The debate on the House floor over the nearly $7 billion appropriated budget for fiscal 2018 budget was passionate and often heated. Here’s a recap via live tweets from Oklahoma Watch reporter Trevor Brown.
Proposed 2018 Appropriated Budget
Here is a breakdown of the #okleg budget as it’s currently being heard on the House floor … again, this include no teacher raises pic.twitter.com/nvXSZTgk3M
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) May 26, 2017
And a fiscal summary of the bill is still missing from the #okleg website … so you’d be out of luck unless you comb through all 57 pages
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) May 26, 2017
.@RepScottInman and @leslieosborn08 are arguing whether a proposal to raise the income tax was ever on the table #OKLeg
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) May 26, 2017
#okleg House is taking up budget while they still haven’t voted on the cigarette fee increase … that money is built into this budget
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) May 26, 2017
Rep. Goodwin (D) questions $257M project for cig fee … Osborn say it’s because it’s a fee we are able to use emergency #okleg
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) May 26, 2017
Rep. Goodwin, in your heart, speaking to god, do you really believe the cigarette is a fee and not a tax? #okleg
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) May 26, 2017
Rep. Meredith (D) says school districts will have to layoff teachers even with flat funding in budget to common education #okleg
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) May 26, 2017
Rep. Bennett: Asks about using taking money from agencies (revolving funds) to build the budget #okleg
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) May 26, 2017
Osborn: With $1 billion shortfall we could’ve been at 15% cuts to all agencies, but we miraculously kept common ed, health, ect;, stable
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) May 26, 2017
Rep. Osborn: This budget keeps 15 agencies at stable funding … It’s short of nothing more than a miracle #okleg
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) May 26, 2017
Rep. Walke (D): Isn’t it possible to vote no and come back and build a better budget & give state employees a pay raise? #okleg
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) May 26, 2017
Rep. Osborn: I share passion for getting raises. We could’ve if Dems didn’t compromise on gross production tax #OKLeg
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) May 26, 2017
Osborn: I don’t think if we went into special session, anything would change. Haven’t seen anyone willing to move on negotiations #okelg
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) May 26, 2017
Rep. Martin said the queue for asking questions on budget is full, says he never seen that before #okleg
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) May 26, 2017
Rep. Dunnington (D) asks if this budget invests in educational areas such as STEM #okleg
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) May 26, 2017
Osborn: This budget holds education harmless, but is it enough? Of course it’s not. It’s on us to continue investment in the state #okleg
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) May 26, 2017
#okleg House is moving into debate on the budget bill … but they are dealing with some procedural things first
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) May 26, 2017
#okleg Dems are noting that a member was not recognized to ask a question on the budget before they cut off questions to move into debate
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) May 26, 2017
Dems have criticized Repubs for lack of decorum during the Q and A several times now #okleg
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) May 26, 2017
Dems have criticized Repubs for lack of decorum during the Q and A several times now #okleg
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) May 26, 2017
Now into debate on #okleg budget bill.
Rep. Virgin (D) asked for 45 mins for each side. That’s rejected.— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) May 26, 2017
Rep. Inman (D) asks for an hour for each side. That too is rejected. #okleg
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) May 26, 2017
Meanwhile, big news here in the #okleg Senate. This is $123 M bill that applies 1.5% sales tax on vehicles purchases https://t.co/HZHQrvMK9l
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) May 26, 2017
First up in #okleg House debate on budget bill (opposition) is Rep. Proctor (D)
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) May 26, 2017
Rep. West (R) in favor of #okleg budget: This is not perfect budget, but it holds our core agencies flat, it funds rural hospitals, schools
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) May 26, 2017
That’s J. West, by the way, since there are four Rep. Wests in the House #okleg https://t.co/xG6Fk66IBm
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) May 26, 2017
Rep. Dollens (D) against #okleg budget: With SQ779, they told us it was the Legislature’s job done on teacher raises. And we didn’t do that.
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) May 26, 2017
Dollens was telling #okleg to vote no and redo budget when he ran out of time and was cut off mid-sentence (Repubs had denied longer debate)
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) May 26, 2017
Rep. Fetgatter (R) in favor of #okleg budget: I’m going to get called a RINO because I had to make tough decisions on revenue bills.
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) May 26, 2017
Fetgatter: But I’m going to vote yes because we took care of core services. And I’m going to go home and get to work on next year’s budget
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) May 26, 2017
Lot of lawmakers – both Rs and Ds – getting cut off mid-sentence in budget bill debate. Most only get 2 mins to talk. #okleg
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) May 26, 2017
Rep. Hilbert (R) in favor: In year’s past, they rolled out budget at last min and we were told to vote yes for it. That’s not the case here
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) May 26, 2017
Hilbert: There has been too many lines in the sand on all sides. Hope this year teaches us to do better. #okleg
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) May 26, 2017
Rep. Stone (D) against #okleg budget.This session has been a test of faith. My anger gives me courage to call for shame for those who vote Y
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) May 26, 2017
Rep. Lepak (R) for #okleg budget: It has a 5 percent cushion in it, don’t forget that.
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) May 26, 2017
Rep. Kouplen (D): I have no doubt this budget will pass the #okleg House today. I appeal to @GovMaryFallin to veto this bill.
