Journal Record
by Sean Murphy
Published: May 18th, 2011
OKLAHOMA CITY – Lawmakers on Wednesday raced to pass several initiatives pushed by Republican Gov. Mary Fallin and put the finishing touches on a $6.5 billion budget to fund state government for the upcoming fiscal year.
They were trying to meet a self-imposed Friday deadline for early adjournment.
The Republican-controlled Senate reconsidered and approved a $70 million transportation bond issue, 29-18, on Wednesday after narrowly defeating the measure a day earlier. The bill, which now heads to Fallin, was a key piece of the budget deal reached by GOP legislative leaders and the governor.
Lawmakers are diverting $100 million from the Department of Transportation’s road and bridge fund as part of the deal to close a $500 million hole in the budget, and the bond issue will allow the department to keep its transportation projects on schedule.
A general appropriations bill that contains the $6.5 billion in state spending for the upcoming fiscal year already has passed the House and Senate, but several additional bills that authorize spending from a cash-flow reserve account and agency revolving funds still must be approved before Friday’s deadline... FULL ARTICLE
Posted on
Wed, May 18, 2011
by John Cox