Democratic lawmakers say Henry, GOP leaders in House and Senate reach Okla. budget agreement

Democratic lawmakers: Henry, GOP reach budget deal

OKLAHOMA CITY — Democratic Gov. Brad Henry and Republican leaders of the House and Senate reached an agreement on a state budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1, several Democratic lawmakers said Thursday.

The deal between Henry, House Speaker Chris Benge and Senate President Pro Tem Glenn Coffee was reached late Wednesday night, said Senate Democratic leader Charles Laster, D-Shawnee.

“There’s a proposal on the table that the caucuses are being asked to consider,” Laster said. “We’ve been verbally told some of the high points.”

Laster declined to specify any details until the Senate Democratic caucus has seen the entire proposal.

Incoming House Democratic leader Scott Inman also said that a budget deal was reached late Wednesday.

Coffee, R-Oklahoma City, declined to confirm there was a deal, but told a reporter: “You’ll have something to write about later today.”

Republican and Democratic caucuses in the House and Senate are expected to review the proposal later Thursday.

Lawmakers have to build a state budget for the upcoming fiscal year with about $1.2 billion less to spend than they had last year. By using the remainder of the state’s federal stimulus funds and money from state cash reserves, the budget hole is still estimated to be about $600 million. To close that gap, lawmakers would have to either impose deep cuts to agency budgets or approve some measures to raise revenue, like increasing fees or suspending various tax breaks.

This week, legislators approved two separate bills to put on hold a variety of tax incentives that would save the state about $50 million.

Democrats voted against both bills, saying they would delay the implementation of any revenue measures until they’ve seen the details of a budget agreement.

The Democrats want more funding for senior nutrition and rural programs, along with a new hospital provider fee and an assessment on insurance claims they say will help generate more federal funding for health care.

Laster said Thursday that Senate Democrats have not vowed to derail any budget plan.

“We’re not trying to draw lines in the sand,” he said. “We’re going to be reasonable.

“We’re going to consider the overall budget package when it’s proposed and make our mind up whether we think it’s sufficient.”