Revamping The State's Budget

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- House Speaker Lance Cargill's plan to revamp Oklahoma's budgeting process passes its first hurdle when it is adopted by a state House committee.<br/><br/>But a proposal to

Thursday, February 15th 2007, 5:29 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- House Speaker Lance Cargill's plan to revamp Oklahoma's budgeting process passes its first hurdle when it is adopted by a state House committee.

But a proposal to use an online database to publicly account for money appropriated to state agencies by the Legislature stumbled in the same committee when lawmakers said it needed more work.

Cargill told the General Government and Transportation Committee his measure was an effort to systematically reform the way state agencies are funded and uncover government waste, duplication and inefficiency.

It would establish an independent task force to review state agencies every eight years, with the first set of recommendations presented to the Legislature by December 2008.

The Commission on the Accountability and Review of State Agencies would examine opportunities for consolidation and streamlining of state agencies.

The recommendations would require an up or down vote by the Legislature and lawmakers would not be allowed to amend the panel's proposals.