| Oklahoma's legislature has spent multi millions of dollars to remodel and restore the state capitol. It houses not just the 2 chambers, their members, and their business facilities; it also was designed to house the many state agency heads and those elected to statewide office. It is our bloated state agencies that have caused many tasks to have to be farmed out to other buildings in the capitol city and around the state. But the head over these operations were always supposed to keep their offices conveniently in the capitol building. But now we see that the legislature deems that their exclusive fitness center and barbershop is far more essential to state business than to let the citizens of the state efficiently consult with the top elected official tasked with overseeing the inspections of state government. Auditor Gary Jones recently announced that the legislature has evicted him from the state capitol. He is ordered to vacate and spend yet more money t rent facilities wherever he can find them. Gone are the days when a legislator can efficiently consult face to face with the auditor regarding questionable practices of state agencies. Gone are the days when constituents can consolidate trips to the capitol where stored up lists of grievances can be constructively redressed in an efficient manner. Audits are expensive, but not nearly as expensive as the corruption which happens when we don't audit. That is why past legislatures have statutorily ordered Jones to audit all state agencies on a set rotation. Yet the legislature cuts the auditor's budget repeatedly. Did the founders of our state govt. really prioritize a legislative gym and barbershop to have priority over a state auditor? |  One RV'er said this about his recent Oklahoma trip: "We did find a couple of Capitol Building firsts! The OKC Capitol Building has a gym and a barber shop!"  |
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