Alva Review-Courier -

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — The Oklahoma House and Senate recessed from the special session on Wednesday without a deal to close an estimated $215 million state budget shortfall, which could deal a crippling blow to agencies that provide health care services to the poor and mentally ill.

The House, where revenue raising measures are required to originate, recessed after it became clear there weren't 76 members willing to support a $1.50-per-pack cigarette tax increase to help restore the lost funding. The Legislature earlier this year approved a similar cigarette tax with a simple-majority vote, but...