Governor calls for special legislative session to deal with budget woes

<br>OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ The Oklahoma Legislature should convene a special session as soon as possible to restore millions of dollars in state funding jeopardized by a state Supreme Court ruling, Gov.

Thursday, December 6th 2001, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ The Oklahoma Legislature should convene a special session as soon as possible to restore millions of dollars in state funding jeopardized by a state Supreme Court ruling, Gov. Frank Keating said Thursday.

It will be up to lawmakers to set a date for the session, but the governor would like it to take place before the first of the year, said Keating's spokesman, Dan Mahoney.

Keating formally notified the Legislature Thursday that he has expanded a previous request for a special session to include the funding issue.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday upheld the contention that a $70 million funding bill approved by the Legislature was unconstitutional because it contained more than one subject.

For years, the Legislature has passed so-called ``reconciliation'' bills at the end of the session, which adjusts previous budget bills and adds or subtracts money from various agencies.

Republicans have long contended the practice violates the state constitutional prohibition against ``logrolling'' together bills covering different subjects.