Response deadline set in Oklahoma Youth Expo suit

An Oklahoma County judge has given attorneys for the state more time to respond to a lawsuit that challenges the constitutionality of a $2 million appropriation of state tax dollars to a private nonprofit livestock show.

BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS | Modified: December 18, 2012 at 10:05 am | Published: December 18, 2012 Comment on this article

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An Oklahoma County judge has given attorneys for the state more time to respond to a lawsuit that challenges the constitutionality of a $2 million appropriation of state tax dollars to a private nonprofit livestock show.

District Judge Lisa Davis said Tuesday that the state must submit a response by Dec. 28 in the lawsuit filed by Republican Reps. Mike Reynolds of Oklahoma City and Mike Ritze of Broken Arrow.

The lawsuit alleges that the appropriation of state tax dollars by the Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry to the Oklahoma Youth Expo livestock show is an inappropriate use of taxpayer money and is unconstitutional.

Agriculture Secretary Jim Reese has said the appropriation is entirely legal as a public-private partnership to help farmers and ranchers promote agriculture-related endeavors.