House Speaker speaks on passage of bills appropriating funding for health agencies

Speaker Charles McCall.

House Speaker Charles McCall issued the following statement today after the House of Representatives passed several appropriations bills to provide funding for three agencies affected by the $215 million budget shortfall.

The House approved House Bill 1081, which appropriates $23.3 million from the Rainy Day Fund to the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, House Bill 1082, which appropriates $29.4 million to the Oklahoma Health Care Authority, House Bill 1083, which appropriates $24.9 million to the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services and House Bill 1084, which appropriates $29 million to the Oklahoma Department of Human Services. The appropriations will allow those agencies to continue to provide full services and programs through April 2018.

“We have said repeatedly that we would not allow those three vital health agencies absorb the entire $215 budget shortfall. After weeks of attempting to find compromise on revenue raising options without success, House Republicans have decided to ensure our most vulnerable citizens will continue to receive assistance. We will continue to seek ways to fill the entire budget shortfall, but today’s actions ensure those health services and programs will continue without interruption into April of 2018. I encourage my colleagues in the Senate to take up these bills tomorrow and pass them quickly for the citizens of Oklahoma.” — House Speaker Charles McCall