Mike Brown: Cargill's 'Petty Attacks' Uncalled For
Tahlequah Democat Rep. Mike Brown (pictured) said today that House Speaker Lance Cargill's remarks last week about fiscal responsibility and ethical behavior were uncalled-for "petty attacks."
Brown said Cargill "resorted to petty attacks and blamed others for his problems. His personal attacks on other Members of the House of Representatives are uncalled for.”
“No matter what the Speaker says, the fact is more money has been spent,” said Brown. “The Speaker can send out press releases to justify paying his employees more money and buying new furniture. It is a fact that the Oklahoma House of Representatives and Legislative Service Bureau budgets have increased in his tenure as Speaker.”
“I am perfectly happy with my new office renovation,” said Brown. “I would have been perfectly content with my old oak desk, sofa and chairs. When I asked to keep my furniture I was told that keeping the old furniture wasn’t an option, the Speaker was replacing everyone’s. I am not taking issue with the Speaker over the fact that he renovated the offices. I take issue with the fact that the House budget has increased by $1 million and the Speaker is now making excuses for extravagant spending. Don’t insult my or the peoples’ intelligence by saying you’ve cut the budget when you really haven’t.”
“It seems The Speaker and other Republican House Members want to blame former Senator Gene Stipe or other elected officials' ethical behavior for their current problems. Gene Stipe hasn’t had any control of the state's budget since I’ve been elected. Former Insurance Commissioner Carroll Fisher was impeached by a Democratic controlled House in 2004 for illegally receiving bribes and gifts from the Gene Phillips Group, and is now in prison. Since then the Republican Leadership and a handful of Republican House members enjoyed a fundraiser at the Phillips home in December. When reporters asked them about it, they seemed to have selective memory loss as to whose home they were going or completely forgot the Fisher/Phillips incident.”
“Democrats took action in impeaching Fisher, will others be willing to do the same if necessary?” asked Brown.
“I want to work in a bipartisan government with the Speaker if he is willing. We can all work together to find ways to save Oklahoma taxpayers money. Just don’t use the Speaker’s office to promote spending less money when you are in fact doing the opposite.”
Brown said Cargill "resorted to petty attacks and blamed others for his problems. His personal attacks on other Members of the House of Representatives are uncalled for.”
“No matter what the Speaker says, the fact is more money has been spent,” said Brown. “The Speaker can send out press releases to justify paying his employees more money and buying new furniture. It is a fact that the Oklahoma House of Representatives and Legislative Service Bureau budgets have increased in his tenure as Speaker.”
“I am perfectly happy with my new office renovation,” said Brown. “I would have been perfectly content with my old oak desk, sofa and chairs. When I asked to keep my furniture I was told that keeping the old furniture wasn’t an option, the Speaker was replacing everyone’s. I am not taking issue with the Speaker over the fact that he renovated the offices. I take issue with the fact that the House budget has increased by $1 million and the Speaker is now making excuses for extravagant spending. Don’t insult my or the peoples’ intelligence by saying you’ve cut the budget when you really haven’t.”
“It seems The Speaker and other Republican House Members want to blame former Senator Gene Stipe or other elected officials' ethical behavior for their current problems. Gene Stipe hasn’t had any control of the state's budget since I’ve been elected. Former Insurance Commissioner Carroll Fisher was impeached by a Democratic controlled House in 2004 for illegally receiving bribes and gifts from the Gene Phillips Group, and is now in prison. Since then the Republican Leadership and a handful of Republican House members enjoyed a fundraiser at the Phillips home in December. When reporters asked them about it, they seemed to have selective memory loss as to whose home they were going or completely forgot the Fisher/Phillips incident.”
“Democrats took action in impeaching Fisher, will others be willing to do the same if necessary?” asked Brown.
“I want to work in a bipartisan government with the Speaker if he is willing. We can all work together to find ways to save Oklahoma taxpayers money. Just don’t use the Speaker’s office to promote spending less money when you are in fact doing the opposite.”
Labels: Carroll Fisher, Gene Phillips, Gene Stipe, Lance Cargill, Mike Brown
posted by Mike McCarville @ 4:10 PM
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