By Associated Press
Oklahoma City, OK – Okla. Legislature adjourns regular session
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) The Oklahoma Legislature adjourned its 2010 regular session Friday with a focus on the same thorny issue that lawmakers faced when they convened four months ago -- a massive state budget shortfall.
The state House and Senate took up dozens of bills on the Legislature's final day, including several that put the finishing touches on a $6.7 billion budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1st.
When lawmakers convened the session Feb. 1, they faced a $1.2 billion shortfall in the upcoming year's budget. It has taken a combination of state agency budget cuts, suspension of tax credit programs, fee increases and appropriations from the constitutional Rainy Day reserve fund and other sources to narrow the deficit.
Gov. Brad Henry characterized the budgeting process as very difficult and very challenging.