Speaker McCall calls state credit outlook upgrade ‘big validation’

OKLAHOMA CITY –House Speaker Charles McCall, R-Atoka, who helped represent the state in recent meetings with credit agencies like Moody’s, issued the following statement in response to Moody’s upgrading the state credit outlook to “positive” from “stable” on Wednesday:

“This is a big validation of the Legislature’s commitment to better budgeting. Major efforts have been made lately to use more fiscally conservative, structurally sound financial practices, culminating with last session’s passage of the strongest state budget in recent memory. We are delivering the stronger fiscal house Oklahomans expect and deserve.

“This is the first of what we expect will be many financial rating improvements for the state as we continue fulfilling our commitment to be more responsible stewards of the taxpayers’ money. Righting the state’s financial ship has been and will continue to be a team effort, and I thank Gov. Kevin Stitt and the appropriations leaders in the Legislature for their partnership on this accomplishment.”