LIFE AFTER STIMULUS:
RSC’s student newspaper since 1972
y, April 23, 20 ida 10
Street News
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Springfest, ... page 5
How Oklahoma will thrive
Act that provided $787 billion for education, transportation, health and human services, energy, low-income housing and assistance, the environment, public safety, workforce development and state budget stabilization.
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What is the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act?
Life after stimulus
Steve Burrage, CPA and Oklahoma State Auditor and Inspector, speaks with the Honors Program regarding the stimulus money in Oklahoma. His speech outlined how the money is being spent and what it will take to keep Oklahoma in the black. (Photo by Jennifer Wimer)
By: Racheal Price Editor-in-chief
Steve Burrage, CPA and Oklahoma State Auditor and Inspector, spoke with the Honors program regarding the Paradox of Affluence in the final Great Issues lecture of the spring semester. “The history of our nation would certainly support that we are a land of plenty; while others would argue that plenty go hungry, live paycheck-to-paycheck, or require government assistance to just live day-to-day,” Burrage said in his opening remarks. Burrage explained that while America is a “land of opportunity” and “rich” in compassion, resources and economy, it is also facing becoming a “land of scarcity” in terms of jobs. Burrage showed the iconic photo “No way like the American way” by Margaret Bourke-White to illustrate the theme of his presentation. “Some are wondering if this is where we’re heading,” Burrage said in reference to the polarization between rich and poor made complete with breadlines like those in the photo. The rest of Burrage’s pre-
“By the way, the liability per citizen was about $350,000 [as of April 6].” ~ Steve Burrage, CPA and Oklahoma State Auditor and Inspector sentation showed charts to show how the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 funding has been spent in Oklahoma and the steps Oklahoma will need to take to remain economically viable once the stimulus money runs out. “ The White House has made it clear that the money is to be spent as quickly as possible. Public entities, rightly so, will be expected to be able to account for every penny – every penny,” Burrage said. As part of his responsibilities Burrage is overseeing how the money is spent in Oklahoma and accounting for those pennies. As such, he said Oklahomans will have to take responsibility in reporting waste if they see any in this state. So far Oklahoma has “awarded $1.5 billion” to state agencies and has created 6,861 jobs in the government sector, Burrage said. Burrage explained that the government has not suffered the job loss that the private sector has. “The
private sector drives the economy… with 15 million unemployed in the private sector, it tells me that companies are not looking to expand…it tells me their uncertainty about the future is resulting in less risk-taking and more caution.” While stimulus dollars have made an impact in Oklahoma, the money is expected to “dry up by fiscal year 2012.” A year ago Oklahoma was termed “recession proof,” but it has begun to feel the “impact of rising unemployment, slumping natural gas prices and falling income tax revenues.” Federal dollars are paying for 49 percent of the state budget, Burrage said. While the Oklahoma state constitution requires a balanced budget, Burrage said the state budget is not balanced due to unfunded liabilities, like pension accounts. He said Oklahoma, due to these unfunded liabilities, actually owes $1 billion. Burrage said according to the Institute for Truth
in Accounting, “each Oklahoma family’s share of its unfunded liabilities is $14,600.” This number is compared to the amount of each citizen’s liability in federal debt of about $350,000. To give the audience a feeling of how Oklahoma voters would like to handle the budget crisis, Burrage cited a poll from SoonerPoll.com. It found Oklahomans would rather have a smaller government with fewer services, spending cuts to make budget shortfalls, and support a decrease to maintain a balanced budget. “As a public servant, that tells me we need to do a lot better at those programs funded with tax dollars. We need to be more efficient. We need to be more effective. We need to deliver services in a more cost-effective manner. We need to be more accountable.” Burrage concluded that the state budget will not be able to continue to be funded at current levels and predicted that state budgets and workforce would have to be returned to 2005 levels and education would not be spared.
• State budget at FY05/06 funding levels • State workers at FY05/06 staffing levels • Smaller state/local government • Increasing share of federal dollars to fund state governments • Astronomical federal deficit • Larger federal government Oklahomans interested in how stimulus monies have been spent in Oklahoma can visit recovery. ok.gov.
Information is according to Steve Burrage’s presentation.
“No way like the American way” “No way like the American way” by Margaret Bourke-Williams depicts Americans standing in a breadline with an advertisement stating America’s economy is the best in the world billboard. To see this photograph and others by the artist, check out http://www.mastersof-photography. com/B/bourke-white/ b-w.html.
O’Donnell recognized Week of the Young Child comes with fun activities for commitment to military spouses part of her work is briefing military spouses on deDebra O’Donnell was ployment in order to help recognized for her contri- them psychologically and butions to military spous- emotionally. The military es with the Joan Orr Air spouses are often in need of help coping Force Spouse with the reof the Year turn of their Award. Acloved ones as cording to the well. “It’s like nomination having a new announceperson all ment for over again,” this year, the she said. “You award “honwant to see ors the signifthem as a icant contrifamily when butions made they come by nonmiliback. You tary spouses want them to of Air Force be whole. Too m i l i t a r y Debra O’Donnell shows off her Joan Orr Air Force Spouse of many people members.” during a recep- split up.” O’Donnell the Year awardtion in her honor. me, is on call 24/7 (Photo by Jennifer Wimer) “For it was a big for families with deployed spouses. honor,” she said of winShe was the first to cre- ning the award. “You don’t ate this call-roster, now in do it for awards. You do it its third year, for military for passion for people. We spouses in need of help. help our own, we have to.” O’Donnell is a part of She also does volunteer the 34th Combat Commuwork, helping out with Easter egg hunts and a nications Squadron, TinChristmas party and other ker Air Force Base. She is now in competition with morale-boosting events. She explained that a 10 other military units. By: Adriana Valtinson Assignment Editor
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Sharon Saulmon, LRC dean, shares “Sylvester and the Magic Pebble” with the three and four year olds from the Child Development Laboratory Center. The kids listened intently to find out the fate of Sylvester the donkey after he uses a magic pebble to turn himself into a rock to escape a lion. Don’t worry this story has a happy ending. (Photos by Jennifer Wimer)
The CDLC celebrated “character day” Friday, April 16 where they dressed up as their favorite storybook characters. (Left to right) Cat in the Hat, Bray, 4; Pretty Princess, Nicole, 3; The Big Red Ripe Strawberry and Little Mouse, Melodie Beauchamp, teacher; Cinderella, Taylor, 3; and Fancy Nancy, Georgia, 3. Beauchamp’s shows the book that inspired her outfit.