Gov. Fallin’s statement on special session

OKLAHOMA CITY – Gov. Mary Fallin on Friday issued the following statement on the special session of the Oklahoma Legislature:

“As we end week three of the special session, I am disappointed in the lack of progress. Even though the Capitol will be closed next week because the electrical infrastructure will be replaced as part of the building’s renovation, we will continue to work to find agreement on addressing the objectives before us.

“We must see progress in filling the $215 million budget hole with recurring revenue and funding a pay raise for teachers. Every day that goes by without an agreement is a lost opportunity to fill the hole and fund the raise. A couple of weeks ago, I handed legislators a document with plenty of ideas on how to address these goals. My hope was that we would be further down the road using that framework to negotiate a deal, but unfortunately we are not.

“It is important to acknowledge we cannot and will not find the perfect solution. All Oklahomans want Oklahoma to be known as a great place to live, work, invest and raise a family. So we can’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good. We have had many conversations with leaders and members of both parties, and we will continue those conversations until we find a solution. Let’s prove to Oklahomans that we can solve difficult problems at a time of great division in our country.”