Senate Democrats, Republicans Reach Budget Deal

By Dave Jordan, NEWS 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Senate leaders have reached a deal that would provide emergency funding for the senior nutrition program and public safety.

Senate President Pro Tem Glenn Coffee, R-Oklahoma City, said Wednesday he would work to fund the senior meals program for the 2011 fiscal year in exchange for Democrat votes needed to complete the 2010 budget deal.

Democrats said they voted against the measure because it didn't' include funding for senior nutrition programs. Republicans now said the Democrats actions could comprise public safety.

Democrats voted against the measure Monday that would have transferred $30 million from the unclaimed property fund toward state agencies.

Officials at the Department of Public Safety and the Department of Correction said without that money, furloughs and layoffs would happen.

But Democratic Senator Kenneth Corn dismisses that statement and said Republicans are waging a campaign of fear and the funding to prevent DPS and DOC layoffs exists.

Corn closed ranks with Senate Democrats and voted against the budget agreement because it did not include $2.5 million in funding for the Senior Nutrition Program.

As part of the 2011 budget agreement the senior nutrition program will be moved out of DHS and placed in another state agency that has yet to be named.

House Speaker Chris Benge Released this Comment on the Senate Passage of FY10 Budget:

"I am proud that Sen. Coffee stood his ground against nothing more than a political stunt that risked Oklahomans' public safety," said House Speaker Chris Benge, R-Tulsa. "Passing a budget that was the result of bipartisan negotiations should not have been this hard, and luckily it wasn't in the House. I have always said everything is on the table as we continue fiscal year 2011 negotiations, and nothing has changed."

Gov. Brad Henry Released this Statement on the End of Budget Impasse:

"I appreciate the hard work of Republican and Democratic legislative leaders, particularly Senate Democratic Leader Charlie Laster and Senate President Pro Tempore Glenn Coffee. It would have been very easy for both of them to throw up their hands and walk away from this budget impasse, but to their credit, they kept the lines of communication open, continued negotiations and struck a compromise that benefits everyone.

"I look forward to working with Senate Democrats and Republicans to implement their compromise agreement to move the senior nutrition program to a new agency and ensure that it is fairly funded in the FY 2011 budget that begins July 1. I believe we should do everything we can to preserve the senior nutrition program and I will be working with Democratic and Republican lawmakers to accomplish that goal this session."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.