Friday, May 26th 2017, 12:52 pm
The Oklahoma House passed a $6.8 billion spending plan Friday morning that protects the budgets of about 15 state agencies, but cuts many others by about five-percent.
It now heads to Governor Mary Fallin's desk, where she is expected to sign it.
The House approved the measure 57-42 Friday just hours before lawmakers are constitutionally required to adjourn the 2017 legislative session.
The state Senate passed the measure on Wednesday.
5/24/2017 Related Story: OK Senate Passes Budget Bill Wednesday Night
Supporters say the spending plan for the fiscal year that begins July 1 closes a projected budget hole of about $878 million and protects core services like public education and road and bridge construction.
But opponents say it includes hundreds of millions of dollars in new revenue approved during the final week of the session in apparent violation of a constitutional prohibition against such measures.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
May 26th, 2017
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