Back and forth between the House of Representatives, Senate leaders continue amid the Oklahoma education debate
Both houses continued to argue that their proposal was best for the state
After weeks of brainstorming between leaders of the House and Senate at the Oklahoma State Capitol, it’s still not clear what the final education plan might look like. Both houses continued to argue that their proposal was best for the state. | more | The fate of education policy is in the hands of the House of Representatives at the Oklahoma Capitol “I don’t feel really hopeful this week based on progress,” said Senate Pro Greg Treat, R-Oklahoma City. However, Speaker of the House Charles McCall, R. Atoka felt differently. “I’m glad it happened this week,” McCall said. “It wasn’t the only thing that took our time this week.” The two sides didn’t even agree on how much they should talk about education. “He took all the air out of the room in all the other negotiations,” Treat said. Both the House and Senate want to choose the school and increase teacher salaries, but they still disagree on specific details. There is a maximum tax credit for school selection from the Senate, while the House proposal is not. The House wants to give all teachers the same pay increase, but the Senate increase varies based on experience. State Democrats said they are also concerned that bipartisan priorities, such as teacher pay increases and maternity leave, are at risk of being reduced or cut off during negotiations. “It looks very much like a Republican in the House and Senate, so again, the highlights of what we’ve seen progress are at risk because there doesn’t seem to be unified agreement among the supermajority,” said Sen. Cary Hicks. D- Oklahoma City. Both McCall and Treat said the two sides would eventually reach an agreement, but it was not clear when that would be. “I don’t think we’re really that far away. We’re in April, and I’ve been through that enough,” McCall said. The teacher pay raise bill was supposed to be voted out of the Senate on Thursday afternoon. However, he was suspended for the second time until the next week. The bill needs to vote in committee by Wednesday to reach the House floor. Killed after shooting at apartment complex in southeast Oklahoma City Police say ex-wife OU QB Baker Mayfield hosts charity event for Meals on Wheels of Norman Gilgios Alexander beats pelicans at play involving 5 tractors on I-35 near Davis, dies 41-Year-Old Man In Motorcycle Accident On I-40 Near Weatherford, OHP Says Investigation Is Underway After Fort Sill Soldier Was Found Dead At Home, Oklahoma Overseer Speaks Out After Appointing Stitt As New Education Secretary
After weeks of brainstorming between leaders of the House and Senate at the Oklahoma State Capitol, it’s still not clear what the final education plan might look like.
Both houses continued to argue that their proposal was best for the state.
| more | The fate of education policy rests in the hands of the House of Representatives in the Oklahoma Capitol
“I don’t feel really hopeful this week based on progress,” said Senator Timpur Greg Treat, R-Oklahoma City.
However, House Speaker Charles McCall, R-Atoka, felt differently.
McCall said, “I’m glad it happened this week. It wasn’t the only thing that took our time this week.”
The two sides didn’t even agree on how much they should talk about education.
“He took all the air out of the room on all the other negotiations,” Treatt said.
Both the House and Senate want to choose the school and increase teacher salaries, but they still disagree on specific details. There is a maximum tax credit for school selection from the Senate, while the House proposal is not.
The House wants to give all teachers the same pay increase, but the Senate increase varies based on experience.
State Democrats said they are also concerned that bipartisan priorities, such as teacher pay increases and maternity leave, are at risk of being reduced or cut off during negotiations.
“It looks very much like a Republican in the House and Senate, so again, the highlights of what we’ve seen progress are at risk because there doesn’t seem to be unified agreement among the supermajority,” said Sen. Cary Hicks. D- Oklahoma City.
Both McCall and Treat said the two sides would eventually reach an agreement, but it was not clear when that would be.
“I don’t think we’re really that far,” McCall said.
“It’s April, and I’ve been through enough,” said Treat. “Hopefully we can make a breakthrough.”
The teacher pay increase bill was supposed to be voted out of the Senate on Thursday afternoon. However, it has been pushed back for the second time until next week. The bill needs to vote in committee by Wednesday to reach the House floor.
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