THE BOTTOM LINE:
Gov. Kevin Stitt made transparency and efficiency a hallmark of his recent campaign. Earlier this month, he continued an executive order that proponents claim is proof he intends to fulfill those promises. Stitt signed an order prohibiting state agencies from renewing contracts with private lobbyists.
Dozens of state agencies, including the Corporation Commission, Oklahoma Banking Department, Oklahoma Lottery Commission, Oklahoma Turnpike Authority and both Oklahoma State University and the University of Oklahoma, have all hired contract lobbyist in the past year to lobby on their behalf.
These “hired hands” are lobbying for businesses, trade associations and others while collecting money from taxpayers to lobby on behalf of often unelected agency heads. For many Oklahomans that raises the question of what are they lobbying for? The short and easy answer is a larger share of the budget. But in the case of the Lottery Commission isn’t unreasonable to assume that there were conversations to encourage a changing of the rules that allowed them to print $10 scratchers.
That is an assumption, of course, and that is the biggest point of contention. We (the taxpayers) are not privy to objectives of the lobbyists. The lobbyists who are funded with your tax dollars.
BROKEN SYSTEM
The system is broken! However, it is not broken because we have lobbyists. They aren’t the problem. There is no shortage of outrage against special interest groups and lobbyists but everyone one of us have something we care about. Myself included.
There are a number of groups that advocate for newspapers, rail against postal regulations and hikes in postage fees and there are numerous lobbyists at the federal level who are advocating for five-day delivery.
Whether it is funding for cancer research, recreational marijuana, more or less regulation or postage rates, we all have something we want from our government. Yet, we use the term “special interests” to incite fear the same way our older siblings spoke of monsters under our bed. Our system isn’t broken because we have lobbyists. There are literally thousands of issues that affect our daily lives and their job is to bring a particular set of issues to the top of the list.
PROBLEM IS SECRECY
Our system is broken because those who we have entrusted the power of government with have chosen to work against us in secrecy. When it comes to healthcare, the voices of the people are heard. Whether it is through patients’ rights groups, advocates for a single-payer system, doctors, administrators or hospitals, the voices of the people are heard in Congress.
That is true for every issue – citizens, businesses, consumer rights groups, trade associations and lawyers are all making their case to Congress. Their mission, even if you despise it, is out there for discovery. But when our government uses our tax dollars to advocate in secrecy against our voices, the system is broken.
When our system foregoes Lincoln’s now enshrined words, “government of the people, by the people, for the people.” It is broken. The system is broken but not without hope. Let’s rally together and fix it. Our agency heads should make their case directly to our elected leaders. If they are the experts in their field or an employee, why would they not be the best person to make their case?
I for one enjoy the fact that I can purchase larger lottery tickets, but there have been no press releases issued on behalf of the lottery commission this year. Which begs the question: Wouldn’t a full-time public relations officer whose mission it is to advance the agency and encourage John and Jane Q. Citizen to contact their elected representatives be cheaper?
The taxpayer not only deserves transparency but also efficiency. While there is more to do, this was a good first step.