“As always, the governor’s speech was positive and forward looking, and we appreciate his willingness to work with the legislature to see our state through our current challenges.“We all know our nation’s economy is struggling, and states across the nation face tight budget years. While we’re fortunate that Oklahoma does not face the cataclysmic crisis of many other states, we face some very real issues. We stand ready to work with the House and the Governor to provide Oklahomans a balanced budget that is efficient, provides the essential services we need, and moves our state forward.
“During these tough economic times, it is encouraging to see that the governor agrees we should avoid raiding the Rainy Day Fund, but he was light on specifics on how he plans to deal with the budget shortfall. I do endorse his position of holding Public Safety, Transportation and Education harmless in the budget process, which will make our challenge all the greater regarding other areas of need this year.
“In the current financial scenario, we have an opportunity to look at various areas of government and determine the efficiency and effectiveness of agencies and their responsibilities. Our job as legislators is to be efficient with taxpayer’s money, and I believe the Office of Accountability and Innovation will be a good step in that direction.”
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