Quotes of the Day

“I thought that the scariest things that would happen to Henry were his congenital heart diagnosis and a brain injury. But it turns out the most frightening thing in Henry’s life is the state government.”

– Erin Taylor, whose son Henry was born with a complex congenital heart condition, on the potential impacts of cuts to DHS (Source)

“The reality is, State Question 640 is working exactly as Oklahomans intended it to when they passed it two decades ago. They wanted to make it really hard for the Legislature to raise taxes, and I can assure them it is. At this point, it has become increasingly evident that there are likely no options that require 76 votes that can pass in the House.”

– Speaker of the House Charles McCall (R-Atoka) discussing the difficulty of raising new revenue during special session.  A plan that included an increase in the gross production tax failed in committee in the House on Friday (Source)

“We’ve got a problem. If we’re seeing these numbers now, then what’s it going to be during the depths of winter, when we’re going to see killer cold?”

– John 3:16 Mission CEO Steve Whitaker on the increased need for services at the Tulsa homeless shelter, which he attributes to the opioid epidemic (Source)

“It is so much more than this plan. We can do better. So let’s do better because the entire state is watching.”

– State Rep. Forrest Bennett (D-Oklahoma City), who said that he did not vote for Wednesday’s failed revenue measure because he’d learned about what Oklahomans need from the Legislature during Tuesday’s rally (Source) 

“Democrats have made it perfectly clear they will not vote for any plan that does not include a [gross production tax] increase. It’s not on this plan, so there is no way we will have the votes to reach the magical number. It’s not rocket science.”

– Rep. Roger Ford (R-Midwest City), predicting that the budget proposal put forth by Gov. Fallin and House and Senate Republican leadership this week would fail (Source)

“So really after four weeks where nothing has been accomplished, this just seems to be another waste of time. What’s surprising is that Republican leadership refuses to propose or accept the one measure that can unlock a budget agreement which is a higher gross production tax on oil and gas companies.”

– OK Policy Executive Director David Blatt, on the budget proposal announced yesterday by Gov. Fallin and House and Senate GOP leadership. The plan would require Democratic support, but Democrats immediately rejected the plan (Source)

“We plead with our legislators to stop aligning your party affiliation and find a solution to the budget deficit. Compromise on both sides is a must. If we don’t act immediately, we will be killing Oklahomans on a daily basis because we are not providing them the necessary mental health treatment.”

– Midwest City Police Chief Brandon Clabes, speaking on behalf of the Oklahoma Association of Chiefs of Police at a press conference with the Commissioner of the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services. OKDMHSAS announced that it will severely cut outpatient services if lawmakers are not able to strike a budget deal (Source)

“I try my best to always avoid exaggeration, but in this instance, the word ‘catastrophic’ is not hyperbolic. It’s accurate.”

– Mental Health Association Oklahoma CEO Mike Brose on the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services’ plan to eliminate virtually all outpatient treatment if a budget agreement isn’t reached soon (Source)

“There’s a huge humanitarian issue here for people whose lives will seriously be lost due to suicide, due to opioid addiction, but also it’s an economic issue for the business communities, which they’re very concerned. For me, it’s a very harsh public safety issue. You’re going to see homelessness and crime rates increase when people don’t have access to services, and people are unemployed, and then the unemployment rate is going to go up, which is going to impact all these other core functions of government.”

– Melissa Baldwin, director of justice and policy for Mental Health Association Oklahoma, on the announcement that the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services will initiate eliminating nearly all outpatient services in November if the Legislature doesn’t reach a budget deal by then. ODMHSAS reported the cuts will affect almost 189,000 people who are currently receiving outpatient services (Source)

“These cuts are unbearable and will decimate our state’s behavioral health care system. Yet, they are the only choices the agency has left to keep from completely eliminating services for Oklahoma’s most acutely ill.”

– Department of Mental Health Commissioner Terri White, announcing $75 million in cuts – 23 percent of its budget – resulting from the Supreme Court striking down a $1.50 per pack cigarette fee earlier this year (Source)