| When Mike Hunter stepped up to finish Scott Pruitt's term as Attorney General, He inherited a Fallin Administration, Legislative tax binges, and the unauthorized actions of an un-elected OMES director. Then Hunter faces the consequences of a legislator & governor who blatantly violated the plain language of the constitution by raising massive new taxes during a time and by a margin with the state constitution strictly forbids. The office of Attorney General is responsible to defend actions which the AG was never formally consulted about. Such is the case we face this summer. Just this week, a 3rd major lawsuit was filed by the Oklahoma Automobile Dealers. The legislative leaders decided that they can pass hundreds of millions of dollars in new revenues... as long as they pretend that it's something other than a revenue-raising measure. During floor debate, the leadership insisted that they were simply cleaning up language, or restructuring process. But no one in Oklahoma is as stupid as the leadership deliberately feigns. Hunter has his hands full with a runaway Office of Management & Enterprise Services. Director Preston Doerflinger is a staffer of the governor's. He and the governor have deliberately sought to undermine the office of the State Auditor & Inspector. They are encroaching on the constitutional offices and seeking to evict those offices from the capitol building while eating up more floor space for their own bloated staffing. |  Attorney General, Mike Hunter, was appointed by Gov. Mary Fallin. He now must defend actions which taxpayers find indefensible. |
But Doerflinger has also robbed from our state's 'Rainy Day' fund without the state treasurer's authorization. Last winter, Doerflinger paid out operational bills by taking millions out of the protected funds. Not even the legislature was informed. Past state officials have been removed from office for this type of behavior.
Hunter is now claiming that Doerflinger has the constitutional authority to do this 'money juggling'. But a study of the constitution reveals that the very agency of OMES appears to usurp constitutional authority reserved for other agencies and officials. None of this could have happened without the consent of a power-grabbing governor. Mary Fallin hired Doerflinger without the legislature's agreement. She must be held accountable for all his actions.
Hunter is now claiming that Doerflinger has the constitutional authority to do this 'money juggling'. But a study of the constitution reveals that the very agency of OMES appears to usurp constitutional authority reserved for other agencies and officials. None of this could have happened without the consent of a power-grabbing governor. Mary Fallin hired Doerflinger without the legislature's agreement. She must be held accountable for all his actions.
Now the state is being sued by several taxpayers because of the collusion of the legislative leaders and the governor. So far, 3 separate legal actions have been announced. Hunter is recruiting interns and law school students to help. Several others may either file separate suits or add their support to the current suits. Lawmakers from the Platform Caucus and the Democrat leadership are already declaring strong support for the litigation. Many legislators are being pressured by their own constituents to state their own positions on the constitutional matters.
Some lawmakers have gone very quiet. So has the Oklahoma Republican Party leadership. Despite the clear position of the OKGOP platform which stands for constitutional integrity and against runaway spending increases. The State Committee meets at least quarterly, and any committee member can initiate a motion to stand with the taxpayer plaintiff groups. This will be a serious test of the integrity and leadership of the OKGOP on a key matter. We Republicans will be watching...
Some lawmakers have gone very quiet. So has the Oklahoma Republican Party leadership. Despite the clear position of the OKGOP platform which stands for constitutional integrity and against runaway spending increases. The State Committee meets at least quarterly, and any committee member can initiate a motion to stand with the taxpayer plaintiff groups. This will be a serious test of the integrity and leadership of the OKGOP on a key matter. We Republicans will be watching...
