Democrats unveil priorities for next session

(Oklahoma City-AP) -- Democratic House Speaker Larry Adair has unveiled his party's priorities for the upcoming legislative session -- and tax cuts aren't among them.

While Republicans made tax cuts the basis of their agenda, Adair says the state needs to take care of its business before giving up money it may need.

Other parts of their agenda include wanting to give the working poor extra income tax credits worth about $44 million.

Adair says he also wants to spend about $20 million to help state workers, retirees and their families pay for increasing health care costs.

Democrats also are considering as much as $16 million to help in early childhood education.

Adair says he wants to appropriate more than eight million dollars to help Oklahomans with rising natural gas prices. He says he would also not rule out giving teachers more pay.