The End Is Near: Legislature Limps To Sine Die
Legislature limps toward finish line as Friday adjournment looms
By Barbara Hoberock and Randy Krehbiel, Tulsa World
OKLAHOMA CITY — Lawmakers on Thursday were limping toward adjournment following several long days.
The Legislature must adjourn by 5 p.m. Friday.
The Oklahoma House on Friday is expected to take up a $1.50 smoking cessation fee on cigarettes and the state’s $6.8 billion general appropriations bill. Both are expected to be controversial.
Previous efforts to pass the $1.50 increase on cigarettes as a tax failed in the House. The chamber needs 76 votes to increase a tax but only 51 to implement a fee.
The cigarette measure and the budget bill have already cleared the Senate.
Most of the drama to be had Thursday involved a dispute between Gov. Mary Fallin and Rep. Scott Biggs, R-Chickasha, over several bills related to her criminal justice reform initiative.