Contact: David Blatt (918) 859-8747 Oklahoma Policy Institute's Executive Director provided the following statement in response to the budget agreement announced today by House and Senate leaders. This new budget plan is a squandered opportunity of massive proportions. Lawmakers had plenty of sensible options for recurring revenues that could have balanced the budget responsibly. Instead, they are doubling down on one-time money and cuts. For those fearing the worst cuts, the new budget is a reprieve. It mostly fills the massive shortfalls that were facing the Medicaid agency, DHS and Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services. But the costs will be substantial. The utter failure of leadership in special session leaves Oklahoma stuck in budget crisis and continues the destructive erosion of Oklahoma's public services. Rather than beginning to climb out of a hole, lawmakers are growing next year's budget hole to $650 million. This new budget leaves Oklahoma stuck in crisis and continues the erosion of core public services. Click here for a longer assessment of the new budget plan. For more of our coverage of Special Session, click here. | Oklahoma Policy Institute
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