GOP Senator Repeats Call for Passage of ‘Stand-still’ Budget to Prevent Government Shutdown

Senate Democrats’ obstruction of tax cuts, budget continues

(State Capitol, Oklahoma City) – With Senate Democrat leaders continuing their obstruction of tax cuts and the state budget, a Republican leader in the Oklahoma State Senate said the Legislature should pass a stand-still budget as insurance against a government shutdown.

“The only way to guarantee that the state government will not shut down three weeks from now is to put a stand-still budget in place. This would act as a safety net while negotiations continue, and could be adjusted with a final budget agreement,” stated Assistant Senate Republican Leader Owen Laughlin, repeating a suggestion made by Senate GOP leaders last month.

“The state Legislature is now two weeks late on a budget, yet Senate Democrat leader Mike Morgan and the Senate Democrats continue their obstruction of the state budget and tax relief. There is a real risk that Sen. Morgan will force a government shutdown if he doesn’t get his way in budget negotiations,” said Laughlin, R-Woodward.

A “stand-still” general appropriations bill would ensure that state agencies would continue to be funded at their current levels after July 1 until a final budget is in place. Laughlin said a general appropriations bill could be passed as soon as next week.

The state’s fiscal year ends June 30. Without a new budget in place before then, the state government will shut down on July 1, when the new fiscal year begins.