Tulsa World: Ethics panel facing furloughs during election year

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Ethics panel facing furloughs during election year
More cuts would make it tougher to scrutinize campaigns, members say.

By RANDY KREHBIEL World Staff Writer
Published: 11/21/2009 2:26 AM
Last Modified: 11/21/2009 3:56 AM

The state agency that is charged with policing political campaigns will be furloughing staff members right in the middle of the 2010 election cycle if current budget projections hold up, an official said Friday.

Reporting to commissioners about her appearance before the Senate Budget Committee, Executive Director Marilyn Hughes said the Ethics Commission's seven staff members will each have to take 30 furlough days next fiscal year if, as she fears, the agency's budget is cut an additional 10 percent.

"I said we can't afford to be without employees during the election," Hughes said. "He said they had heard the same thing from the Election Board but that he didn't have any solutions."

"He" was the Senate Budget Committee's chairman, Republican Randy Brogdon of Owasso, the only senator to show up for the hearing on the commission's proposed budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1.

The Ethics Commission is completely reliant on appropriations from state lawmakers, who, in recent years, have shown little interest in making it a priority.

"All of us believe we are in a critical situation," longtime Ethics Commission member John Raley said. "I'm dismayed but not surprised only one member of the committee saw fit to show up for the hearing."

Raley pointed out that four of the Ethics Commission's seven employees are nearing retirement and are owed substantial leave, meaning they will have to be paid for months after they depart.

"One of these days, the buzzards are going to come home to roost," he said. "It will surely affect our ability to function, if not the actual existence of the Ethics Commission."

The two newest commissioners, Bob McKinney of Claremore and Karen Long of Tulsa, expressed dismay when told that budget and staffing constraints have caused the commission to virtually cease efforts to collect fines and other assessments against people who violate ethics rules. They suggested trying to find a way to "farm out" the collection process.

Ethics Commission general counsel Rebecca Adams said the commission does not even have the money for the administrative hearings that are required to initiate collection proceedings under current procedures.

Randy Krehbiel 581-8365
randy.krehbiel@tulsaworld.com By RANDY KREHBIEL World Staff Writer

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	Report Comment DBJohn, Tulsa (11/21/2009 8:42:02 AM) This is really nice. Of course this commission is not a priority to the lawmakers. After all ethics and politics are synonymous.
	Report Comment Few Clothes, America (11/21/2009 1:39:20 PM) Is anyone ethical who makes decisions for the state?
	Report Comment parksport, (11/21/2009 1:46:34 PM) I wonder if anyone will even notice?
	Report Comment Elusive, Owasso (11/22/2009 2:11:58 AM) Every agency is hurting.

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