OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - A group of House and Senate Democrats say lawmakers should focus strictly on passing a state budget and end the annual legislative session early.

In a proposal unveiled Tuesday, state Sen. Earl Garrison of Muskogee says such a plan could save hundreds of thousands of dollars and free up money that could be used more effectively elsewhere.

Lawmakers typically meet for four months each year from the first week in February until the last Friday in May. But Garrison says that given the state's budget crisis, the Legislature should be doing all it can to save money.

Garrison predicts the Senate could save $37,000 each week the Legislature is not in session, while state Rep. Jerry McPeak of Warner says the savings in the House would be about $100,000 per week.

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