Lawmakers in shale-rich Oklahoma meet Monday in a special session to help address budget strains that the governor said are critical. Gov. Mary Fallin said lawmakers are called on to find long-term solutions to budget woes. By her estimate, the state could face a $500 million shortfall next year because one-time funds were used to balance the books for the current fiscal year. Oklahoma is home to about 4 percent of the total petroleum reserves in the country and accounts for as much as 5 percent of the total crude oil production. Its economy was battered after crude oil prices hit historic lows in recent years, forcing energy companies to spend less on exploration and production. Oil […]