No budget deal, no session Monday

House spokesman says sides will keep working behind the scenes

Despite calling lawmakers back to the Capitol in hopes that a deal could be reached, the Oklahoma House will not convene Monday.

House Floor Leader Jon Echols emailed his colleagues this week warning them to prepare for a resumption of the special session, which has been on hold since Sept. 27.

However, after several days of no visible progress on budget negotiations and a $30,000 price tag for each day legislators meet, there is little reason to gavel into session.

“The House will not convene on the floor on Monday. There is no agreement so there are no bills to vote on,” House spokesman Jason Sutton said Friday, confirming that lawmakers won’t sit in their chamber next week. “House leadership will continue to negotiate with House Democrats, Senate leadership and the governor. When an agreement is reached, the House will convene.”

House and Senate lawmakers convened special session late last month to

fill a $215 million budget gap. Without a solution, three major state agencies could each lose tens of millions of dollars from this year’s budget.

Gov. Mary Fallin also wants bills that would raise teacher salaries, create government consolidation and efficiency, and address long-term budget problems that have plagued Oklahoma lawmakers for years.

Chief lawmakers are expected to continue meeting with other budget negotiators, but the bulk of House and Senate membership likely won’t return to the Oklahoma Capitol without a deal in place. There will still

be activity, however, as interim studies continue to meet.

Convening just one day of session can cost the state up to $30,000. Much of that goes to lawmakers’ daily allowances, also known as a per diem. Some legislators have volunteered to forgo their per diem; state Rep. Josh Cockroft, R-Wanette, announced Friday he would donate his $153 a day to the 111 Project, a foster care program.

Even if lawmakers restart special session next week, they will run into a previously scheduled Capitol restoration project that will force them back out after just

a few days. Starting the evening of Oct. 13, the building will be without power for at least a week.

The Capitol won’t reopen until Oct. 23. During that time, the Capitol’s antiquated electrical system will be replaced.

“Workers will wear arc-flash suits and use electrical meters to reduce the chance of electrical shock during replacement of the existing 60to 70-year-old main electrical service,” the Capitol Restoration project posted on its website. “Crews will work around the clock putting in about 1,100 labor-hours during the project.”