House Democrats struggle to influence state budget

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ Oklahoma's House Democrats, a powerful influence on how past state budgets were drafted, had little input in the budget agreement for the coming year that was cobbled together

Sunday, April 24th 2005, 5:53 pm

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ Oklahoma's House Democrats, a powerful influence on how past state budgets were drafted, had little input in the budget agreement for the coming year that was cobbled together by legislative leaders.

The House's Democratic leader, Rep. Jari Askins of Duncan, played no role in budget talks between the House's new Republican majority and Democrats who control the Senate. Askins said she did not know what the budget figures were until they were announced at a news conference last week.

``I was not involved in it,'' Askins said. ``I had hoped that perhaps it might be a little more open.''

While cut out of the budget process, House Democrats are finding new ways to focus attention on the programs they believe should be a priority for the state, including spending increases for state agencies whose budgets were slashed in recent years due to budget shortfalls.

``There are many glaring needs in state government and the cuts we forced on many of our agencies were meant to be temporary,'' Askins said.

Democratic lawmakers proposed a series of amendments to spending bills they said would improve state services and increase public safety while setting aside dollars for tax cuts and rebates that remain under negotiation between lawmakers and Gov. Brad Henry.

Many of the amendments were denied a vote on the House floor by the GOP majority.

The proposals included more money for Oklahoma's veterans centers to renovate buildings and increase staffing levels and spending increases to fill vacant staff positions at the Department of Corrections and the Office of Juvenile Affairs.

Democrats also support a tax-cut plan that would raise Oklahoma's standard deduction for low- and middle-income families and provide tax rebates from surplus funds.

``Ideally, we'd like to have it all,'' Askins said. ``This is a plan designed to help working families get the tax cuts and rebates they deserve while fulfilling our promise to provide adequate state services at the same time.''

The majority party in the state House for more than 80 years, the Democrats' leadership role was toppled last fall when Republicans took a 57-44 advantage in the 101-member House. Democrats began the 2004 session with a 53-48 advantage. Democrats still control the 48-member Senate by a 26-22 margin.

Since the elections, House Democrats have been politically frustrated in an arena they controlled for decades. Democrats have attempted to use procedural rules to block GOP-backed legislation and amend others to promote their agenda.

``I will never say we've become insignificant in the process,'' Askins said.

The state budget agreement calls for more spending on education and roads and bridges as well as at least $58 million in tax cuts for the fiscal year that begins July 1.

The agreement allocates about $5.94 billion to appropriation subcommittees in the House and Senate, including a record $3.23 billion for education. The subcommittees will set spending priorities for the agencies and programs they oversee.

Rep. Wes Hilliard, D-Sulphur, is seeking $20 million for capital improvements at veterans centers. Rep. Joe Dorman, D-Elgin, has proposed spending increases to add 166 new staffers at veterans centers across the state.

``The needs at our veterans centers are eye-opening,'' said Rep. David Braddock, D-Altus. ``The understaffing at many of our facilities is outrageous and some of the buildings housing our brave veterans are literally falling down around them.''

Democratic lawmakers also proposed spending increases for the Rural Economic Assistance program and the Department of Transportation for immediate bridge repair needs.

Tax cuts are a high priority for House Republicans this year. Democratic Gov. Brad Henry and Democratic lawmakers have developed their own tax-cut plans.

GOP House Speaker Todd Hiett of Kellyville is pushing his plan to cut the state's maximum income tax rate from 6.65 percent to 6.25 percent, beginning in 2006. The measure would reduce revenue by about $100 million a year. The current rate was reduced from 7 percent last year by a statewide vote of the people.

Henry has proposed $163 million in tax relief, including a $100 million rebate plan that would return half of the state's excess revenue to Oklahoma taxpayers when the state's Rainy Day reserve fund reaches its constitutional limit.

House Democrats have thrown their support behind the governor's rebate plan. They also support a plan to increase the standard deduction for Oklahoma taxpayers by $1,000.

That proposal is part of a plan passed by the Senate that would raise the standard deduction used by most taxpayers to the federal level over a period of four years.

The Oklahoma deduction is currently $1,000 for individuals and $2,000 for a married couple filing jointly. The 2004 federal deduction is $4,850 for individuals and $9,700 for couples.

Oklahoma's standard deduction has not been increased since 1971. The bill's Senate author, Sen. Jay Paul Gumm, D-Durant, has said raising it would provide a bigger cut for working families than the GOP plan.

``This is money that will buy back-to-school clothes at the local store or go to fix the family car for many,'' said the House author, Rep. James Covey, D-Custer City.

``These tax plans mean more to real working families than any tax handout to a millionaire ever could,'' Covey said.