OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — The Oklahoma Legislature would join neighboring Arkansas and six other states that spend every other year dedicated exclusively to working on and writing a budget under a proposal that is gaining momentum among lawmakers.
Members of the Senate Rules Committee discussed a proposal Monday that would send the issue to a vote of the people.
The idea has been discussed for years, but picked up momentum last session with the support of Senate President Pro Tem Brian Bingman. The Sapulpa Republican says he'd like to see more members engaged in budget discussions and not distracted by thousands of policy bills that are introduced every year.
Under Bingman's proposal, the Legislature would still meet every year, but spend every other session dealing strictly with the budget and appropriations bills.