Capitol Bond Measure To Get Floor Vote
House panel approves $160M Capitol bond measure
By Tim Talley, Associated Press
A plan to authorize a $160 million bond issue to repair Oklahoma’s nearly 100-year-old state Capitol moved closer to final passage Wednesday when it was approved by the powerful House Appropriations and Budget Committee.
Committee members voted 16-8 for the Senate-passed measure and sent it to the full House for a vote in spite of resistance from some members over whether a bond issue is the best way to pay for the project.
Former Oklahoma House Speaker T.W. Shannon, R-Lawton, was a vocal critic of a bond issue, but newly elected Speaker Jeff Hickman, R-Fairview, has said he’s open to discussing the idea with his caucus.
“I think it’s time to get this project going,” said Rep. Skye McNeil, R-Bristow, who authored the House’s version of the bill. The Senate previously passed it.