OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — The incoming House speaker has fired nearly a dozen staffers as he prepares for budget cuts in the upcoming year.

A spokesman for Republican House Speaker-elect Kris Steele of Shawnee confirmed Wednesday that 11 House staffers were fired.

Spokesman Ray Carter would not identify the employees, but said they included members of Steele's staff and most divisions in the House.

Carter says the staff changes are a result of consecutive years of budget cuts, and that the House must be willing to take its share of cuts.

He says House leaders have touted fiscal conservatism and believe it's important to "practice what we preach."

Democratic Rep. Joe Dorman criticized what he called "sudden and unexpected" firings and called for more transparency with the House budgeting process.