Oklahoman
The Oklahoma Legislature on Thursday concluded its regular 2021 legislative session after lawmakers passed a state budget for the upcoming fiscal year and sent a record number of bills to Gov. Kevin Stitt s desk.
But like so many items voted on by the legislature, opinions about the session were divided on party lines.
Republican legislative leaders praised the accomplishments of their supermajorities in both chambers. Democrats, on the other hand, were critical of many policy priorities pursued by their colleagues across the aisle.
House Speaker Charles McCall, R-Atoka, called this session the most comprehensive, policy-focused session in the nine years he s served in the legislature. Senate Pro Tem Greg Treat, R-Oklahoma City, called it his most successful session yet.
By Janelle Stecklein/ CNHI State Reporter May 25, 2021
May 25, 2021
Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt speaks during a news conference, Monday, May 17, 2021, in Oklahoma City. Oklahoma will end a $300-a-week federal supplemental unemployment benefit next month. Sue Ogrocki
OKLAHOMA CITY â Even as Gov. Kevin Stitt inked his name on the stateâs $8.8 billion budget Monday, Democratic lawmakers demanded that Republicans ensure future budgeting efforts will be more transparent.
A coalition of House and Senate Democrats want their Republicans colleagues, who hold supermajorities in both legislative chambers, to allow for more public input and to include more minorities and women at the negotiating table going forward.
Budget passes with little time for review, public input By: Trevor Brown Oklahoma Watch May 24, 2021
Oklahoma Senate President Pro Tem Greg Treat, left, poses with Lt. Gov. Matt Pinnell, center, and House Speaker Charles McCall. (Photo by Whitney Bryen/Oklahoma Watch)
It didn’t take long for arguably the most important bill of the 2021 session to work its way through the oftentimes tedious and laborious legislative process.
A week and three hours after Gov. Kevin Stitt and Republican leaders announced the framework of the state’s $8.8 billion spending plan, the annual budget bill passed the Legislature Thursday on its way to the governor’s desk.