Reasons for worry and hope in the next Legislature (Capitol Updates)

Steve Lewis served as Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives from 1989-1991. He currently practices law in Tulsa and represents clients at the Capitol.

Thinking about the budget problems facing next year’s Legislature would give anyone a headache. Due to the use of “one-time” money in this year’s budget and an Oklahoma economy that continues to decline — or at least fail to recover — the new Legislature is predicted to face another “budget hole” on the order of $600 to $700 million. Moreover, last month’s general revenue fund receipts were 12.4 percent less than the estimate used to appropriate this year’s budget. That estimate was made last February, only seven months ago! The underlying fundamentals of the estimate were not wrong, but the Oklahoma economy is just not living up to its potential.

Meanwhile, all the problems caused by the past seven years of budget cuts are piling up, making the thought of another round of cuts in the upcoming Legislature even more disturbing. There are some hopeful signs. There’s a citizen initiative on the ballot next month (SQ 779) that would provide some earmarked money for teacher raises and for common, career tech, and higher education. If it passes it wouldn’t make up for the losses of the past 7 years, but it might cauterize the wounds. Another citizen initiative (SQ 780 and 781) would lessen the harsh penalties for simple drug possession and some property crimes and allocate the savings for rehabilitative services. If these pass they will provide some relief, but not much for the “budget hole” legislators will be facing.

Another possible sign of relief is there will be lots of new faces at the Capitol. That’s not to say our current predicament is the fault of the legislators terming out or leaving the Legislature this year. I have no doubt that all of them spent their time doing what they thought was right for the state — or at least what they thought their constituents wanted them to do. And a lot of our current problems have their roots in the actions of previous Legislatures, even way back in the day when I was privileged to serve. Those who are leaving now, especially those who served in leadership positions, have given it their best shot and are bound to be worn smooth. At the very least, the new group will have a chance to make their own mistakes, and they may actually fix some stuff.

I’m encouraged by the candidates I’ve seen running for the next Legislature. Some remind me of those who came to the Legislature toward the end of my service after a similar stretch of painful budget and political years. Some have blood in their eye; they’re ready to kick tail and take names. Others seem ready to put their idealism and best efforts to work on the tough issues that need fixing. It’s not an easy thing to take a stand and convince people to do what they otherwise wouldn’t do — and perhaps don’t want to do — but that’s the definition of leadership. Let’s hope there are enough among the new crop of members to join forces with those already there and get Oklahoma on a better path.