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.
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