Press Releases

STATEMENT FROM SENATOR STRATTON TAYLOR, PRESIDENT PRO TEM:

Despite veto threats from Governor Keating, a Senate budget leader insists that education will continue to be the Legislature's top funding priority this year.

"I'm very disappointed that Governor Keating has chosen to enter budget negotiations with a hostile attitude toward public education," said Senator Kelly Haney, chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee. "Every time he threatens to veto an education budget bill, he sends the signal nationwide that Oklahoma isn't interested in building a business-friendly environment to promote economic development.

A bill that would have increased the amount of days between Oklahoma's primary and run-off elections has been sidelined, according to its Senate author.

Senator Larry Dickerson announced today that he would not continue to push SB 748 because there isn't enough time to make the proposed changes this election year.

OKLAHOMA CITY - "The only difference between the latest legislative and executive budget proposals is education. We're trying to invest a significant amount of our growth revenue in our most effective economic development tool, education. Tom Daxon, on the other hand, would prefer to throw a few scraps to the public schools and let our economic development efforts wither on the vine. To ignore the needs of education as Mr. Daxon advocates is reckless behavior by any measure."

Statement from Senator Cal Hobson, Senate Appropriations Vice-chairman:

OKLAHOMA CITY -Legislative leaders have reached a budget agreement today that will pump an additional U $203 million into education in the coming fiscal year, and add new moneys to public & safety and transportation as well.

"We've said all along that education is our top priority, and this agreement proves it," said Senator Stratton Taylor, President Pro Tempore of the Oklahoma Senate. "We feel that it's the best investment we can make for Oklahoma, especially from an economic development standpoint."

STATEMENT FROM SENATOR STRATTON TAYLOR, PRESIDENT PRO TEM:

"There simply is no merit to the concerns raised by Governor Keating.