Education, accountability and criminal justice reform will be the buzz words for the Oklahoma Senate Republicans in the upcoming legislative session. The Senate GOP Caucus has plans to create a legislative budget office and to add protections for the increased funding to public education.
The caucus has come up with a four point agenda to accomplish the Senate GOP goals.
Establish a legislative budget office to provide greater accountability and transparency of taxpayer dollars.
Add more accountability to state government by giving the governor authority to put into place the right leaders at state agencies to turn Oklahoma around.
Honor and protect the $2.9 billion investment in our students and teachers, and we will restore 5-day school weeks, providing for reasonable exemptions, to enhance student outcomes and repair Oklahoma’s national reputation.
Improve access to and provide funding for diversion programs to further criminal justice reform.
“Our agenda is simple and precise but reflects four important areas that will have tremendous long-term impact for Oklahoma,” said Senate President Pro Tempore Greg Treat. “We’ll have more budget transparency by creating a legislative watchdog to give lawmakers more information as we write the budget and measure the success of state programs. Education investment and reform are essential elements of our agenda too because we know they are key to our state reaching its full potential. Finally, advancing criminal justice reform by supporting diversion programs will impact many areas of our state in a positive way. With this agenda, we’re working toward helping Oklahoma achieve a better and brighter future.”
Treat says the goals for the Senate Republicans are on the same page as the goals for Governor Stitt and the House Republicans.
“More cooperation between the Senate, the House and the governor’s office is great news for Oklahoma because we’re all collaborating around ideas that will make a difference long-term for Oklahoma,” Treat said.
The legislative session begins on February 4, 2019, with Stitt’s State of the State address.
