Lawmakers:
Odds for bond issue are 50-50
Odds for bond issue are 50-50
OKLAHOMA CITY — By week's end, House and Senate leaders made sure they kept their stories straight regarding the likelihood of a bond issue emerging before the session's expected final gavel Friday.
Both Republican House Speaker Chris Benge and Senate Democratic leader Mike Morgan said the bond issue has a "50-50 chance."
The leaders were planning to regroup Monday to see if a plan can emerge. It would probably have to be shored up by midweek for a vote.
The House has been adamant that any bond issue must include roads and bridges or there would be no deal.
House Republicans could float a bill calling for bonds to fund only transportation needs, but the likelihood of the Senate and governor going along with that idea is slim. A compromise is the most likely solution.
Three other needs in play are bonds:
To fund endowed chairs, so the state would pay the universities money to match gifts from the private sector for special professorships,
To complete a Native American Cultural Center at the crossroad of Interstates 40 and 35 in Oklahoma City, something that the governor wants, and
To provide upstream flood control needs that have become evident in parts of the state after last year's severe flooding.
A bond issue in the range of $500 million to $800 million has been suggested, although agencies have bombarded leaders with requests that would total about $1.7 billion.
If a bond issue were limited to roads, it could be closer to $300 million.
Whether a bond issue emerges appears to be incumbent on how much the top leaders will compromise in drawing up a package. If they are too insistent on what they must have included, a Christmas tree bond issue could topple under its own weight.
This year, there is a four-legged stool of leadership that has to be balanced. There's the House controlled by Republicans, then the Senate evenly split between Republicans and Democrats, and Democratic Gov. Brad Henry.
State Treasurer Scott Meacham has been doing much of the negotiating for the governor.
Sen. Glenn Coffee, head of Senate Republicans, said he thinks there will be an announcement, "hopefully early next week," as to what the leaders decide.
Consideration of a bond issue appears to be the last major item that lawmakers have to decide before adjournment. Due to a standstill budget already approved for state agencies, no more money is on the table to spend.
Mick Hinton (405) 528-2465
mick.hinton@tulsaworld.com
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