State House speaker reveals blueprint for state budget

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- House Speaker Todd Hiett opened the debate over the state budget Tuesday by proposing more than $500-million in tax cuts.<br/><br/>He also is calling for rejection of state Senate

Tuesday, April 4th 2006, 3:41 pm

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- House Speaker Todd Hiett opened the debate over the state budget Tuesday by proposing more than $500-million in tax cuts.

He also is calling for rejection of state Senate plans to accelerate teacher pay raises and expand a state-funded college scholarship program.

His budget plan dedicates much of the state's surplus revenue to one-time projects, including proposed cancer and diabetes centers and a new research tower for the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation.

Hiett is endorsing an income tax bill that would reduce Oklahoma's top income tax rate from 6.25 percent to 4.9 percent.