Lawmakers OK Budget

The Oklahoma House gave its approval to a $6.8 billion budget for fiscal 2013 in a 52-to-42 vote Thursday after initially deadlocking 47 to 47.

The Senate passed the same budget earlier in the week, 30 to 15. Passage in the House came after five Republican lawmakers changed their negative votes.

House Speaker Chris Steele, R-Shawnee, said those who changed their votes did the right thing to approve a good budget. "It's obvious a lot of the votes and claims against this budget were based on politics and personalities rather than actual policy," he said.

Rep. Scott Inman, D-Del City, said the Legislature should have allocated to public education and other vital services some of the $314 million surplus that will go into the state's rainy-day fund at the end of fiscal 2012.

"I am not sure what promises or threats were made to these Republicans who caved under what I am sure was incredible political pressure, but they have proven that their allegiance is not to their constituents or even their own personal convictions," he said.

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