FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 6, 2011

House Democrats Stand Against Borrow and Spend Republican Budget

House Democrats held a press conference today to stand in solidarity against the borrow and spend measures Gov. Fallin is proposing to balance the budget and address the budget shortfalls. They also expressed dissatisfaction with the lack of proposals coming from the Governor and Republican leadership that deal with inefficient tax credits and exemptions.

Democratic Leader Scott Inman (D-Del City) said Fallin has not followed through with her previous statements  in her State of the State Address that said she would look at tax credits that do not bring jobs in.

“Nowhere in her Executive Budget or in the conversations that have followed has the $5.2 billion in tax credits and exemptions lost each year been seriously discussed,” Inman said.

Representative Mike Brown (D-Tahlequah) said Fallin’s plans are built from a borrow and spend mentality and would cost taxpayers more than $52 million in interest on her proposal to borrow $200 million. Brown also discussed the negative effects these further cuts will have on the state’s most vital agencies.

“Over the last few years, our agencies have already lost 15 to 20 percent of their budgets,” Brown said. “There is another 3 percent proposed cuts on education, health and human services and public safety. How can we expect any of our agencies to succeed in their core missions?”

Todd Goodman, Chairman of the Oklahoma Democratic Party, said he stands with the House Democrats in opposition to the Governor and Republican Leadership’s borrow and spend mentality when addressing the state budget.

“I think it’s sad Republican leadership is not willing to look at any of the $5 billion tax credits and exemptions they give each year--yet insist on continuing to gut agencies that serve our most vulnerable citizens,” Goodman said. “It is absolutely wrong to balance the budget on the backs of the middle class and those who have already sacrificed so much during this recession. One has to ask, who exactly do these seasoned Republican politicians represent? Their constituents or the special interests who fund their campaigns?”

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