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For Immediate Release: May 16,
2005 OKLAHOMA CITY (May 16, 2005) – State leaders today unveiled a bipartisan agreement to provide significant new investment in Oklahoma’s roads and bridges without raising taxes. The plan would gradually increase annual road and bridge spending to a sustained level of $170 million – using surplus revenue in state coffers without raising taxes. The plan will phase in at $34 million each year until the $170 million figure is reached in Fiscal Year 2011. “Oklahoma’s road and bridges have long needed the help that is provided by this funding plan,” said Governor Brad Henry. “Ensuring economic success and public safety means that we must maintain an accessible, dependable and – above all else – safe network of roads and bridges. Today’s agreement is emblematic of what can result from true bipartisanship, and I commend the Senate and House leaders of both parties for their efforts on behalf of Oklahoma.” “In announcing this bipartisan agreement today, we’re making our state’s roads and bridges a top priority,” said Speaker Todd Hiett (R-Kellyville). “With this plan, we’ll begin to address safety concerns about deficient roads and bridges. And we’ll provide Oklahoma with a much-needed boost for economic development.” “We stand here together in the spirit of bipartisanship to tell the people of this state that help is on the way to make Oklahoma highways safer for our families,” said Senate President Pro Tempore Mike Morgan (D-Stillwater) “This significant investment in road and bridge maintenance could not have happened without bipartisan support from the Legislature. And today all Oklahomans can be proud of the compromises made by both parties to make the roads and bridges safer and Oklahoma a better place to call home.” Senator Morgan praised Senator Kenneth Corn (D-Poteau) for offering a responsible funding solution to address the maintenance needs of the state’s deteriorating roads and bridges. “Because of the leadership shown by Senator Corn and support from the Senate Democrats the plan being announced today uses growth revenue to fund the repair and replacement of the most dangerous bridges in the country while maintaining funds to operate critical services upon which all Oklahomans depend,” Morgan said. Hiett commended Rep. Jim Newport (R-Tulsa), vice chair of the House Appropriations and Budget Committee; Rep. Mark Liotta (R-Tulsa), chair of the House Appropriation Subcommittee on General Government and Transportation; and Rep. Fred Perry (R-Tulsa), chair of the House Transportation Committee. The three House lawmakers worked to develop the road and bridge funding plan throughout the legislative session. “Representatives Newport and Liotta have led the way on this issue for years,” said Hiett. “They have developed a fiscally-responsible way of funding road and bridge construction and maintenance needs. And they have offered an innovative solution that does not place a new burden on taxpayers.” Under the bipartisan agreement announced today, the state will also fund debt service obligations for the Oklahoma Department of Transportation. And the plan spells out a “lockbox” provision – a feature that will help keep future legislatures from diverting the new money for roads and bridges to other purposes.
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