College Scholarships, Teacher Retirement Part Of State Lawmaker's Agenda

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- State House Democrats propose new spending for the teacher retirement fund and to help more students qualify for a state-sponsored scholarship program.<br/><br/>Democrats renewed

Thursday, May 11th 2006, 6:20 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- State House Democrats propose new spending for the teacher retirement fund and to help more students qualify for a state-sponsored scholarship program.

Democrats renewed their criticism Thursday of Republican House leaders for missing the Legislature's April 1st deadline for approving an education budget while promoting a tax cut plan.

Holdenville state Representative Dale Turner says Democrats are making a commitment to the people of Oklahoma, to education and to future economic growth.

Part of the proposal would infuse $500-million over 20 years into the teacher retirement fund, which is considered the third worst-funded public pension program in the country.

Democrats also want to increase state grants to $5,000 for agricultural education programs and family consumer sciences.

And they want to give high school students a second chance to enroll in the Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program scholarship program.