Lawmakers can't seem to decide how to pay for the shortfall in the state budget that begins July 1.
Out of all the measures introduced so far to raise money this year, House members have rejected many of the most lucrative, The Journal Record’s Dale Denwalt reports:
In less than a day, legislative leaders lost two votes that could have been worth nearly $300 million for the budget, which severely dampened the prospects for a fiscal year without significant cuts. Speaker of the House Jeff Hickman counted on $133 million from ending the economically at-risk well tax credit, but the House amended the bill to set a cap of $25 million rather than completely eliminating the incentive. Hickman yanked the bill from consideration after the amendment passed on Thursday, saying that he might not bring the proposal up again. The defeat came a day after Republicans and Democrats in the House came to a standoff over raising cigarette taxes by $1.50. The money would have been used to stabilize Medicaid spending this year, but the measure failed without support of the Democrats, who wanted to use some of the cash to expand Insure Oklahoma.
This has become a problem for Capitol budget negotiators because spending bills are due next week. They won't know how much money to spend until they know how much is available.
On Thursday, Chickasha resident Jordan Martin visited the Capitol with other developmentally disabled people. She said she's worried that the budget lawmakers advance might force her to lose her home and her two roommates.
She said in a clear voice, the same message written on the group's T-shirts and buttons - "Don't cut me."
From Denwalt:
Holly Howard, an advocate for the developmentally disabled, said she is frustrated at the political stalemates. “I watched yesterday in the gallery and was very disappointed in the process,” Howard said Thursday. “These lives matter, and we need to not hold the process hostage. It’s not a Democrat, it’s not a Republican – it’s a human thing.” Chuck Skillings, president of St. Anthony Shawnee Hospital, also said he was watching this week, hoping that the cigarette tax would pass. There is no plan B, he said. “The fact is health care was asked for a solution to this economic crisis, and that was delivered,” Skillings said. “It may not be perfect, but we gave them a simple solution.”
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