Special Session Likely As Budget Talks Remain Stalled

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ The prospects of a special session looms larger today as the state House and Senate don't appear to be moving much closer to a budget agreement. <br/><br/>Spokesmen for state House

Monday, May 22nd 2006, 2:50 pm

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ The prospects of a special session looms larger today as the state House and Senate don't appear to be moving much closer to a budget agreement.

Spokesmen for state House Speaker Todd Hiett and state Senate Pro Tem Mike Morgan say there have been no talks between the two leaders today.

The Legislature must adjourn by 5 PM Friday under the Oklahoma Constitution, and both sides say an agreement needs to be in place by tomorrow to have any chance of meeting that deadline.

The two sides are at odds over tax cuts. Democratic Governor Brad Henry last week unveiled a compromise proposal that would cut the state income tax from 6.25 percent to 5.5 percent while eliminating the estate tax over a period of years.

Hiett quickly endorsed the plan, but Morgan says Senate Democrats instead want to see an increase in the standard deduction that would help low- and middle-income taxpayers.