Oklahoma Lawmakers Working On New Plan For Teacher Raises

We're now 12 days away from a school shutdown, and Oklahoma lawmakers are now working on a new plan to get teachers a pay raise. It calls for $922 million in new revenue from a number of sources, including raising the gross production tax, cigarette tax and fuel tax.

The plan could give teachers a $5,000 to $6,000 raise and give raises to support staff and state workers. Lawmakers say it would leave the state with an additional $250 million in new revenue. Sources say most 'rank and file' lawmakers back the bill but Republican leaders are pushing their own plans in both the house and senate.

Supporters of this plan say it has the best shot of passing.

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"It's a new day. We got teachers fixing to walk out. I got a stack of letters on my desk from seniors at Moore high school wandering if they're going to graduate," said Representative Mark  McBride, assistant majority floor leader.

"So it's time for us to do something."

Teachers say they'll walk out on April 2 if they don't get a $10,000 raise over three years.