Worthen, Lamb Demand 'Unethical' Working Oklahomans Alliance Donations Be Returned
Republican House and Senate leaders today criticized the "dishonest and underhanded fundraising tactics of the Working Oklahomans Alliance political action committee" and called on the dozens of Democratic members, candidates and PACs who received money from the group to return all contributions immediately.
The Oklahoman reported Sunday that many of the 2,200 individual contributors since 2006 to the Working Oklahomans Alliance were unaware they were donating to political campaigns.
The money was often deducted from workers' compensation claim checks intended to pay for medical expenses and necessities while a worker is unable to work.
"I am appalled by the actions of the Working Oklahomans Alliance PAC and the deceptive tactics they have used to swindle working Oklahoma families out of their hard-earned dollars," said Rep. Trebor Worthen, a member of the House Republican leadership team and political director for the House Republican campaign activities.
"I demand that those PACs, members and candidates who received donations from this unethical PAC return this tainted money; money that was taken off the backs, and sometimes the broken backs, of hardworking, injured Oklahomans."
With ever-growing health insurance costs and higher food and fuel prices, many of the workers quoted in the story said they could have used the money unknowingly taken from them for political campaigns to buy groceries for their families or a tank of gas for their cars.
"The deceitful tactics used by these workers' compensation attorneys to gather these donations are reminiscent of old Louisiana-style corruption. We don't need this kind of politics in Oklahoma, so we're hopeful that the Democrat candidates and PACs who took this dirty money will agree with us and return these contributions," said Senator Todd Lamb, R-Oklahoma City/Edmond. "The attorneys involved in this secretive scheme have proven they will stop at nothing to funnel money to candidates who will block workers' compensation reform, lawsuit reform, and other pro-jobs reforms that would benefit Oklahoma workers," Lamb said.
The Working Oklahomans Alliance gave to a dozen Democratic House and Senate members and candidates in 2008, and has given to many others previously. The PAC also gave thousands in contributions to both the House and Senate Democratic fundraising committees.
"Like the recent federal investigation of former Senator Gene Stipe, this deceitful behavior could go beyond mere state ethics violations. This could be the tip of the iceberg," said Worthen, R-Oklahoma City.
Worthen and Lamb called on the following members and candidates who received the tainted contributions to return them immediately to the workers who desperately need those funds, some of whom are unemployed as a result of their injury. They also urged House and Senate Democratic leadership to return the PAC funds they have received and to not accept further contributions from this group until they change their deceptive and misleading tactics on innocent and often injured workers.
Recent Working Oklahoman's Alliance contributions: Senators Nancy Riley, $5,000; Richard Lerblance, $5,000; Senate candidate Robert Murphy, $5,000; Rep. Eric Proctor, $750; Sen. Tom Adelson, $5,000; Democrats of the Oklahoma State Senate, $10,000; Oklahoma House PAC, $5,000; Sen. Charlie Laster, $2,500; Rep. Mike Shelton, $1,500; Rep. Anastasia Pitman, $1,000; Rep. Jerry Elli, $1,250; Rep. Jabar Shumate, $1,500; Sen. Judy Eason McIntyre, $5,000; WIN PAC, $5,000; Rep. Scott Inman, $2,000; Organized Democratic Youth, $5,000.
Other House and Senate members who have received contributions in past election cycles from the PAC include Reps. Wallace Collins, Al Lindley, Richard Morrissette, Ken Luttrell, Ryan McMullen, Jeannie McDaniel, Randy Terrill, and Sens. Daisy Lawler, Randy Bass, Tom Ivester, Andrew Rice, Sean Burrage, and John Sparks.
The Oklahoman reported Sunday that many of the 2,200 individual contributors since 2006 to the Working Oklahomans Alliance were unaware they were donating to political campaigns.
The money was often deducted from workers' compensation claim checks intended to pay for medical expenses and necessities while a worker is unable to work.
"I am appalled by the actions of the Working Oklahomans Alliance PAC and the deceptive tactics they have used to swindle working Oklahoma families out of their hard-earned dollars," said Rep. Trebor Worthen, a member of the House Republican leadership team and political director for the House Republican campaign activities.
"I demand that those PACs, members and candidates who received donations from this unethical PAC return this tainted money; money that was taken off the backs, and sometimes the broken backs, of hardworking, injured Oklahomans."
With ever-growing health insurance costs and higher food and fuel prices, many of the workers quoted in the story said they could have used the money unknowingly taken from them for political campaigns to buy groceries for their families or a tank of gas for their cars.
"The deceitful tactics used by these workers' compensation attorneys to gather these donations are reminiscent of old Louisiana-style corruption. We don't need this kind of politics in Oklahoma, so we're hopeful that the Democrat candidates and PACs who took this dirty money will agree with us and return these contributions," said Senator Todd Lamb, R-Oklahoma City/Edmond. "The attorneys involved in this secretive scheme have proven they will stop at nothing to funnel money to candidates who will block workers' compensation reform, lawsuit reform, and other pro-jobs reforms that would benefit Oklahoma workers," Lamb said.
The Working Oklahomans Alliance gave to a dozen Democratic House and Senate members and candidates in 2008, and has given to many others previously. The PAC also gave thousands in contributions to both the House and Senate Democratic fundraising committees.
"Like the recent federal investigation of former Senator Gene Stipe, this deceitful behavior could go beyond mere state ethics violations. This could be the tip of the iceberg," said Worthen, R-Oklahoma City.
Worthen and Lamb called on the following members and candidates who received the tainted contributions to return them immediately to the workers who desperately need those funds, some of whom are unemployed as a result of their injury. They also urged House and Senate Democratic leadership to return the PAC funds they have received and to not accept further contributions from this group until they change their deceptive and misleading tactics on innocent and often injured workers.
Recent Working Oklahoman's Alliance contributions: Senators Nancy Riley, $5,000; Richard Lerblance, $5,000; Senate candidate Robert Murphy, $5,000; Rep. Eric Proctor, $750; Sen. Tom Adelson, $5,000; Democrats of the Oklahoma State Senate, $10,000; Oklahoma House PAC, $5,000; Sen. Charlie Laster, $2,500; Rep. Mike Shelton, $1,500; Rep. Anastasia Pitman, $1,000; Rep. Jerry Elli, $1,250; Rep. Jabar Shumate, $1,500; Sen. Judy Eason McIntyre, $5,000; WIN PAC, $5,000; Rep. Scott Inman, $2,000; Organized Democratic Youth, $5,000.
Other House and Senate members who have received contributions in past election cycles from the PAC include Reps. Wallace Collins, Al Lindley, Richard Morrissette, Ken Luttrell, Ryan McMullen, Jeannie McDaniel, Randy Terrill, and Sens. Daisy Lawler, Randy Bass, Tom Ivester, Andrew Rice, Sean Burrage, and John Sparks.
Labels: Campaign Finance Scandal, Todd Lamb, Trebor Worthen, Working Oklahomans Alliance
posted by Mike McCarville @ 2:26 PM
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