dick Pryor Monday, 08 March 2010 19:50
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - With holes plugged in this year's Oklahoma budget, state legislators face an even harder task - working out a budget for the year that starts July 1, with $1.2 billion less to spend than last year. House Speaker Chris Benge said last week that, without any new sources of revenue, agency budgets will have to be slashed in the neighborhood of 10 percent across the board to cover that gaping hole. Gov. Brad Henry says lawmaers will have to make some verydifficult and possibly unpopular decisions in the days and weeks to come.
House approves energy stabilization fund
Written by Dick Pryor Thursday, 04 March 2010 23:45
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - House Speaker Chris Benge's plan to shore up gross production tax collections and stabilize state budgeting has been overwhelmingly approved by the Oklahoma House. House members voted 86-4 for the measure Thursday and sent it to the Senate for consideration. The measure creates a state energy stabilization fund to reduce the impact of volatile energy prices on state revenue collections.
Under the plan, any gross production tax collections above a simple three-year average is automatically deposited into the fund. In years when gross production taxes fall below the three-year average, the fund will automatically deposit the difference into the state's general revenue fund to help mitigate budget shortfalls. Low energy prices have contributed to a projected $1.2 billion budget shortfall next year.
Senate OKs bill to allow Bible course in schools
Written by Dick Pryor Thursday, 04 March 2010 17:34
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - The Oklahoma Senate has overwhelmingly approved a proposal to allow public schools in Oklahoma to offer an elective course on the Bible beginning next school year. The Senate voted 38-4 Thursday in favor of the bill by Democratic state Sen. Tom Ivester of Elk City. The measure now heads to the House.
It allows the course to be taught to students in grades nine through 12. The bill says the curriculum and course materials for the course will come from the National Council on Bible Curriculum on Public Schools. Sen. Tom Adelson opposed the bill and says he's concerned that language requiring the course materials and curriculum to be vetted by the state Attorney General was removed from it.