Wilcoxson: Adair Nomination Violated Law
Senate Education Co-Chair Kathleen Wilcoxson said she did not support the nomination of former House Speaker Larry Adair to the State Board of Education because that nomination was in violation of state law.
The nomination failed on a tie vote of 7-7 to win the full support of the Senate Education Committee.
Wilcoxson said the committee’s decision not to confirm the nomination was not about personality or politics, but was about public policy and the rule of law.
“I have tremendous respect for Speaker Adair and his contributions to our state,” said Wilcoxson, R-Oklahoma City. “However the law is very clear and it was affirmed in a 1998 Attorney General’s opinion. If the Governor withdraws a nomination, he cannot turn around and re-nominate that individual for the same post. That is exactly what happened in this case, and I am bound by my oath of office to uphold the law."
Wilcoxson said her vote was also based on public policy and the need for additional reforms in public education, adding Adair had failed to support important reforms in the past.
“I believe strongly that we need greater accountability, more transparency and significant reform in order to lower our drop-out rates and improve student achievement levels,” Wilcoxson said. “I would have serious concerns about any nominee with strong ties to the status quo in public education. It comes down to whether we want to stand still, or move our state forward.”
Wilcoxson said she believes Adair is only the second person nominated by Governor Henry since his 2002 election to be defeated in any committee. She also stated that for more than a year she has encouraged the governor to work with the Senate to find a consensus nominee capable of winning the bipartisan support of the majority of members of the Senate Education Committee. Meanwhile, Senator Kenneth Corn blasted the failure of the committee to approve Adair's nomination: “This is a slap in the face to a man who has devoted his entire life to helping Oklahoma. He’s a former educator who dedicated himself to building a better future for our young people, and he brought that dedication with him to the State Legislature,” said Corn, D-Poteau. “Instead of taking advantage of his experience and life-long desire to help Oklahoma’s children, Republicans serving on that committee decided to play partisan politics.”
The nomination failed on a tie vote of 7-7 to win the full support of the Senate Education Committee.
Wilcoxson said the committee’s decision not to confirm the nomination was not about personality or politics, but was about public policy and the rule of law.
“I have tremendous respect for Speaker Adair and his contributions to our state,” said Wilcoxson, R-Oklahoma City. “However the law is very clear and it was affirmed in a 1998 Attorney General’s opinion. If the Governor withdraws a nomination, he cannot turn around and re-nominate that individual for the same post. That is exactly what happened in this case, and I am bound by my oath of office to uphold the law."
Wilcoxson said her vote was also based on public policy and the need for additional reforms in public education, adding Adair had failed to support important reforms in the past.
“I believe strongly that we need greater accountability, more transparency and significant reform in order to lower our drop-out rates and improve student achievement levels,” Wilcoxson said. “I would have serious concerns about any nominee with strong ties to the status quo in public education. It comes down to whether we want to stand still, or move our state forward.”
Wilcoxson said she believes Adair is only the second person nominated by Governor Henry since his 2002 election to be defeated in any committee. She also stated that for more than a year she has encouraged the governor to work with the Senate to find a consensus nominee capable of winning the bipartisan support of the majority of members of the Senate Education Committee. Meanwhile, Senator Kenneth Corn blasted the failure of the committee to approve Adair's nomination: “This is a slap in the face to a man who has devoted his entire life to helping Oklahoma. He’s a former educator who dedicated himself to building a better future for our young people, and he brought that dedication with him to the State Legislature,” said Corn, D-Poteau. “Instead of taking advantage of his experience and life-long desire to help Oklahoma’s children, Republicans serving on that committee decided to play partisan politics.”
Labels: Brad Henry, Kathleen Wilcoxson, Kenneth Corn, Larry Adair
posted by Mike McCarville @ 2:23 PM
