Budget Briefing: Oklahoma’s Manufacturing-Driven Rise in Personal Income Seventh-Highest in U.S.

Manufacturing Pushes Personal Income up in Oklahoma – “Spurred by manufacturing of big products, personal income in Oklahoma grew by 1.2 percent in the second quarter, the seventh-highest rate in the nation.” Tulsa World

Capitol Repair Bill Could Reach $153 Million – “The figure comes out to be about $382 per square foot. Rep. Doug Cox, R-Grove, said it would be difficult to explain to his constituents why the figure per square foot is so high. Duane Mass, the Capitol architect and curator, said the building is historic and that restoring and repairing historic facilities costs more.” Tulsa World

Backers of Popular Culture Museum for Tulsa Want Another Chance – “Supporters of the Oklahoma Museum of Popular Culture again are seeking a $42.5 million bond issue. They tell a House committee that the OK Pop will produce enough revenue to pay its operating costs and that the state won’t have to appropriate new funds to make the bond issue’s debt service payments.” NewsOK.com

Lawmakers Try to Block Money to Oklahoma Youth Expo – “Rep. Mike Reynolds, R-Oklahoma City, and Rep. Mike Ritze, R-Broken Arrow, argue that money for the expo is unconstitutional for several reasons, including that there is no specific language in the state budget authorizing the spending, the expenditure would use public money for a private purpose, the money would be an illegal donation of state money and that funding for the expenditure comes from state funds which are not authorized for that use.” Tulsa World