Virus, oil prices could slow lawmakers' bill, budget efforts

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  • Virus, oil prices could slow lawmakers' bill, budget efforts
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OKLAHOMA CITY – While Oklahoma lawmakers, nearing the halfway point to the 2020 legislative session, still have several hundred more bills to examine, those efforts could be hampered by the continued spread of the Covid-19 virus.

This month, both houses of the Legislature have been reviewing bills passed by the other. Normally, those efforts continue until early April, when members of the House and Senate hunker down and begin finalizing the state’s budget for the next fiscal year.

This year, however, that task could be made more difficult by two issues – a dramatic drop in oil prices and the rapid spread of the Coronavirus.

Last week, state offices reported that General Revenue Fund collections for February were almost 7 percent below the monthly estimate.

Data from the state showed that tax collections for the month were $327.3 million, about $23.5 million, or 6.7 percent, below the monthly estimate. Compared to last year, the amount is about $58 million, 15.0 percent below collections in February of 2019.

“While the total collections for the year are only slightly below the estimate, conventional wisdom dictates that this gap will widen with the downturn in the energy sector,” said Steven Harpe, director of the Office of Management and Enterprise Services, said in a media statement. “Low oil prices will continue to impact the monthly GRF collections, and we are actively monitoring the situation and will make adjustments when necessary.”

In addition, the spread of the Coronavirus has caused major changes, including the cancellation of many athletic and entertainment events. The virus’ spread has also forced many schools and churches to close and caused other schools to shift to an on-line teaching mode.

As of March 15 at 4 p.m., state health officials had confirmed positive cases of the virus in the state. In addition, three more individuals were listed as presumptive positive and were awaiting final confirmation by the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta. So far 118 people in Oklahoman have tested negative for the virus.

State officials said small business affected by the virus could apply for low-interest disaster loans through the Small Business Administration this week.

The number of those infected with the disease is expected to increase.

On Sunday, House Minority Leader Emily Virgin, D-Norman, urged Oklahomans to take precautions against the disease.

“Please, everyone, practice social distancing as much as possible, not just for you but for those who are immune compromised,” Virgin wrote in a message posted on Twitter. “We’ve learned from other countries that this is key to flattening the curve.”

Oklahoman remains one of two states that has not declared a state of emergency.

Just days after President Donald Trump issued a national emergency declaration, Oklahoma House Majority Leader Jon Echols, R-Oklahoma City, posted a message on Facebook saying that he had encouraged Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt to make a similar state emergency declaration.

Echols said he was also encouraging state health officials to test more Oklahomans for the virus.

State lawmakers have until May 29 to finish their work.