OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- The Oklahoma House has given final legislative approval to tap about $78 million from the state's Rainy Day Fund to boost funding for public schools and the prison system for rest of the current fiscal year.
The House voted Monday on two separate measures -- one to appropriate $51 million to the Department of Education and another to direct $27.5 million to the Department of Corrections.
Some Democrats opposed the supplemental funding bill for the prisons, arguing that about $17 million is being earmarked for contract beds with private prisons.
Prison officials have said they need the supplemental funding to pay for an estimated net increase of about 1,000 prisoners over the past year.
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