State Democrats Push Shorter Session To Save Money

By Dave Jordan, NEWS 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- State democrats are pushing to cut cost by cutting the legislative session by two months.

"Anything we can do in this legislative session that could shorten the session we could take the money that we save and put it in those areas that are needed," Senator Earl Garrison, of Muskogee, said.

Garrison said Oklahoma is going through the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression and the session needs to cut costs. He said cutting back on the session could save about $137,000 a week in legislative costs.

The measure is not getting any support from House and Senate leadership. Speaker Pro Tem Glenn Coffee and House Speaker Chris Benge said despite the tough budget year, the people's business needs to be done.

"If the will was there among both parties, we could get the legislative session done two months early, maybe even more," said State Sen. Andrew Rice, D-Oklahoma City.

But House Speaker Chris Benge said it is not practical or feasible to cut the session short despite the economic climate.

"My initial read on it is that it's seems to be short-sighted in my view," Benge said. "The budget doesn't have to suck the wind out of the whole session. There are a lot of policy measures that I think are important to position Oklahoma to grow and prosper in the future."

Benge's colleague in the Senate agreed.

"We need to focus on the priorities that each of our constituents asked us to come focus on," said State Sen. Glenn Coffee, R-Pro Tem.

Ironically, leaders said the budget is one of the reasons the session should run its normal course because they're working to cut government waste by consolidating some agencies. Once they do that, it's easier to set estimates for the next fiscal year.

"If we can get that done and be out a few weeks early, I'm all in favor of that," Coffee said.

There has also been talk about the legislature meeting every other year, as is the case in Texas. Both Benge and Coffee said they oppose that idea citing the frequency of Special Sessions in Texas, which tends to cost the legislature more money than a regular session.

State Treasurer Scott Meacham also said a shorter session would not result in huge savings.