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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 17, 2017
Governor Mary Fallin Vetoes Most of Revised Budget Bill, Preserves Funding for Core Health, Human Services
OKLAHOMA CITY – Governor Mary Fallin this evening vetoed most of the revised budget bill
approved by legislators in special session. She kept intact parts of the bill
that temporarily preserve funding for key health and human services until
lawmakers return in another special session to approve long-term funding
solutions.
Lawmakers
failed to act on other requests the governor made in her call for a special
session, such as addressing a long-term solution to continuing budget
shortfalls; the need for more consolidation and other efficiencies in all areas
of state government; clarifying intended exemptions to the new 1.25 percent
sales tax on vehicles; and a pay increase for K-12 public school teachers.
The
governor vetoed all but five of the 170 sections contained in House Bill 1019X,
which was passed earlier in the day by the state Senate and approved earlier
this week by the House of Representatives.
“House
Bill 1019X does not provide a long-term solution to the re-occurring budget
deficits, and within three months we will come back facing an estimated $600 million shortfall,” she said.
Fallin
said her action results in amending the general appropriations bill approved in
May by lawmakers during the regular legislative session.
“This
will preserve a safety net for core health and human services until legislators
come back for a second special session, which I intend to call in the near
future,” said Fallin.
Fallin’s action keeps intact a $30 million
emergency appropriation to the Department of Health, which will allow the
agency to make its next payroll and be funded without cuts through the
remainder of this fiscal year, which ends June 30.
Her action will provide funding for the short
term for three health care agencies that were facing severe cuts because they
were to receive most of the $215 million earmarked in a proposed cigarette
cessation fee, which was struck down as unconstitutional earlier this year. The
Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, the Department of
Human Services and the Oklahoma Health Care Authority were facing cuts unless
revisions were made in the current fiscal year budget.
“My
action avoids immediate health and human services cuts and provides time for
legislators to come back and approve revenue proposals that can provide a
permanent fix,” Fallin said.
“As governor, I would like nothing more than
to adequately fund agencies. The constant budget crisis has put us in survival
mode. I want us to thrive. We will thrive when we can adequately and
consistently fund our core services. That will happen when we find sustainable
and predictable revenue sources.”
Fallin said she vetoed most of HB 1019X because
it came perilously close to using most of the state’s available one-time funds
in various accounts and drawing down on available savings in the Rainy Day
Fund. Signing the measure would have left the state with few available funds to
deal with an estimated shortfall of more than $600 million in the next regular
legislative session, which begins in February.
The governor’s action will result in doing
away with $60 million in cuts to state agencies and using $60 million from
revolving funds, as called for in HB 1019X. The measure also called for using
more than half of the state’s $83 million in cash reserves; a smaller amount
will be used as a result of the governor’s line-item veto.
“Our inability to find a long-term
solution to our budget problem puts our citizens and our economy at risk,”
said Fallin. “We cannot give up. We must find solutions. Our
citizens want a state government that works for them. They are
tired of gamesmanship and want leadership. As difficult as it
might be to return to the state Capitol, we must do so. As governor, I
pledge, as I have done throughout this difficult period, to work with the Legislature. We
came so close, with over 70 percent of the House and over 75 percent of the
Senate voting for a viable budget plan.
“Some
legislative leaders have stated that revenue measures will be taken up in
February when lawmakers return in regular session,” Fallin said. “But I am very
skeptical because next year is an election year and the pressure not to do
anything will be greater.
“We must find sustainable, predictable
recurring revenue to fund our core services and get us out of the constant
crisis. Let’s finish our work for the sake of our great state and our hardworking
people. I love this state and her people, and I will continue to work
tirelessly with the Legislature for them.”
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 Governor Mary Fallin on Friday evening signs paperwork vetoing most of House Bill 1019X, a revised budget bill approved by legislators in special session. She kept intact parts of the bill that temporarily preserve funding for key health and human services until lawmakers return in another special session to approve long-term funding solutions.
Web: www.governor.ok.gov
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