OKLAHOMA CITY - A conservative state lawmaker has filed legislation that would give the Oklahoma Legislature the ability to freeze, suspend, or withhold state funds from public colleges and universities they have issues with.
State Rep. Gabe Woolley, a Republican from Broken Arrow, said House Joint Resolution 1037 - a proposed constitutional amendment - was designed to “increase the public accountability and oversight of Oklahoma’s publicly funded colleges and universities.”
The resolution must be approved by a majority of both the Oklahoma House of Representatives and the Oklahoma State Senate before being placed on a statewide ballot for voter consideration.
Should the amendment pass and become part of the constitution, it would give lawmakers the authority to temporarily freeze, suspend, or withhold state-appropriated funding from institutions within the State System of Higher Education through a joint resolution, placing ultimate authority with Oklahoma voters.
The proposal comes on the heels of a controversy at the University of Oklahoma, when a student received a failing grade on an essay. The student used criteria from the Christian Bible to debate about gender issues.
Last month a group of far-right lawmakers, the Freedom Caucus, released a public list of demands of OU, including a reversal of the student’s failing grade and a public apology to the student. The Freedom Caucus said if OU refused to change, the caucus would introduce defunding legislation.
Woolley said his goal was the make colleges and universities more accountable.
“How tax dollars are utilized should always be subject to the will of the people. Our universities and colleges should be grounded in truth, reality and science when it comes to academic content, school climate and culture,” the lawmaker said in a media statement. “A stronger system of accountability through the people of Oklahoma will help ensure quality education and responsible use of tax dollars.”
Still, while Woolley believes the measure would help, another Republican lawmaker - House Budget Chair Rep. Trey Caldwell, a Republican from Faxon, said the Legislature already has a robust evaluation process.
“We have a process for all legislation,” he said. “We have a higher education subcommittee. But in general, I think having a well-funded higher education system is a net positive for state of Oklahoma and I don’t look to defund any of our institutions. In fact, I want to make sure more kids have the opportunity for higher education and more kids have the opportunity for CareerTech.”
Rep. Daniel Pae said adding another “layer of accountability” really wasn’t necessary. “I believe we take accountability seriously in the budgeting process,” Pae, a Republican from Lawton, said. “During the last couple of weeks before session starts there are always bills filed to generate headlines. They get a lot of attention but they don’t go very far in the process.”
The House’s Minority Leader disagreed. She called the measure ‘unserious.’
“Simply put: it is unserious and should be treated as such,” Rep. Cyndi Munson, D-Oklahoma City, said.
Lawmakers will have an opportunity to review the proposal beginning Feb. 2, when the Second Regular Session of the 60th Oklahoma Legislature opens.