Audio Clip

Sens. Coffee, Williamson and Pruitt talk to
reporters about Republican budget proposals

• The GOP budget proposes $5.186 billion in spending for Fiscal Year 2004, and includes a $16 million budget surplus for FY04. The budget would essentially be frozen at net FY03 levels with a decrease of just 1/10th of one-percent from the total net FY03 spending, while restoring this week’s new cuts.
  
  
• The budget increases common education and Medicaid healthcare funding to Governor Henry’s proposed funding levels.
  
  
• The budget holds harmless total funding for Governor Henry’s cabinet categories of veterans, education, health and human services, transportation, environment, and the judiciary at the net FY03 levels.
  
  
• The budget accepts Gov. Henry’s funding levels for the general cabinet categories of human resources and administration, secretary of state, agriculture, commerce and tourism, energy, military affairs, and science and technology. The budget also accepts Governor Henry’s proposed funding for safety and security, but includes an additional 5 percent for corrections.
  
  
• The budget cuts the Governor’s office, the Legislature, and the finance and revenue cabinet category by 10 percent from net FY03 funding. Funding for the Lieutenant Governor’s office would be rolled back to FY00 levels.

• The budget generates $280 million in new revenues without a tax increase.
  
  
• The budget accepts Governor Henry’s proposal to utilize one time use of premiums for firefighters, law enforcement, and police retirement programs. It also accepts Henry’s proposals to transfer cash from various agency revolving funds to a special cash fund, and to accept Henry’s proposal to refinance various state bond issues.
  
  
• The Senate Republicans also pledged to provide enough votes from their caucus to help Democrats pass up to $65 million of Governor Henry’s proposed user fee increases.
  
  
• The budget proposes the privatization of CompSource Oklahoma, a state-owned workers’ compensation insurance company. It also includes a federal election reform bonus obtained by U.S. Rep. Ernest Istook for Oklahoma.
  
  
• The budget adopts zero-based budgeting, which Republicans conservatively estimate will lead to an additional 1 percent in savings through increased efficiency.

• Establish zero-based budgeting, to be used in calculating FY04 state budget.
  
  
• Fund FY04 common education this week.
  
  
• Allow a vote of the people on a constitutional amendment requiring the Legislature to fund common education by March 1 each year.
  
  
• Fund Corrections, Public Safety, and Health Care Authority no later than April 1.
  
  
• Ensure ad valorem fund reimbursements to public schools are fully funded.
  
  
• Implement financial incentives to encourage voluntary consolidation of public school administration and services.
  
  
• Explore feasibility of using local funds to obtain additional Medicaid federal matching funds.
  
  
• Require revenue shortfall provisions in state contracts, and allow salary reductions in the event of shortfalls.