Oklahoma legislators vow to work with businesses

The main priority will be dealing with the state's next fiscal year budget during the session which begins Feb. 7, they told members of The State Chamber.

Fallin told members of The State Chamber during its public affairs forum that she will be “a team player to help you move Oklahoma forward.”

She repeated one of her campaign themes that a main priority will be creating jobs and “getting Oklahoma's economy back on track.”

“That's going to be my No. 1 goal — focusing on jobs, the economy, creating the really best business atmosphere,” said Fallin, who will be the state's first female governor when she takes office Jan. 10. “It's critical that you have a governor who is engaged, who you know is willing to help you.

“We have many Oklahomans who are unemployed, many Oklahomans who are underemployed.”

House Speaker-elect Kris Steele, who just completed two days of caucus meetings, said House Republicans are committed to legislation that would develop an environment in the state that is conducive to job growth, job creation and job enhancement. Restructuring of the tax code as well as streamlining government to eliminate waste and duplication are other key ideas.

“Given the current condition of the economy, people in Oklahoma want to make sure that they have adequate job opportunities,” said Steele, R-Shawnee.

“In dealing with families, the issue that I think causes more families trouble than any other issue are finances,” said Steele, a minister. “Plenty of job opportunities actually help to strengthen our families.”

The GOP House agenda will be released next month, but it will include protecting constitutional rights, such as gun ownership, and traditional family values, Steele said. About 70 people protested earlier this week outside the closed meetings asking that social legislation be included among House Republican goals, but Steele did not mention tougher anti-immigration laws or seeking open-carry measures that some had been advocating.

A preliminary estimate at how much money lawmakers will have to spend next year won't be available until later this month, but a couple of them said revenue shortfalls could be as much as 10 percent of the state's budget. They said the revenue shortfall could be between $400 million and $650 million; and unlike the past two fiscal years, legislators won't have federal matching funds and much less available savings on hand to deal with the shortfall. This year's budget is $6.7 billion.