Even before its birth as a state, Oklahoma has been home to what can only be described as robust political debate.
Through the years, the issues have been lofty and the emotions intense.
And still, the debate over issues and the ideas that impacted state government helped shape and mold many state laws and policies. In addition, whether or not you disagree with those involved, by and large our debate has been civil.
Until now. For the past couple of weeks state Sen. Shane Jett has spent a great deal of time – and social media bandwidth – trying to convince his fellow Oklahomans that the Department of Human Services is an evil entity with the sole purpose of taking people’s children.
Jett has moved debates about policy to threats, lies and an invitation to violence Jett, who has served in office for almost 12 years, has used his position in an attempt to demonize state employees and portray a state agency as a criminal enterprise.
The issue revolves around a family whose son has severe medical problems and the disagreement between the boy’s mother and grandmother. The boy is battling leukemia. After an argument between his family members the boy was taken into the care of the Department of Human Services after some members of his family petitioned for a court order that was granted by a judge. The teen was hospitalized and has since undergone medical procedures.
Jett claimed that DHS stepped into the issue to profit from the child's care.
“Part of that problem is they get paid for every child they bring into custody, and the longer they can prolong that, the longer and more days they get paid,” Jett said to KWTV 9.
Jett’s goal has been to vilify a state agency charged with protecting and helping Oklahoma children.
Others have pushed back. State Sen. Paul Rosino told KWTV 9 that Jett was wrong. Rosino said there is a misunderstanding of how the state agency operates.
“These are the kind of things that are vile and it just causes problems,” he said. “And for the people who work for the state of Oklahoma, especially the DHS employees — the front-line employees — they don’t deserve this either. Their job is to protect children and make sure children are safe; and if they make a mistake, we will hold them accountable.”
And, despite what Jett is telling people, DHS is not attempting to generate funds.
“They are not making any money on this,” Rosino said. “In most cases, it cost the state money because the reimbursement for child welfare is probably the lowest reimbursement there is.”
Instead of taking his concerns to fellow lawmakers and agency leaders, Jett has spent his time trying to stir up dissent and hatred and, as he has before, tried to paint state government as evil.
Senator Jett needs to stop now. He should apologize and spend his final year in office working to make Oklahoma better. Shane Jett knows better. Political debate and rhetoric are fine but demonizing state workers and the agency they work for is simply wrong.
M. Scott Carter is an award-winning political and investigative reporter covering federal and state government and politics in Oklahoma.