Oklahoma lawmakers to convene second special session today

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) – Oklahoma lawmakers are headed back to the Capitol yet again to address a budget shortfall that, left unfixed, could lead to major provider rate cuts to the state’s Medicaid agency on Jan. 1.

Monday marks the second special session this year in Oklahoma. Lawmakers adjourned their regular session after passing a cigarette tax that was later found unconstitutional. A first special session ended with a veto by Gov. Mary Fallin, who said that lawmakers needed to come up with long-term solutions to the state’s budget woes, not a temporary fix.

Fallin issued her call for this week’s special session late Friday night, and it included just one item: addressing budget issues facing the Oklahoma Health Care Authority. But the governor can expand the scope of the session if she chooses.