WideAwake, (11/19/2009 4:09:20 PM)

Talk about abolishing the corrupt OHP too.

Daven, Tulsa (11/19/2009 4:16:55 PM)

I hope they do have their special session. They need to dip into that rainy day fund now before it gets worse and it takes longer for us to recover.

Roots, Tulsa (11/19/2009 5:28:11 PM)

Yes; we need the Rainy Day Fund NOW for our schools!!

FUTURE WORLD, Tulsa (11/19/2009 6:07:58 PM)

Well this is surprising to here. It wasn't two weeks ago that Sen. Coffee said a special session was not necessary. Now that the Gov is pressing the issue, the good Sen. is championing the idea. But will they use the rainy day funds to assist state agencies, or simply use the special session as a chopping block for those agencies?

Skeptic, Tulsa (11/19/2009 6:11:57 PM)

Huh? The state republicans want a special ed session?

007, London (11/19/2009 6:29:31 PM)

"It is very clear that more spending reductions are inevitable," said Senate Pro Tem Glenn Coffee, R-Oklahoma City. "Agency heads are awaiting our direction as to how much their budgets will be reduced."


Yeah, and they can't wait to tell them by how much.

my view, Sand Springs (11/19/2009 8:18:52 PM)

I believe there is 234 million of the rainy day fund available for schools. If it is used now what about next year? What departments will need to be cut further?

Trumpkin, (11/19/2009 8:33:10 PM)

Fantastic intiative!!

About time someone takes charge in this state!

We've heard absolutely nothing from the Governor's manion about anything this state is sufferung from.

Henry was silent about the trooper abuse.

Henry was silent about the incompetent judges letting child rapists off.

Henry was silent about all the previous cuts since June.

Henry is silent about the extreme failings of the lottery, to bring in additional education funding.

Henry is silent about the epidemic of gambling additions and the toll it has on Oklahoma's economy.

Henry is silent about the millions of dollars from organized gambling interests that are flooding the campaign warchests of his allies.

It's time Henry earned some of his pay and provide the leadership he promised us!

bluedog1, (11/19/2009 8:47:03 PM)

Well it has been raining pretty hard and the Teachers are in hipboots as it is. We have to be optimistic about 2011. teacher contracts and other employees on the bottom rung of the ladder need to make housing decisions,etc. The stimulus was for the immediate problem to spur the economy and it needs to be used. Oklahoma will make a comeback, we always have, we are tough! and we work together in crunch time. If we don't get it done, the other states will even be worse....

Nickie, (11/19/2009 10:17:39 PM)

Yes, and a special session will cost more, too.
This is over and above their salary.

FUTURE WORLD, Tulsa (11/19/2009 11:01:22 PM)

Sinking more millions into corrections and law enforcemnt is just a waste. Make education a top priority.

Corvetteguy, Tulsa (11/19/2009 11:13:15 PM)

Roots said:
"Yes; we need the Rainy Day Fund NOW for our schools!!"

Expend the state's emergency fund for what.......pay raises for school teachers......?

Let's see some improvement in test scores,.... and a drop in the drop-out rate before throwing more, and more money at public schools.

Private schools seem to be doing very, very well preparing our children for universities. Perhaps they should be coaching the failing public schools,......or provide help in evaluating the effectiveness of public school teachers.

There are many, many excellent public school teachers. Unfortunately, there doesn't seem to be any mechanism to rid the failing schools of the bad apples........

In this resession, I don't want to see any funding increases until a fair way is developed to rid public schools of incompetent or lazy teachers.

Few Clothes, America (11/20/2009 8:15:07 AM)

It certainly can't hurt anything by discussing this with Henry. He isn't exactly doing a bang up job for Oklahoma.

bluedog1, (11/20/2009 8:45:22 AM)

Spend one third of the rainy day fund and half of the Stimulus reserve to keep things steady NOW! That's what they are there for! Teachers and School Boards need to set budgets, get their housing locked in,etc and they are wearing hipwadders now! If we are still in poor shape in FY2012 the other states will have already invaded us anyway!!We must be a little optimistic....

mh, (11/20/2009 8:48:55 AM)

Corvetteguy: Private schools have the luxury of accepting only the students they want to accept. They are not required to accept the low performing students nor are they required to meet the mandates of NCLB. So their overall performance should be higher than that of the public schools. The best way to improve public school performance is to hold the "incompetent parents" more accountable for the performance of their kids!!!!!!!

bluedog1, (11/20/2009 10:09:51 AM)

They do not want to increase budget, just get it to the cut level granted in the FY2010 budget. The Dems have said they will attend a special at their own expense, the salary is the same anyway...

Corvetteguy, Tulsa (11/20/2009 10:27:04 AM)

mh,
GREAT comment.........

Woofenburger, Hominy (11/20/2009 11:32:29 AM)

Beware of republicans bearing gifts. Methinks there is no intention on the part of the republican majority to use a special session to shore up operations with the rainy day fund. It would be more likely that they would require more cuts to programs and services that they have in their sights so they can then suggest another tax cut.

Ron Ballew, Lawton (11/20/2009 11:34:55 AM)

A special session costs hundreds of thousands of dollars.

A special session circumvents the will of the people who voted to limit the number of days that the Oklahoma Senators and Representatives have to stay in session.

Voters limited the number of days in session to limit the ability of the legislatures to damage the economy and to spend money.

Since the government is evil, the less time it is in session the better it is for the people.

DavidM F, Somewhere (11/20/2009 5:15:40 PM)

Way to go MH!! Yes is does start with parents doing there job. Private schools do limit the numbers, and selection of there students. I do think that limits on public school from big brother have big effects, that public schools should hold just as expections as any other schools do. When we have to put with, AD, ADHD, and other who are some the troulbe makers in public schools, and I am talking about the kids who take advantage of there needs to get there way. These kids get away with alot in schools because of there needs. Treat them as equals...