Local News
Feeling the Pinch
The need for immediate reductions in state spending is clear-cut, and Gov. Brad Henry needs to stop dragging his heels, a state lawmaker said today.
“Governor Henry keeps saying we need to ‘study’ the budget before cutting spending, but the need for immediate cuts is clear to everyone,” said state Rep. Mike Reynolds, R-Oklahoma City. “If you’re spending $475 million a month and bringing in just $400 million, you’ve got a problem. That’s basic grade-school math, and we don’t need to hold an endless series of meetings to show we grasp the obvious.”
But, even if Gov. Henry wanted to make immediate changes it would have an even greater negative impact, said Rep. Joe Dorman, D-Rush Springs. Dorman agrees that action needs to be taken, but he supports special legislative sessions to make specific cuts, not broad percentage cuts.
"We as a legislature need to prioritize what needs to be cut," he said. "A lot of these agencies operate on a shoe-string budget. They can't take a percentage cut like that, it could be devastating."
Reynolds said there is no need to waste additional taxpayer funds on a special legislative session, noting the governor has the power to order immediate, across-the-board reductions that address the shortfall.
“We cannot run a deficit in Oklahoma and the governor should act immediately to balance the budget,” Reynolds said. “Wishing you had more money won’t make it so and agencies can’t spend IOUs and empty promises, no matter how long the governor takes to ‘study’ the issue.”
This year, state revenue has come in 24 percent below projections and officials believe a $1 billion shortfall is possible by year-end.
In response, the executive branch has ordered 5-percent cuts in state spending and borrowed $155 million (so far) from state funds that have to be repaid by the end of next June – essentially “promising to repay a loan with cash we don’t have, unless the governor is thinking about transferring money from his favorite pet pork project, the EDGE fund,” Reynolds noted.
However, when it was suggested this week that a December special session should be called to immediately address the shortfall, Henry said through a spokesman that lawmakers need to instead “do their budget homework” and hold public hearings on budget cuts.
Dorman supported the governor and expressed confidence in his colleagues and their ability to responsibly cut the budget. He said acting too quickly and cutting a percentage of the entire budget would hamper many smaller agencies.
He said a good example of imposing cuts without study is last year's cuts to the Department of Human Services. With its smaller budget, seniors in rural areas have not been receiving the nutrition they need.
Sen. Ron Justice, R-Chickasha and others approached Henry about this issue this month.
Justice said the senate had a special caucus meeting on Thursday. He said the budget was discussed by the sub-committees in the Senate. He agreed with both Reynolds and Dorman. He said he wants this to be settled quickly.
but wants both parties to work together to responsibly make cutbacks.
"If we don't do something and just keep using rainy day funds, we could wind up digging a deep hole," he said. "We have to face the problems head on and put them behind us. We can't just ignore them...and we can do it by working together."
Reynolds said he is worried that if the cuts are not imposed now, it will cause greater issues in 2010, which could include massive layoffs of state employees.
Dorman does not think it will come to that. He said he is confident the legislature can develop a plan, and with the help of surplus stimulus funds can dig its way out of the deficit.
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Transformations
What comes to mind when you think of the word, “Transformation”?Do you have fantastic thoughts of people or things changing into something amazing for example, Clark Kent turning into Superman or Bruce Banner becoming the Incredible Hulk or possibly something a little more down to earth like a caterpillar miraculously changing into the beautiful butterfly?
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GRADY COUNTY FAIR RESULTS
Plants
Potted Plants
(Several varieties combined)
First: (Adult) Ann O'Bar
Second: (Adult) Joyce Riker
Third: (Adult) Jallane Link -
AROUND THE AREA
SEPTEMBER 2
Poetry Reading
• When: Sept. 2, 7 p.m.
• Where: Eduardo’s Mexican Restaurant, Private Room, 3127 S. 4th St., Chickasha
• Details: Featured Poet is Carol Hamilton, writer, storyteller and Poet Laureate of Oklahoma 1995-97Hamilton’s website is www.carolhamilton.org. There is no admission fee to attend the Poetry Reading, and refreshments are available for purchase. For more information, contact Rockford Johnson, 224-0160 or 317-7506. -
Duncan nips Chicks for straight-game win
Duncan got their eighth match win of the season Tuesday, beating Nancy Waters’ Lady Chicks in straight games at the Activity Center.
The Chicks looked like they had a little hangover from Monday night’s tough road loss at Tecumseh, coming out flat again and dropping their first two games by identical 25-17 scores.
They came out firing on all eight cylinders for game three, running out to a 15-9 lead on the strength of a 7-0 run with Shelby Crosley serving, but the Demons battled back to tie it late and the Chicks let it slip away, 25-21. -
STATE SPORTS BRIEFS
NORMAN (AP) — Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops has named walk-on Patrick O'Hara as the starting place-kicker for the seventh-ranked Sooners.
Stoops said on his radio show Tuesday night that O'Hara won the competition with Jimmy Stevens, freshman Michael Hunnicutt and redshirt freshman Bryce Easley. -
OSU's Gundy still learning on job
STILLWATER (AP) — Mike Gundy hasn't lost his love for dialing up the right play to keep Oklahoma State's offense purring along.
That passion, which he has called the most enjoyable part of his job as head coach, was bred into him as an offensive coordinator. And he is a former starting quarterback for the Cowboys. -
Whimsical metal work, jewelry part of big art show at USAO
A showing of whimsical metal work and jewelry is scheduled to be on display at the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma during Helen’s Show Sept. 10-Oct 1.
The show will feature the work of USAO graduate Helen Shafer. The exhibition will be open daily during normal business hours in the Davis Hall Third Floor Art Gallery on the USAO campus. The show is free and open to the public. An opening reception is scheduled Sept. 10 at 6 p.m. in the gallery. -
High-speed chase lands 1 in jail
A high-speed motorcycle chase down Highway 81 last Wednesday landed a Ninnekah man in jail and a felony charge of eluding a police officer.
Court records show that James William Hutchins, 21, blew by Oklahoma Highway Patrol Trooper Timothy Parrish at U.S. Highway 81 and County Road 1460 and was clocked going 144 miles per hour in a posted 70 miles per hour zone.
Parrish reported that he was sitting stationary at that location at about 3:45 p.m. on Aug. 25 when he observed a red motorcycle traveling southbound. He engaged his emergency lights and siren and pulled onto the roadway behind the Triumph motorcycle. -
5 inmates denied parole
Parole was recently denied for five Grady County inmates serving sentences with the Oklahoma Department of Corrections.
The following individuals were denied at the August Pardon and Parole Board meeting:
• Jeremiah Daniel Cline, who is serving a five-year sentence for distribution of a controlled dangerous substance and a five-year sentence for possession of a controlled dangerous substance, began his sentence in August 2008.
• Warren P. Diego, who is serving a 15-year sentence (10 years PTS) for lewd molestation, began his sentence in February 2009. -
Judge recuses herself from pharmacy case
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — A state district judge has stepped aside from the first-degree murder trial of a pharmacist accused in the fatal shooting of an unconscious would-be robber.
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Transformations