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) May 26, 2017
Rep. Goodwin (D) against #okleg budget: Oklahoma is bleeding we have teachers and principals that are leaving the state.
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) May 26, 2017
Ed Chair Rep. Rogers (R) in favor of #okleg budget: No one wanted a teacher raise more than I did (he was sponsor of $6k raise over 3 yr)
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) May 26, 2017
Rogers: but this get 30.8M hike for common ed, we fully funded flex benefit,kept promise to ed by backfilling $18M in mid-year cuts #okleg
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) May 26, 2017
Rep. F Bennett (D) against budget: You have the power to say bad is not good enough, let’s go back to the drawing board #okleg
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) May 26, 2017
Rep. F Bennett (D) against budget: You have the power to say bad is not good enough, let’s go back to the drawing board #okleg
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) May 26, 2017
Bennett: This building is run by people who’ve been here a long time. But there is a lot of new members, let’s do it differently #okleg
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) May 26, 2017
Rep. Sanders (R) for #okleg budget: Budget are hard, really hard, this budget is no different.
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) May 26, 2017
Sanders: But what we got is a miracle. Education, corrections, health, public safety all taken care of. I can go on and on #okleg
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) May 26, 2017
Sanders: We have moved mountains with this budget. Asks for a yes vote. #okleg
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) May 26, 2017
Rep. Dunnington (D) against #okleg budget: I use my time to challenge us to think about bigger picture.
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) May 26, 2017
Dunnington: The hard work is determining that we can do this work in a new and productive way. Work w/ each in way to reflect respect #OKLeg
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) May 26, 2017
Dunnington: I take responsibility for what this will do to in my district. That means I’ll work hard to make sure better budget next year
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) May 26, 2017
So far, all debating for the #okleg budget have been Republicans and all debating against it have been Democrats
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) May 26, 2017
Rep. Virgin (D) against #okleg budget: “We keep hearing this budget holds agencies harmless …
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) May 26, 2017
“… you keep using that word but I don’t think it means what you think it means.” #okleg
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) May 26, 2017
Virgin: We are putting higher education out of reach for our students. Harmless is not harmless in this case. #okleg
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) May 26, 2017
Fmr. Budget Chair Rep. Sears: I said I would vote no if this had huge cuts. This does not include huge cuts. We hold 15 agencies flat #okleg
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) May 26, 2017
Rep Williams (D) against budget: I’ve been here 9 yrs & I agree that this is as good as it gets, but overall same box of fecal matter #okleg
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) May 26, 2017
Rep. J Bennett for #okleg budget (he gets 6 mins), begins by saying Democrat failures brought us to this point
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) May 26, 2017
Bennett: What we have here is Democratic obstructionism. Every time we try to bring them to the table, they pull the old Charlie Brown trick
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) May 26, 2017
Bennett: This budget cuts government and protects core functions of government.
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) May 26, 2017
Bennett: This budget cuts government and protects core functions of government.
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) May 26, 2017
Minority Leader @RepScottInman (D) against #okleg budget: “I’ve never seen more lipstick applied to a pig in all my life”
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) May 26, 2017
@RepScottInman Inman: We don’t have to do this. We don’t have to vote for a budget that cuts the VA. #okleg
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) May 26, 2017
@RepScottInman Inman: We don’t have to vote for a budget that cuts transportation, raids revolving funds
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) May 26, 2017
@RepScottInman Inman: You don’t have to vote for a budget that cuts higher ed 26 percentage points than what it was in 2009 #okleg
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) May 26, 2017
@RepScottInman Inman: We wanted to increase income tax on highest earners. Says Senate Pro Tem Schulz would never allow it. #okleg
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) May 26, 2017
@RepScottInman Inman: We would’ve been done with if GOP leaders stuck by their word with their gross production tax they offered to my caucus #okleg
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) May 26, 2017
@RepScottInman Inman: The 25 rank-in-file Republicans are the most important people in this building. You can block this budget. #okleg
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) May 26, 2017
@RepScottInman Inman: But I’ve never seen it used the right away. You always roll over. #okleg
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) May 26, 2017
Budget Chair Rep. Leslie Osborn (R) will close debate. She has six minutes to debate for the budget bill. #okleg
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) May 26, 2017
Osborn: If you can’t man up, vote on revenue, you’re to blame. #okleg
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) May 26, 2017
Osborn: We had the most open and transparent budget process in the history of the state (budget was introduced at 11 p.m. Wednesday) #okleg
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) May 26, 2017
Debate on the #okleg budget bill is over. Voting is underway in the House.
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) May 26, 2017
Debate on the #okleg budget bill is over. Voting is underway in the House.
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) May 26, 2017
#okleg House votes 57-42 to approve the $6.8B budget bill. It now goes to @GovMaryFallin who has signaled she will sign it
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) May 26, 2017
#okleg House barely passes bill for $1.50 per pack cigarette fee with a 51-43 vote
— Trevor Brown (@tbrownOKC) May 26, 2017
Meanwhile in the #okleg Senate … https://t.co/FfMOdQRkTD
— Trevor Brown (@tbrownOKC) May 26, 2017
Sykes recognized and moves Senate adjourn SINE DIE!!!!!!!
— eCapitol Senate (@eCapitol_Senate) May 26, 2017
