Fallin: Pro-Growth Policies That Move Oklahoma Forward
Governor Mary Fallin’s campaign the following email on Thursday, highlighting several accomplishments from the 2013 legislative session.
2013 Legislative and Policy Highlights
Pro-Growth Policies That Move Oklahoma Forward
The 2013 legislative session was both successful and historic!
Governor Mary Fallin worked with the Legislature to deliver a fiscally conservative, balanced budget that cuts taxes for working Oklahomans. Additionally, she worked with lawmakers to pass landmark reforms in the areas of workers’ compensation, government efficiency, mental health, child welfare, public safety, education and more.
The tornadoes and flooding that struck several Oklahoma communities were devastating. Oklahoma is currently in an all-hands-on-deck effort to recover and rebuild. Governor Fallin worked with legislators to deliver a disaster relief bill that ensures that communities hit hard by storm and tornado damage will have the support they need moving forward.
Below are just a few of the policy highlights from the 2013 Legislative Session. We encourage you to learn more by visiting the “2013 Legislative and Policy Highlights” report on our website. You can read more by clicking here now.
Tax Cuts and Promoting a Business-Friendly Environment
On three major fronts, lawmakers and Governor Fallin successfully passed and signed major legislation that will bring more good-paying, high-quality jobs to Oklahoma. These bills cut taxes, overhaul the workers’ compensation system and address the state’s long-term infrastructure needs.
Our income tax reduction plan lowers the state’s top tax rate by 0.25 percent, to 5 percent, starting in 2015, and lowers that rate even further, to 4.85 percent, the following year. Once fully realized, our tax cut will pump more than $235 million a year back into the private sector. It is a responsible, meaningful tax cut that will let Oklahoma families keep more of their hard-earned money while spurring job growth and business expansion in Oklahoma.
Additionally, the Legislature worked with Governor Fallin to pass an overhaul of our workers’ compensation system. For decades, Oklahoma has had one of the most expensive and inefficient systems in the country, a constant obstacle for business owners looking to expand operations or create more jobs. Legislation passed this year will completely overhaul and replace that system, dramatically reducing costs to businesses while still treating injured workers fairly.
Finally, legislation was passed and signed into law to enact a long-term infrastructure plan to address the state’s many infrastructure needs, including repair and refurbishment of our crumbling state Capitol.
A Smart, Fiscally Conservative Blueprint for State Spending
This year’s budget is a smart, fiscally conservative blueprint for state spending that provides targeted increases in resources for priorities like education, healthcare, child welfare and infrastructure.
Delivering additional resources for education, in particular, continues to be a priority that is reflected in the budget-making process. Nothing is more important to Oklahoma’s long-term economic success than building a highly skilled, well-educated workforce, and that requires good schools.
To support and improve our public schools, this year’s budget agreement includes more than $120 million in increased education funding, money that will be used by K-12 schools to support reform efforts and increase classroom resources. The additional funds also will be used by universities and career technology centers to support the goal of awarding more college degrees and career readiness certificates.
The budget agreement also includes funding increases for mental health programs, Medicaid services, infant mortality reduction initiatives and a number of other priorities. It is, however, a plan that largely holds the line on spending growth, asking our state agencies to focus on increasing their productivity and operating more efficiently and effectively.
Emergency Relief
Governor Fallin continues to work tirelessly to ensure that communities and families affected by the May storms have the resources they need to recover and rebuild. This is an all-hands-on-deck effort, and an ongoing collaborative effort between state and local governments and the private sector.
The legislature passed and Governor Fallin signed into law a bill directing $45 million to be transferred from the state Rainy Day account to the Emergency Fund, where it can reimburse communities for their response to the storm.
The Oklahoma Department of Commerce will soon begin hiring for up to 1,000 new temporary positions to aid in cleanup and recovery work paid for through a federal grant.
Over 6,000 Oklahomans have registered for direct assistance from FEMA and more than $4.6 million have already been distributed to many of those individuals.
And, of course, organizations like the Red Cross, the United Way and the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma continue to supplement the efforts of the state, offering help and support to those affected by the May storms.
