Senator Howard on the State Budget.

In the Weatherford Daily News, Sen. Howard wrote, "Thanks to the Legislature’s fiscal conservatism, we didn’t spend as much as we were authorized to last year. Due to Oklahomans’ determination, our economy made a tremendous rebound and along with the savings from last session, we were able to pass a historic budget of $8.8 billion. This budget protects our core services, restoring cuts that were made last session and increasing most of the more than 60 state agency budgets. Education received a record budget of nearly $3.2 billion, receiving a revenue boost of more than $170 million from last year. This funding level triggers lower class sizes for kindergarten and first grade and provides much-needed new funding for textbooks along with other critical classroom expenses. We’re investing $42 million to help expand broadband services throughout the state, especially in rural Oklahoma. Our state ranks 47th nationally in broadband connectivity, which not only hurts citizens and students trying to work and learn but deters businesses from locating to our state. We live in a digital age, and this provider tax rebate will help more communities get the high-speed internet service they need."

He continued, "This budget also provides much-needed tax relief to Oklahomans and our business community. By reducing the personal and corporate income taxes, we’re putting money back into the pockets of hardworking Oklahomans and the companies who drive our economy. Oklahoma will now have the third lowest corporate income tax of those that have such a tax, and we’ll have one of the 10 lowest personal income taxes nationwide. Even more working families will receive financial relief though the restoration of the state earned income tax credit refundability."

In conclusion, the senator wrote, "Significant investments were also made to improve healthcare. The budget includes $164 million to fund the voter-approved Medicaid expansion. We also restored a historic sales tax credit for OU Health, allowing significantly more nurses and doctors to be trained to address the state’s dangerous shortage of these medical professionals, especially in rural areas like ours. Speaking of rural Oklahoma, more than $15 million will be provided for additional Rural Economic Action Plan (REAP) grants for critical infrastructure projects in small communities of 7,000 or less. Projects include water, transportation and other major infrastructure needs."

Oklahoma and COVID-19.

Senator Howard also said, "Oklahoma, like the rest of the nation, had a difficult 2020. There was no way we could have foreseen or prepared for the widespread impact of the pandemic. Work will continue in the interim to ensure our state has protocols in place and is better prepared in case of any future pandemics."