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Oklahoma
State Senate
Communications Division
State Capitol
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73105
For Immediate Release: January 26, 2010
Sen. John Ford
Ford Applauds Gov. for Joining in Support
of Higher Rainy Day Cap
State Sen. John
Ford said he was encouraged by Gov. Brad Henry's announcement
that he supported increasing the cap on the state's Rainy Day Fund.
Ford originally filed legislation raising the cap from 10 to 15
percent to be heard in the 2007 session, however that measure did
not make it into law. This past November he announced he had filed
the same proposal with Senate Joint Resolution 47 and would push
for its passage in the 2010 legislative session.
"When I first filed this legislation for the 2007 session,
the economy was good and there wasn't a lot of interest in raising
the cap. Obviously, that's all changed now, and I'm pleased to see
the governor has voiced his support for this measure," Ford
said. “I’m only sorry there wasn't more support earlier
on for this concept."
Ford, the Republican Caucus Chairman and chair of the Senate Education
Committee, said if the higher cap had already been in place, Oklahoma
would have a much larger cushion to ease the impact of the current
budget shortfall. The senator, who represents Craig, Washington
and Nowata counties, said once approved by the House and Senate,
the measure would then go to a vote of the people.
"We could have had an emergency fund of nearly $900 million,
compared to the $600 million in the Rainy Day Fund today,"
Ford said. "The oil bust of the 1980's taught us the importance
of having an emergency savings account. This recession has shown
us we need to expand that fund."
For more information contact:
Sen. Ford: 405-521-5634
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