Henry Receives Political Donor Measure

Governor Henry has on his desk a bill that would ban political contributions from legal judgments or settlements.

The bill was filed following a series of articles in The Oklahoman about contributions made by cliernts to political committees operated by attorneys.

The Senate approved the bill on Wednesday.

Senate President Pro Tem Glenn Coffee said the bill was filled following the reports that money from workers' compensation awards was funneled into the political process by plaintiff attorneys without the knowledge of injured workers.

House Bill 1601 passed on a 26-22 party-line vote.

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Jones Calls For Alliance Investigation

Republican Party Chairman Gary Jones said today an official investigation is needed into the secretive Working Oklahomans Alliance, whose donations to Democrats were revealed on Sunday by The Oklahoman.

Jones' remarks came today during an interview with Reid Mullins on KTOK. Jones said he's called for an investigation into such activities for more than a year.

The Oklahoman reported, "A secretive organization has raised close to $1 million throughout the last decade for political purposes, mostly from injured workers who sometimes don't even know they've donated."

The paper reported that some injured workers listed as political donors to the Working Oklahomans Alliance "were represented by Norman attorney Richard Bell, a key figure in a campaign corruption scandal in the 1990s involving then-Gov. David Walters."

Jones for years called for investigations into the funding of Jeff McMahan's campaigns as auditor and inspector. McMahan, who twice defeated Jones for the post, and his wife now face prison terms on federal felony counts.

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