OG&E Says Meacham's Role 'Inappropriate'
Officials of Oklahoma Gas & Electric Company said today that the presence of State Treasurer Scott Mecham in an ad campaign against their proposed coal plant at Red Rock is "inappropriate."
Meacham has appeared in a series of fullpage newspapers ads opposing the plant. The ads are paid for by "A statewide coalition of concerned doctors, health organizations, educators, citizens, businesses and students." Oklahoma City radio station KTOK added: Oklahoma Gas and Electric officials have come out critical of State Treasurer Scott Meacham for the newspaper ads he ran against the utility's proposed coal-fired power plant near Red Rock. The utility questioned Meacham's motive and suggested that he should not be getting involved in a legal issue to be decided by the Oklahoma Corporation Commission. "What we're questioning is, is it appropriate for a State official to use their position in this manner?" said Brian Alford, a spokesman for OG&E. "We don't question an individual's right to freedom of speech. But when you use your official capacity in this manner, we believe it's inappropriate." Alford told KTOK the public newspaper campaign waged by Meacham is the first of its kind in more than a hundred years of service in Oklahoma. "We are extremely concerned that the Oklahoma State Treasurer has agreed to the use of his office in an attempt to unduly influence the outcome of a proceeding before the Corporation Commission." In an interview earlier in the week with KTOK's Peter J. Rudy, Meacham defended his stance. "If the State Treasurer's office is not interested in the long term economic well being of the State, who is?"
He said he reached his conclusion after listening to the arguments on both sides of the power plant issue and "decided that it was in the long term best economic interests of the State to go with natural gas."
OG&E contends the newspaper ads contain "unfounded and misleading assertions."
Other critics wonder if this is a signal that Meacham will become involved in other rate cases before the Corporation Commission, such as the pending $49.9 million request made by PSO. They also question whether Meacham, whose primary responsibility as Treasurer is the investment of state money, could be influenced by the outcome of the controversial measure.
Meacham has appeared in a series of fullpage newspapers ads opposing the plant. The ads are paid for by "A statewide coalition of concerned doctors, health organizations, educators, citizens, businesses and students." Oklahoma City radio station KTOK added: Oklahoma Gas and Electric officials have come out critical of State Treasurer Scott Meacham for the newspaper ads he ran against the utility's proposed coal-fired power plant near Red Rock. The utility questioned Meacham's motive and suggested that he should not be getting involved in a legal issue to be decided by the Oklahoma Corporation Commission. "What we're questioning is, is it appropriate for a State official to use their position in this manner?" said Brian Alford, a spokesman for OG&E. "We don't question an individual's right to freedom of speech. But when you use your official capacity in this manner, we believe it's inappropriate." Alford told KTOK the public newspaper campaign waged by Meacham is the first of its kind in more than a hundred years of service in Oklahoma. "We are extremely concerned that the Oklahoma State Treasurer has agreed to the use of his office in an attempt to unduly influence the outcome of a proceeding before the Corporation Commission." In an interview earlier in the week with KTOK's Peter J. Rudy, Meacham defended his stance. "If the State Treasurer's office is not interested in the long term economic well being of the State, who is?"
He said he reached his conclusion after listening to the arguments on both sides of the power plant issue and "decided that it was in the long term best economic interests of the State to go with natural gas."
OG&E contends the newspaper ads contain "unfounded and misleading assertions."
Other critics wonder if this is a signal that Meacham will become involved in other rate cases before the Corporation Commission, such as the pending $49.9 million request made by PSO. They also question whether Meacham, whose primary responsibility as Treasurer is the investment of state money, could be influenced by the outcome of the controversial measure.
Labels: Scott Meacham
posted by Mike McCarville @ 2:02 PM
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