Tulsa Teachers Head To State Capitol For Budget Meetings

Three buses loaded with Tulsa Public School teachers and supporters headed to the state capitol in Oklahoma City early Tuesday.  They will be meeting with state lawmakers over funding public education.

On Monday, the Oklahoma House approved a plan to generate about $100 million by limiting the amount of itemized deductions Oklahoma taxpayers can claim on their tax returns.

The bill caps deductions at $17,000 per year, excluding charitable deductions. It passed on a 56-40 vote and now heads to the state Senate for approval.

The bill faced bipartisan opposition from lawmakers who said it would affect those with catastrophic medical expenses or the loss of a home.

Several Democrats argued the measure was unconstitutional and would likely be challenged in court.

5/22/2017 Related Story: State GOP Lawmakers Pass Tax Bill Dems Call "Unconstitutional"

"As a collective and as a school district, and a lot of teachers that I know, feel as though legislators are too involved in partisanship and not doing what is fundamentally and morally and ethically right for the state, in properly funding education and other critical state agencies," said Timantha Norman, TPS teacher. 

?Lawmakers are required to adjourn by Friday and are struggling to fill an $878 million budget gap. They could be forced into a special session after budget negotiations collapsed over the weekend.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.