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Bartlesville
Posted: May 23, 2025 9:17 AMUpdated: May 23, 2025 9:20 AM
CAPITOL CALL Powered by Phillips 66 5-23-25
Tom Davis
The state budget and the latest on a new smelter coming to Oklahoma were the main topic on this week's CAPITOL CALL powered by Phillips 66 on on KWON Friday morning.
Representatives Judd Strom and John B. Kane agreed that the session ran much easier this year. John B. Kane said,"It's gone pretty smoothly. And of course, you know, I'm speaking primarily of a budget because that's what I had my I was neck deep in for really for four months."
The Senate passed the budget and it now awaits Governor Kevin Stitt's signature.
Both lawmakers were relieved that the legistaltion surrounding a new smelter coming to Oklahoma from the Middle East got worked out in the Senate.
John B. Kane said, "We did we had one little scare. Part of the budget negotiation with the governor was the incentive package for the new smelter, aluminum smelter at the Port of Inola. And that hit a snag in a Senate committee that they had to eventually figure out the rules and had to rescind the vote and revote it to get that back on track." He added, "It passed off both floors and it's going to the governor."
Judd Strom said, "Everybody held their breath. I heard rumor that President Trump was even calling some people because this is an important part of his reindustrializing America and creating products.
Both agreed that the move will likely draw other businesses to the area. Strom said, "This is what you call a hub manufacturer. You you look at other industries from car parts, aeronautics, especially aeronautics, our number two industry, they're going to be building. All of the parts associated with aluminum and they're going to want to move in there right next to it."
Kane added, "A thousand jobs is what this is supposed to bring, just the smelter itself and then anywhere from another thousand jobs to three thousand jobs around it. So, that was a big deal."
Strom addressed the are one point eight billion dollars in ARPA funds. Strom said, "We have to have those bundled and paid out by the end of 2026. We are a year out. We've set our deadline for next June to have these projects done. There are hundreds of projects all over the state going on. I'm on two committees that are overseeing those. Everything from rural water and and an infrastructure to nonprofits. He have to make sure all these things get wrapped up on time."
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