"SINE DIE" or "LET'S MAKE A DEAL"

"Sine die" is the Latin term for shutting down the legislative session. Talk today of next week's scheduled "sine die" for this legislative session was peppered with rumors of a possible special session to deal with the budget showdown and perhaps a shutdown of another kind. Every year the same rumors abound but this year there's a difference -- it's an election year and both sides are digging in their heels. Seems there's a difference of opinion on how to spend the budget surplus.

This Democrat believes we should fully and responsibly invest in the future before considering even targeted tax cuts. Reminds me of the "West Wing"s fifth season "Shutdown" episode when President Bartlett calls the bully Republican Speaker's bluff (http://westwing.bewarne.com/fifth/508shutdown.html) resulting in a temporary shutdown of government forcing the Republicans into a strategic error. Problem is, this is not tv, this is real life and real people making decisions about real money and real priorities.

I'm sticking with the Senate Democrats and Mike Morgan on this one. In the rush to make a deal we Democrats should not forget about the people of Oklahoma. Everyone understands that there is always another door to open, always another deal to be made. You don't have to accept door number one. Let's take a look behind door number two and three. In fact let's keep opening doors until we get it right for the people of Oklahoma.

So, let's make a deal, but not this deal. What's next.