Henry Has Hopes For Ethics Funding

From The Oklahoman ~ Gov. Brad Henry is hoping an agreement for funding the state Ethics Commission still can be worked out.

Legislators adjourned last week without appropriating as much money that the commission sought. The five-member commission said the money allocated by legislators is insufficient and instructed its staff to start gathering information for a possible lawsuit against the Legislature if more money for the upcoming fiscal year is not supplied.

"Litigation is the wrong approach,” the governor said.

"The Ethics Commission is a critically important agency,” Henry said "It's a unique constitutional agency and that agency must be adequately funded.”

Henry plans to review the budget bill approved by legislators for the commission. The proposed budget calls for the commission to receive about $667,000 — a 30 percent increase — for the 2009 fiscal year that starts July 1. The commission had requested about $906,000.

"We will continue in my office to visit with the Ethics Commission and try to work out something short of litigation,” Henry said. "I am confident that we can work something out.”

Share |