Oklahoma House Democrats offer their own budget proposal

OKLAHOMA CITY — The Oklahoma House of Representatives’ Democratic minority rolled out a budget proposal on Thursday that includes $1.4 billion in new revenue they said would cover a cover a projected $868 million decline in general revenue and allow for a “significant” teacher pay increase.

“Our citizens are suffering … and they’re waiting for their leaders in this building to lead,” said Minority Leader Scott Inman, D-Del City.

The proposal has zero chance of passing or even being seriously considered, but it gives Democrats — who hold only 26 of the 99 filled House seats — a platform from which to harangue Republicans for allegedly protecting the state’s moneyed interests while the poor and middle class take a beating through massive cuts to most state agencies and services.

“What we Democrats have proposed are sensible solutions to counter Republican tax measures that have siphoned nearly $4 billion from the state treasury through tax cuts, tax credits and tax rebates,” Inman said.

Read more: http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/capitol_report/oklahoma-house-democrats-offer-their-own-budget-proposal/article_c84cca49-cd5f-555c-a30d-8516cf6b81b1.html