Tulsa World
Gov. Mary Fallin met behind closed doors with Republican House members on Monday to generate support for a funding plan for the mothballed American Indian Cultural Center and Museum.
The Senate has passed Senate Bill 1651, which would tap the state’s Unclaimed Property Fund for $40 million that would be matched with $40 million in private donations.
The measure is pending before the House Appropriations and Budget Committee, which meets Wednesday. It must clear that committee before it can be heard on the House floor.
But House Speaker Jeff Hickman, R-Fairview, said he will not bring the measure to the House floor unless he knows at least 51 Republicans will vote for it. Republicans control the House with 72 members to 29 Democrats.
The House author of the measure, Rep. David Dank, R-Oklahoma City, said he believes that if the measure comes to the House floor, it will pass with Republican and Democrat support.
Fallin said she “encouraged them to finish the project, quick kicking the can down the road, and that it is important for the state to be able to get a resolution and do something on the Native American Cultural Center.”
Hey, Gov., how bout spreading some of that 40M you want for that hill south of I40 on the school storm shelters? Sounds like a better investment to me.