Legislature gets “C” from State Treasurer Ken Miller

C

In State Treasurer Ken Miller’s latest Oklahoma Economic Report, he graded the recently-concluded legislative session a “C,” stating the legislature ended the session with a balanced budget that avoided dreaded worst case scenarios.

Writing in the report, Miller said the budget was a most difficult challenge but what the legislature came up with “leaves significant structural reform on the table.”

The “C” grade, according to Miller is also based on the letter grade that several state leaders gave the legislative session. Governor Mary Fallin graded it a C+. She was joined by Senate President Pro Tempore Brian Bingman who gave it a B-, House Speaker Jeff Hickman who graded it a B, State Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Fred Morgan who gave it a B-, Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs President Jonathan Small who came up with a B, Oklahoma Public Policy Institute Executive Director David Blatt who said it deserved a D, Oklahoma Education Association President Alicia Priest who awarded it a C and Oklahoma Public Employees Association Director Sterling Zearley who gave it an F.

The grades were awarded as Treasurer Miller noted that gross oil and gas tax collections had reached a 17-year low in April. The $20.8 million in monthly collections from oil and natural gas production was the lowest since May 1999. The April collection was also the 16th straight month that collections were less than the same month of the prior year.