State of Oklahoma Archives: on Budget & Economy

James Lankford: The debt problem is a spending problem not a tax problem

Our code should respect, not punish, people who work hard, play by the rules and make a good living. We also should not tax people when they die and take money from their family. That is immoral. We must eliminate the death tax.

Kevin Stitt: Cut waste, rather than new taxes, for growth

"His solution is always more taxes on hardworking Oklahomans," Stitt responded. Stitt said finding more money for state agencies will require cutting waste, stronger leadership and wisely spending $1 billion in new revenue coming to the state this year. "Our economy is starting to boom but our state has not captured that growth like it should," Stitt said.

"Mr. Stitt is doing what any good salesman would do, he is trying to tell you what you want to hear," said Edmondson, who added increasing taxes was the only way to truly invest in the state.

"There he goes again," Stitt responded. "It's always about new revenue, new taxes."

Kevin Stitt: Create a level playing field for competition

Cornett is expected to gain support from the independent oil industry, while Stitt would be backed by Chamber of Commerce members and the largest oil producers.

Kevin Stitt: State budget needs audits and line-item budgeting

Mick Cornett: History of developing budget based on needs of the community

Chris Powell: Market-led recovery better than stimulus

A: Strongly oppose

Joe Maldonado: Market-led recovery better than stimulus

A: No.

Connie Johnson: Revenue is part of the problem

• End balancing the state budget through the use of one-time revenues.
• Prioritize our most critical issues like public education.
• Generate sufficient revenue to avert further budget cuts and invest in key priorities.
• Acknowledge that revenue is part of the problem and modernize the tax system while ending special interest giveaways.
• Increase legislative oversight and reduce the potential for future revenue failures.

Gary Jones: Cut budget without losing core services

Gary Richardson: Curb wasteful spending in our state government

As an Assistant Insurance Commissioner, I observed an immense amount of wasteful spending both in the hiring of unneeded staff as well as in expenditures. For example, at the end of the year, we would be encouraged to make requests for new furniture to make sure we spent all of our budget. This is not the way to spend our tax dollars!

We must investigate the entire state government and address any misuse or wasteful spending our tax dollars. The only way to deal with this systematic corruption and waste is to demand a forensic audit of these agencies, trusts, and authorities. Only then can we truly know if every dollar is spent wisely.

James Inhofe: Free enterprise is the key to national prosperity

Inhofe: Strongly Agree

Joe Dorman: Prosperity requires more than making irresponsible cuts

A recent national study concluded that nearly half--49.1%--of Oklahoma households are in a persistent state of financial insecurity. One in four Oklahoman children go to bed hungry every night.

A strong economy that benefits all Oklahomans depends on our ability to create jobs and attract new business to our great state. As a leader, I believe it is a moral imperative that we take fiscally responsible steps to ensure the opportunity for all Oklahomans to earn a living wage for a hard day's work. Government should work for all Oklahomans, not the special interests.

T.W. Shannon: Debt is a form of slavery

Shannon the Baptist Sunday School teacher quotes Sacred Scripture about the evils of debt--including allusions to debt as a form of slavery. Lankford the ordained Southern Baptist preacher fluently cites framers of free-market economic theories. T.W. Shannon has been a consistent foe of the Affordable Care Act; James Lankford was elected in part based on his predictions that ObamaCare would destroy the health-care system and that its mandates boost long-term debt.

In Congress, Lankford fights presidential overreach from the Legislature. Shannon assails federal interference with legislative state prerogatives and authority--and empowered an ally to form a "State's Rights" Committee to press against federal encroachment.

Matt Silverstein: Ban earmarks & cut spending to reduce debt

We need to stop wasting our money on bad investments. Matt agrees that we must permanently ban earmarks. We will never get our fiscal house in order if we follow the advice of career politicians like Jim Inhofe who defend pork barrel politics such as earmarks, which allows every member of Congress to waste our money on their own personal pet projects. Too many politicians, Republicans and Democrats, think big spending is okay as long as it's "their spending" and that has to change.

We'll never get our fiscal house in order with pork barrel politics and Matt will bring a breath of fresh air by attacking the waste, fraud, and abuse that comes from BOTH political parties in Washington DC.

Rick Weiland: Federal shutdown is more than wrong; it is shameful

Weiland, who has called the shutdown a sellout to an extremist Republican minority that is representative of neither the American public, nor even the Republican Party, said Rounds should be ashamed of his support for the most irresponsible political position taken by a major party in the last 50 years. "This is pandering to extremism in its crudest form. Mike Rounds believes in his heart the shutdown blackmail game of the extreme right is wrong. We need to re-open the government and pass the Farm Bill." Weiland added. "It is a disgrace that Republicans are playing politics with Head Start programs and the Social Security benefits that our seniors depend on. It's more than wrong, it is shameful," Weiland continued.

Brad Henry: Increase the Rainy Day Fund from 10% to 15% of revenue

We must also ensure that our emergency fund is adequate to meet our future needs. This year, I ask for your support in raising the cap on Rainy Day Fund deposits from 10 percent to 15 percent of general revenue collections. We owe that to the people of this state.

Brad Henry: Surgical budget cuts to close $600M budget hole

In this demanding economic environment, we must make difficult decisions. But, just as the Chinese character for "crisis" also denotes "opportunity," so, too, do the challenges we face present an opportunity to improve government.

Today, I have placed before you a balanced budget that makes precise, surgical cuts while protecting vital state functions such as education, healthcare, transportation and public safety. Through efficiencies and savings that range from purchasing reforms to consolidated information technologies, we can help ensure a government of greater effectiveness and excellence.

Andrew Rice: Government’s basic functions must be well funded