Articles
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Budget & Tax, Law & Principles
Stitt vetoes tax hike
Gov. Kevin Stitt has vetoed legislation that would have increased property taxes on numerous Oklahoma businesses, saying the legislation would “hurt our state.”Ray Carter | May 21, 2020
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Budget & Tax
OCPA offers solution for 35-percent legislative pay raise
The Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs has proposed a solution to lawmakers saying they have no choice but to accept a 35-percent pay raise after facing a $1.3 billion budget shortfall.Staff | May 21, 2020
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Budget & Tax
Stitt vetoes diversion of offender-management funds
“The state is not contractually obligated to increase private correctional facilities pay scales,” Stitt wrote.Ray Carter | May 20, 2020
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Budget & Tax, Good Government
Stitt vows transparency for CARES funding, warns cities can’t use it for shortfalls
Oklahomans will be able to view how the state spends $1.2 billion in federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act funding by going to the state’s online “checkbook,” Gov. Kevin Stitt announced Wednesday.Ray Carter | May 20, 2020
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Budget & Tax
Lawmakers exempt themselves from budget sacrifice
One thing was never aggressively pursued as a cost-saving measure: forgoing a 35 percent increase in legislative pay set to take effect in November.Ray Carter | May 20, 2020
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Budget & Tax
Citing wasteful spending, Stitt vetoes bills
Continuing his emphasis on fiscal conservatism, Gov. Kevin Stitt vetoed four measures on Monday and called on lawmakers to instead eliminate wasteful spending.Ray Carter | May 18, 2020
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Budget & Tax
Lawmakers vote to raid pension assets for benefit increase
Lawmakers voted Friday to approve an unfunded increase in state workers’ retirement benefits.Ray Carter | May 15, 2020
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Budget & Tax
Stitt: The Legislature ‘owns’ future budget problems
A day after having his vetoes of budget bills quickly overridden by state lawmakers, Gov. Kevin Stitt said he has no regrets.Ray Carter | May 14, 2020
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Budget & Tax, Education
Federal cash, reduced costs, boost K-12 funds
This year’s budget legislation technically reduces state appropriations to the K-12 school system by 2.55 percent, or $78.2 million. But during floor activity on related legislation, lawmakers have repeatedly noted Oklahoma’s school system will nonetheless see an increase in total funding due to a flood of federal COVID-19 money.Ray Carter | May 14, 2020
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Budget & Tax
Stitt vetoes budget; Legislature overrides
Gov. Kevin Stitt vetoed the state’s “general appropriation” bill and several associated measures on Wednesday, but lawmakers voted to override those vetoes within hours.Ray Carter | May 14, 2020