Oklahoma Senate leader says budget cuts will be more severe because of failed vote

Oklahoma Senate President Pro Tempore Mike Schulz commented on the failed revenue vote in the Oklahoma House:
“Because the Oklahoma House of Representatives did not advance the bipartisan revenue deal, teachers and state employees won’t get a much-needed pay raise and cuts to mental health and other services will be much more severe. The cuts will be deep and spread out across all government. This is not where any of us wanted to be, but we are here because the revenue bill failed in the House. The financial scandal at the Health Department is an unexpected and costly expense. If we spend everything we have now, there won’t be any money left for other emergencies that could arise. And spending even more one-time money now makes next year’s budget deficit - already forecast at $560 million - even larger. The Oklahoma Senate will work to minimize the impact of cuts on core services.”