Category: Representative Mary Fallin

In search of a grand bargain: Ways to bridge budget gap

As Oklahoma’s 2017 legislative session enters its fourth week, one thing is abundantly clear: Republicans, Democrats and Gov. Mary Fallin are nowhere close to a budget deal. The Legislature and governor’s office have until the end of May to sign off on a plan that closes an $878 million budget shortfall for the upcoming year.

White House said to kick off infrastructure planning Thursday

President Donald Trump’s administration will convene a meeting of at least 15 federal agencies Thursday as a first government-wide step toward crafting the president’s $1 trillion infrastructure initiative, a senior White House official said. Gary Cohn, director of the National Economic Council, will lead the meeting, which will focus on identifying new projects that would boost the economy; finding existing projects, such as the Keystone XL pipeline, that could be expedited; targeting policies, outdated rules and laws that could delay projects; and developing funding and financing options, the official said.

Oklahoma Senate panel approves Real Id compliance measure

Members of an Oklahoma Senate panel criticized the costs of bringing the state’s drivers licenses into compliance with a federal anti-terrorism law before deciding to send the proposal to the floor for a final vote. Following more than one hour of discussion and debate, the Senate Appropriations Committee voted 34-9 for the House-passed measure and sent it to the full Senate for consideration.

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Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin has appointed Secretary of State Mike Hunter to replace former Attorney General Scott Pruitt, who was tapped by President Donald Trump as administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. Fallin appointed Hunter on Monday, four days after Pruitt resigned following his confirmation by the U.S. Senate as EPA administrator.

Shedding light on Prison Reentry Initiative

Carol Chateau, Douglas County’s community coordinator for the Georgia Prisoner Reentry Initiative, gave a presentation during a stakeholders meeting that drew members of the faith-based community, service providers and supervision officers to help returning citizens receive the collective services they need to prevent turning back to crime. Lamario Harris, faith and community partnership coordinator with the Department of Community Supervision, said that the program promotes a holistic method to supervision and should include services to the returning citizen’s family.

Abortion bill stalls as activists rally at Oklahoma Capitol

Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin shows the large crowd a map of the United States in which Oklahoma is declared the most pro-life state during her her speech to pro-life Oklahomans during Red Rose Day events, Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2017, at the state Capitol. Oklahoma State Sen. Jason Smalley holds four-month-old Mikaylie during a visit to his Capitol office by the baby’s mother, Marisa Shouse, standing next to Smalley, and some of Shouse’s relatives on Red Rose Day, Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2017, at the state Capitol.

Budget, teacher pay, Real ID face 2017 Oklahoma Legislature

Oklahoma lawmakers will be confronted by familiar issues Monday when they convene the 2017 Oklahoma Legislature: a nearly $870 million state budget shortfall, teacher salaries that have not been increased since 2008, complying with a divisive federal anti-terrorism law involving identification cards and relieving pressure on the state’s overcrowded prisons. Leaders of the Republican-controlled House and Senate say they will focus on their priorities during the four-month legislative session.

Oklahoma superintendent seeks $221M boost for schools

Oklahoma state Rep. Leslie Osborn, R-Mustang, gestures as she talks with a colleague on the House floor in Oklahoma City, Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2017. Oklahoma’s Department of Education says it needs $221 million more in funding for the next school year just to keep pace with student growth.