Hopefully this won't hurt the local economy too much, but looks like Sept. is when some furloughs, layoffs, ending private contracts, etc. may start taking toll, some has already.

http://www.ok.gov/treasurer/documents/July%20Revenue%20PR%208-11-09.pdf

Everyone please keep your fingers crossed that natural gas prices will rebound soon. It is devastating our state's revenues.

Also, it is probably putting Chesapeake and other companies in a very precarious position, despite whatever their PR departments are saying.

As goes the international economy, so will go gas prices.

At any rate, we have a Republican government in Oklahoma which is supposedly in favor of small government. Well... they got their wish, so now's their chance. Which agencies can we do away with?

At any rate, we have a Republican government in Oklahoma which is supposedly in favor of small government. Well... they got their wish, so now's their chance. Which agencies can we do away with?

We can do away with probably half the Dept. of Education, the most bloated and incompetent agency we currently have.

Unless it has changed drastically in the past 15 years you can just walk around the offices in the state buildings and pick off 40% of the budget by canning the ones reading magazines at 9:30 AM when they are already done with their daily work

If there's not a special session soon, we can all and should all be aware or made aware that our legislators are cowards. They force the state treasurer to make indiscriminant cuts when they could have done something to justify their exorbitant salaries and held special session to deal with the looming budget crisis.

How much do they make?

$38,400/year. Session is limited to 160 calendar days.

They are the third-highest paid part-time legislature in the country.

In addition, the powers that be in each chamber make a tad more for their efforts -

The Speaker and Senate Pro Tem each receive an additional $17,932 annually.

The Floor Leader of each party, the Appropriations Chair , the Assistant Majority Floor Leader (Senate) and the Speaker Pro Tem (House) each make an additional $12,364

$38,400/year. Session is limited to 160 calendar days.

They are the third-highest paid part-time legislature in the country.

The list of reasons for me to get into politics grows everyday...