Livestock show appropriation offers reason for Oklahoma taxpayers to be concerned about budget-writing process

The stock show money was part of the state Department of Agriculture budget in a general appropriations bill considered on the next-to-last day of the legislative session. House members initially opposed the bill but then passed it upon reconsideration. Several Republicans changed their vote to allow final passage.

Because the budget bill was brought so late, there was no time to correct problems due to logistical issues. It's hard not to suspect that this was by design.

Lawmakers voting to kill the bill would have effectively voted to hold a special session. Addressing a $2 million appropriation problem would have required spending $100,000 more on an extra week of session. That created public relations pressure to pass the budget regardless of any legal or ethical concerns.

The $2 million reportedly came from a fund in the secretary of state's office. This raises red flags since fees are supposed to pay for services provided. Last time we checked, the secretary of state doesn't oversee livestock shows. The agency isn't supposed to be a slush fund.

Furthermore, the budget legislation didn't specify that the $2 million would go to the livestock show. It's “pass through” money, a practice long criticized by Republicans before they won control of the Legislature — and with cause. Former state Sen. Gene Stipe, D-McAlester, was indicted in 2007 for allegedly bribing three state House lawmakers to steer state funds to a dog food plant he secretly owned.