Tulsa World: Oklahoma state Senator wants special session to address budget cuts

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Oklahoma state Senator wants special session to address budget cuts

By BARBARA HOBEROCK World Capitol Bureau
Published: 11/10/2009 12:51 PM
Last Modified: 11/10/2009 12:51 PM

OKLAHOMA CITY – Sen. Kenneth Corn on Tuesday said he is trying to get two-thirds of the House and Senate to agree to a special session.

Corn, D-Poteau, wants a special session to address cuts to the senior nutrition program and other areas as a result of declining state revenue.

The Commission for Human Services cut $7.4 million from the program. It resulted in fewer home-delivered meals and meals served at senior nutrition sites.

Last week, about 400 people held a rally at the Capitol to protest the cuts.

Corn, who is running for lieutenant governor, is urging lawmakers to turn down the per diem legislators get for meal and lodging expenses during a legislative session if a special session is called.

As a result of declining state revenue, agencies have been told 5 percent monthly cuts to state budgets will continue through the remainder of the 2010 fiscal year, which is June 30. But the possibility of deeper cuts are still on the table.

"We must look at every state agency," Corn said. "Some cuts must be made, but those cuts must be efficient, effective and made in a targeted way. We need to use the scalpel to balance the budget – not a gigantic meat cleaver."

Corn said he will release the names of lawmakers who signed the petition calling for a special session.

So far, 28 lawmakers, all Democrats, have signed the petition.

Gov. Henry's office declined to comment.

Rep. Ken Miller, House Appropriations and Budget Committee chairman, said he is hopeful a special session is not needed. Miller, R-Edmond, is running for state treasurer. Miller, Sen. Mike Johnson, R-Kingfisher, Senate Appropriations Committee chairman, and State Treasurer Scott Meacham met Tuesday before the latest revenue report was to be released.

"We can't isolate one part of the budget component," Miller said. "The three of us trying to come with plan to address the entire budget shortfall, not just one component of it. Rather than political stunts, the three of us are actually working together to try to come up with a solution for all of our priorities not just one."

In other action, Sen. Andrew Rice, D-Oklahoma City, said he filed a bill last week that would give Oklahoma voters the choice to increase the a mount of money that can be deposited in the Rainy Day Fund each year to 15 percent of prior year collections from 10 percent.

"Given that our economy in Oklahoma tends to run in up and down cycles, the Legislature needs more flexibility to stow away more revenue during good times in order to deal with future economic crisis," Rice said.

Currently, the state's Rainy Day Fund has about $600 million.

By BARBARA HOBEROCK World Capitol Bureau

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Reader comments for this story have been moved to the most updated version of the story, now under the headline "Senator pushes special session," which was published on 11/11/2009. So far, 10 comments have been made.