Thread by @arengland

If #okleg is serious about cleaning up this mess, why stop at the Swadley's scandal? Over the last 4 years corruption and cronyism at the capitol has been commonplace. Here's a thread of just SOME of the scandals that have plagued politicians and left taxpayers frustrated. 🧵

https://twitter.com/QuorumCallShawn/status/1519709923315269633

Let's start way back in January 2019, just after @GovStitt took office: A State board approves bank charter for Stitt’s company now worth millions. oklahoman.com/story/news/sta…. (2)

Moving right along: January 2020 - Stitt appointees approve taxpayer funds for his family business: readfrontier.org/stories/compan… (3)

In August 2020–State gives Covid 19 contracts to former Stitt campaign manager and adviser--the revolving door of power & influence enriching themselves at the taxpayer's expense: tulsaworld.com/news/state-giv… (4)

In September 2020–same adviser gets contracts from entities Stitt granted COVID relief funds. tulsaworld.com/news/local/for… (5)

Oct 2020 - State auditor investigation finds Epic owes Oklahoma taxpayers millions. One improper transfer sent $203,000 of Oklahoma tax dollars to an Epic school in California. tulsaworld.com/news/local/edu… (6)

October 2020 - State’s public health lab relocated in the midst of the pandemic. The transition leads to testing delays, the mishandling of testing samples, and staffing shortages, according to a Sept. 2021 audit. readfrontier.org/stories/emails… (7)

December 2020 - Stitt's Secretary of Digital Transformation is indicted oklahoman.com/story/news/col… (8)

February 2021 - Legislative report criticizes Stitt administration for not providing “a single complete set of documentation for any project funded with COVID funs” and for spending COVID money on unrelated projects. tulsaworld.com/news/local/rep… (9)

March 2021 - Oklahoma health officials can’t account for more than $20 million in protective equipment spending. (guess who was involved...the same person involved in the Swadley's scandal) readfrontier.org/stories/oklaho… (10)

May 2021 - Oklahoma’s Attorney General resigns amid allegations of affair with state employee kfor.com/news/oklahoma-… (11)

November 2021 - Oklahoma congressional districts are further gerrymandered to maintain power for politicians, protect incumbents and special interests and punish enemies. oklahoman.com/story/news/202… (12)

December 2021 - State utility regulators and the AG's Office refuse to say which companies profited from spike in natural gas prices. About $2 billion has been passed on to Oklahoma consumers from utility companies. cnhinews.com/oklahoma/artic… (13)

December 2021 - 3 elected commissioners of the Oklahoma Corporation Commision accepted $200,000 from employees, subsidiaries or political action groups tied to companies they regulate or from individuals with a vested interest in those industries. cnhinews.com/oklahoma/artic… (14)

December 2021 (a busy month for graft and cronyism in Oklahoma politics) - Then House Speaker Pro Tempore Terry O’Donnell is indicted for conspiracy, perjury and misconduct.newson6.com/story/61d7b56b… (15)

January 2022 - House Representative Jose Cruz resigns over inappropriate actions and allegations of sexual assault. kfor.com/news/oklahoma-… (16)

February 2022 - Breaking news that a sitting Oklahoma state lawmaker hired to help people lobby legislature. Things that make you go hmmmm? oklahomawatch.org/2022/02/15/how… (17)

February 2022 - State audit finds that pandemic spending at the Oklahoma Health Department violated the state constitution. Oklahoma Attorney General refuses to release the audit. How's that for transparency? readfrontier.org/stories/pandem… (18)

February 2022 - State lawmakers file SB1272, SB1159, and HB3475 to make it easier to deny open records requests. WHAT THE WHAT??????? readfrontier.org/stories/cities… (19)

February 2022 - In an attempt to take power away from voters, state lawmakers file multiple bills that would make it practically impossible to pass state questions. Because why should politicians trust voters? readfrontier.org/stories/lawmak… (20)

March 2022 - Lawmakers stifle debate on applying open records law to themselves. Oklahoma is one of only four states in the country with no transparency. I'm seeing a pattern here.... oklahomawatch.org/2022/03/17/law… (21)

March 2022 - The Oklahoman reports that Stitt donor has received $15.5 million in taxpayer funds for his company over the last three years for PR services. FOR PR SERVICES!!!!!! HOW DO I GET THIS CONTRACT?????????? oklahoman.com/story/news/202… (22)

March 2022 - Education Secretary Ryan Walters exposed for failing to report campaign expenses. Oops, probably should spend less time doing video selfies and more time reading ethics laws. readfrontier.org/stories/record… (23)

April 2022 - Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation launches investigation into Swadley state contract. This whole thing just "rubs" me the wrong way--no ifs, ands or pork butts about it. readfrontier.org/stories/follow… (24)

So while I appreciate #okleg focusing on the BBQ mess, it feels like they need to also spend some time cleaning up their side of the street. Oklahomans are disgusted by all of it, and we deserve better.

P.S. While we're on this topic, can we also ask #okleg why they voted to give Stitt so much power over state agencies? (they did this in 2019) perhaps giving one person so much power, might not be the best thing for #Oklahoma taxpayers? 🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️oklahoman.com/story/news/col…