For Immediate Release: May 22, 2006


Senator Glenn Coffee

Sen. Coffee Proposes Passing “Standstill” Budget to Head off Possible Government Shutdown

- GOP Leader Concerned That Senate Dem Leaders Want to Shut Down State Government

With little progress being made in budget negotiations, Senate Republican Leader Glenn Coffee said the State Legislature should pass a standstill general appropriations bill this week to ensure a government shutdown does not occur if a final budget agreement is not reached before July 1, the beginning of the state’s fiscal year.

“The best way to ensure there will not be a government shutdown is to pass a standstill budget early this week that could serve as a safety net while negotiations on the final budget continue. This would ensure that vital state services would continue to be funded at last year’s record budget levels even if a final budget is not agreed to before July 1,” Coffee said.

But Coffee is concerned that Senate Democrat leaders might not support his safety net proposal for political reasons.

“I am concerned that the Senate’s Democrat leaders have planned all along to engineer an election-year government shutdown,” stated Coffee, R-Oklahoma City. “This would certainly explain why they have spent the past three months talking about a special session and why they have rejected the Henry-Hiett compromise budget.”

Coffee said Senate Republicans are still talking to moderate Democrat senators, hoping to find two statesmen who would join with Republicans and the governor to support the compromise budget and avert a government shutdown.

There are 25 Democrats and 23 Republicans in the State Senate. 25 votes are needed to pass legislation in the Senate.

For more information, contact:
Senate Republican Leadership Assistant's Office: (405) 521-5654