Amid furloughs, senators rip House carryover funds

Associated Press

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Democrats in the both the House and Senate are criticizing Republican House leaders for having an estimated $4 million carryover funds amid the state's budget crisis.

Complaints were aired Thursday, one day after the Senate announced a plan to require all of its employees to take 12 furlough days before the end of the year and other cost cutting moves.

State Rep. Scott Inman criticized the carryover balance as a "slush fund" and says some of that money should be used to help ease cuts to critical state services like health care or teacher layoffs.

But House Speaker Chris Benge defended the reserves as prudent management and says appropriations to the House have remained flat over the last several years.