An outside group funded by Sue Ann Arnall, an Oklahoma City philanthropist, spent more than $65,000 to defeat an Oklahoma County district court judge who presided over her 2014 divorce case with billionaire oilman Harold Hamm.
In Non-Election Year, Legislators Spend Campaign Donations on Perks
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An Oklahoma Watch review of campaign records sheds light on a little-known perk: After being elected, legislators can tap campaign donations to pay for meals, trips, memberships and other expenses.
Legislators’ ‘Officeholder’ Spending of Campaign Funds
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From January to September legislators spent $462,315 in campaign donations on “officeholder expenses”. Some were questionable. This data shows a sampling of lawmaker spending on trips, meals and event tickets.
Where Were the Watchdogs in the Health Department Crisis?
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The cash crisis at the Oklahoma State Department of Health, which was years in the making, raises questions about which agencies and state officials could have caught the agency’s reported financial mismanagement.
Challenges Persist After Fallin’s Budget Veto
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Lawmakers will likely return to the State Capitol sooner than expected after Gov. Mary Fallin’s shocking veto of most of a budget bill approved by the Legislature only hours earlier. GOP leaders condemned the veto; Fallin’s office hasn’t fired back.
House Approves Plan to Use Broad Cuts, One-Time Savings to Fill Budget Hole
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A new budget plan approved by the House of Representatives on Wednesday would cut millions of dollars from dozens of state agencies and use one-time savings to bridge the state’s $215 million budget gap. It is expected to be heard in the Senate later this week. Read this agency-by-agency breakdown to see who’s cut how much.
A Handful of Lawmakers Accept Few or No Lobbyist Gifts
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Rep. Jason Murphey, R-Guthrie, is a rarity in the Legislature: He refuses to accept any gifts or meals from a lobbyist. Two other legislators received less than $100 each from January to June.
What Gifts Did Your Legislator Receive?
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Explore our searchable, sortable database showing all reported lobbyist gifts and meals for legislators and other officials.
State Ethics Rules Often Hide Sources of Lobbyists’ Gifts, Meals
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An Oklahoma Watch review of thousands of gifts and meal purchases in 2017 found it’s impossible to confirm who was bankrolling efforts to influence policymakers for a quarter of the record-setting amount that lobbyists spent on legislators and other state officials last session.
After Cigarette Fee Ruling, What Will the Legislature Do Next?
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Thursday’s state Supreme Court ruling creates a $214 million shortfall. Lawmakers could consider these four options over the coming days and weeks.
Questions Linger on Dismissal of Charges in Hofmeister Case
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Just as suddenly as they appeared in November, criminal charges against Oklahoma schools Superintendent Joy Hofmeister disappeared last week. And the reasons remain a mystery.