VIEW: 19-28: A Governor Keeping Promises

VIEW FROM HERE
By Bob McDowell (Born Neil Carson) Number 19-28
A GOVERNOR KEEPING PROMISES Week of 2019/07/15
On July 6 there appeared in the daily newspaper a story, on Page A-9, carrying
the headline: "Stitt bars state agencies from hiring lobbyists". Credit was given to
Keaton Ross of The Oklahoman". As an explanation for the location, the Tulsa World
now, they reported, doing the printing for the Oklahoma City paper and often each
carries stories by the reporters for the other. The Sub-Head read: "EXECUTIVE
ORDER - He calls the practice "inappropriate use of state funds" How about that? It
has been going on for decades, against the will of those of us believing in propriety in
the use of State tax funds!!
Imagine that, a top State elected official who is trying to fulfill his campaign
promises and has some sympathy and consideration for his overtaxed constituents, the
whole state population! While some may claim that he may be emulating the example
of PRESDT-45 it appears to me that he is really sincere in his efforts to ease the burden
and lower the tax load in the State. The result of a successful carrying out of such a
program could very well bring about a substantial boom in the economy of the State
of Oklahoma.
Unfortunately, it appears that there is a rather substantial 'deep state' determined
to maintain it's power and existence in Oklahoma City, just as is trying to block Trump
in Washington. In the last few decades there have been passed efforts toward that end
in the form of 'term limits' for the elected officials to emulate the long time four, now
eight, year term limit on the Governors. Unfortunately term limits have no effect on the
'bureaucrats that enjoy the protection of the State civil service statutes' that make it
more difficult to replace those who exist to enhance their own power and benefits.
The story states that Gov. Stitt filed an executive order on July 5 "barring state
agencies from hiring outside lobbyists as long as he remains in office". It would seem
that it would be unlawful for one governor to attempt to prevent, by order, any action
by a succeeding governor. Further it stated that he had filed another executive order
in January requiring all State agencies to file a list of every lobbyist each had hired and
the terms of their contract. It also prohibited these agencies from renewing or entering
into a lobbyist contract through the current fiscal year. The story stated that there had
been "$1.48 million" of such contracts running until the end of the fiscal year. As a late
U.S. Senator from Illinois, Everett Dirkson-R, once stated several decades ago: "a
million here and a million there and pretty soon you are talking some real money".
Frankly, it is pleasing to me to learn the Gov. is taking these steps to, hopefully,
reduce some of the gross waste in spending that seems to be endemic in government
at all levels. In my memory is that Oklahoma budgets in the 1940-1960 era were in
the tens to hundreds of millions of dollars, and now they are in the billions. Also the
number of buildings at the Capital has grown from one or two to more than I have
been down there enough to count. Of course, as the staff of any organization is
increased so is the need for space for those added employees to work.
Only three agencies were mentioned by name. Two, the Lottery Commission
and the Turnpike Authority seem to me to be self-funded and perhaps not spending
tax dollars and so it might be said that their contracting with lobbyists would be
different. However, in my mind the state employees should not be spending money
from either source for outside representatives to the Legislature in attempting to sway
legislation that could very well be counter to what is best for the population. It is
rather obvious that whatever the staff members want is for their benefit and not
necessarily of any benefit to those of us who are the ultimate "stockholders"
All in all it is hopeful to have both a President and Governor who are acting as
if they really do care for the citizens who elected them. If we can just find a way to
get more like them to be in leadership in the Congress and Legislature it will really
become a better life. Also if somehow the nasty, mean-mouth and totally lacking in
truth screaming and violence coming from the opposition could be stifled things
would become more like it used to be, before many running around today were born.
END
Composed July 9, 2019
Robert W. McDowell, Jr. 841 Lynwood Lane
918-451-1051 Broken Arrow OK 74011-8608
Email: abdmcfpi@localnet.com