Pettigrew: Switzer's Involvement Minimal

Former Rep. Wayne Pettigrew, now a national officer of a firm (InsureNet) bidding to handle the new highway traffic "spy" camera system in Oklahoma, told The McCarville Report Online today that former OU and Dallas Cowboys football coach Barry Switzer, who represents the same firm, has had minimal involvement in trying to land the contract.

The system was proposed by Governor Henry in his budget to raise $50 million in new revenue by determing whether vehicles have the required state insurance. If they do not, fines of $250 are leveled.

Switzer was a Henry donor and fundraiser in his 2002 and 2006 campaigns. Switzer told Fox News 25 yesterday that he has never discussed the system with Henry.

Said Pettigrew: "I don’t think Switzer’s involvement with InsureNet was more than the initial introduction in Oklahoma. The PR firm that was hired by them was Capital Design Group (Chad Alexander) and I believe he is still under contract. I also believe that any lobbying activities were suspended when the RFI came out so as not to convolute the process. Once the RFI was complete the state immediately issued a RFP.

"The three other companies that are bidding on the RFP have probably hired a lobbyist or PR firm as well. In fairness that should be mentioned as well.

"The competitive bidding process in Oklahoma is a good one and one that was reformed in the legislature several years ago. I believe now that all bids are eventually open to the public once a decision is made by the state.

"The security and privacy provisions of the InsureNet system far exceed the other systems that are available. It is the only system that was accepted as the standard for NLETS and it is my understanding that it took them three years to accomplish this."

Privacy advocates and civil libertarians object to such camera systems as an invasion of privacy.

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