Thoughts on 5 ways to fix the budget (Steve Lewis 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. You can sign up on his website to receive the Capitol Updates newsletter by email.

Last week Wayne Greene of the Tulsa World wrote a commentary in which he offered 5 suggestions to “reform” the state budget process.  None would require a constitutional amendment or vote of the people.  I think he has some good ideas.  His suggestions:

1. Stop taking tax revenue off the books for future legislatures, and stop funding state government on “excess” fees.
2. Stop the secret budget talks.
3. Involve the entire legislature.
4. Don’t use a general appropriations bill;
5. Don’t wait until the end of the session to pass a budget.

The bad news is, as I’m sure Wayne knows, all 5 of his suggestions will never happen, at least all at once.  The good news is they don’t have to — in pure form and every year.  In order of each suggestion:

1. When a consensus develops that something is important enough to guarantee its funding for several years it’s probably going to happen.  And in tough budget times the legislature is going to look for loose cash where they can find it.  The problem right now is that these actions have gotten to be a habit and use too much of available funding.  The current crop of budget leaders can fix that. 
2. Some budget discussions will always take place behind closed doors.  But the system could allow better for questions, discussion and debate on budget bills at a time when it can make a difference.  When the budget bills come through the appropriations committees and floor the first time, members should be allowed to offer amendments.  It’s been done that way before.  Later, after the “budget agreement” the conference committee reports cannot be amended.  It has to be that way since a balanced budget is a zero sum game.  If you add to one agency budget it has to be taken away from another.  But the debates and votes that happen out in the open early in the process will give budget negotiators some guidance for the end product and give members a chance to be heard. 
3. See 2 above.  This will better involve the entire legislature.
4. Not using a general appropriations bill is the best idea of the 5.  When each agency budget is appropriated in its own separate bill it gives members something they can get their head around and participate in and vote against.  In the recent past the general appropriation bill came in vogue because it doesn’t take a 2/3 vote to go into effect immediately.  When the political parties were more evenly divided the minority could hold up the budget by stopping the emergency clause on individual agency bills.  But now with well over 2/3 of each house all the Republicans have to do is get along with each other to get the 2/3 vote.  It may not be easy, but it was done that way for years-and it gives more people the opportunity to have their view considered.
5. Committed, passionate people whether they are Republican or Democratic, liberal or conservative or whatever are not going to give up and compromise until there’s a deadline.  That usually comes at the end of the session, but the rules could be changed to make it earlier.