While legislators shout and bicker over where to raise new revenue to offset a $1.3 billion budget hole, their actions to protect the oil and gas industry from taking a hit are being noticed by others.
A report by Reuters paints the picture of legislators protecting the industry from being hurt by reduced tax credits while education is taking it on the chin in a major way.
“I think our lawmakers have failed us and I don’t understand how little they value education,” one teacher told Reuter reporters.
The report was also critical of state leaders for not using the flush times of high oil and gas prices to make sure there was a budget cushion during the current oil downturn.