Keating says special session on the table

<br>(Oklahoma City-AP) -- Governor Keating says a special session of the Legislature could be called after Tuesday's election. <br><br>Keating says the governor-elect and leaders of the newly elected

Wednesday, October 30th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

(Oklahoma City-AP) -- Governor Keating says a special session of the Legislature could be called after Tuesday's election.

Keating says the governor-elect and leaders of the newly elected Legislature must first have an agreement before he calls a session.

Calls for a special session to address the state's budget shortfall have been made by the Oklahoma Education Association and the Oklahoma Public Employees Association.

State agency budgets are being cut by four-and-three-quarter percent because tax collections are lower than projected.

Keating says a special session is possible if lawmakers reach some preliminary agreements on a plan to address the shortfall. He says there is no reason for a session if there is no consensus among lawmakers about what can and can't be done.

Leaders in the House and Senate have said a special session will be a waste of time without a plan of action.