|
'Special projects' fund districts
The Oklahoman, June 18, 2006
By Tony Thornton
A standing joke at the state Capitol is one that concerns the millions of dollars in
"special project" money that legislators dole out each year.
"It's only pork if you don't get any," said Don Hackler, a state Commerce Department attorney
who oversees special project money that goes through his agency.
For decades, legislators have used the system to fund projects -- some worthy, some not
so much -- and to buy goodwill in their districts.
The system works like this:
Within the Commerce Department's annual appropriations bill, the Legislature dictates
amounts of "pass-through" money for each of 11 sub-state planning districts for economic
development. Lawmakers do the same for the Agriculture Department's funding bill under the
guise of rural fire protection programs.
However, sometimes the pet projects have little to do with either of those stated purposes.
The bills don't specify how each sub-state district is to allocate the money. Each legislator
does that verbally. Virtually the only way to gain those records is from each sub-state district.
Former Attorney General Robert Henry issued an opinion in 1987 saying state agencies couldn't
fund special projects based on informal understandings with legislators.
Although that opinion carries the weight of law, the practice continues in a slightly different
format. Hackler said legislators used to tell the Commerce Department how to spend the money.
Now the money goes straight to the sub-state planning districts, which receive their verbal
orders from legislators.
Legislative leadership keeps a private list of how much each legislator is awarded for his
pet projects. One list, obtained by The Oklahoman after Democrats lost control of the House
in the 2004 elections, illustrates how much being in the right position and the right party
can pay.
That list, for fiscal year 2004, shows $11.6 million divvied up. The bulk reflects the names
of specific Democratic House members, but $5 million is allocated among unnamed senators.
Another $1,034,278 simply shows "House Leadership."
Randall Erwin, who then was chairman of a sub-committee overseeing commerce and agriculture,
received $947,378 for his special projects, far more than any other legislator.
Among named House members, next were Mike Mass, D-Hartshorne, and Jerry Hefner, D-Wagoner.
Each received $500,000 for special projects.
Only five House Republicans received any special project money that year. They were
Bill Case, R-Midwest City, $100,000; Frank Davis, R-Guthrie, $15,000; Chris Hastings,
R-Tulsa, $150,000; Jim Newport, R-Ponca City, $60,000; and Wayne Pettigrew, R-Edmond, $60,000.
Sources familiar with the process said the allocations likely were in return for votes on
Democratic initiatives.
A review of records at one sub-state planning district, the Kiamichi Economic Development
District of Oklahoma, shows a vast range in how legislators choose to award special project money.
The Kiamichi district keeps a list of projects for each legislator. Total amounts ranged
from $4,903 for Rep. Terry Matlock, D-Garvin, in 2002 to the $947,378 awarded to Erwin in 2004.
The Oklahoman reviewed the Kiamichi district's special project money for 13 legislators from
iscal year 2002 through 2005.
The lists show mainly $5,000 or less given for projects such as youth programs, fire equipment,
sewer and water projects, park equipment and rural cemeteries.
Mass and Erwin awarded amounts far beyond that of any other legislator who received money
through the Kiamichi district, records show.
Contributing: Chris Casteel, Washington Bureau
Where Kiamichi money came from
How special project money sent through Kiamichi economic district of Oklahoma was carved up for legislators' special projects:
| Legislator | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 |
| Rep. Neil Brannon | $40,000 | $50,000 | | |
| Rep. Kenneth Cornv | 58,830 | $54,945 | $75,000 | $226,000 |
| Sen. Larry Dickerson | $100,057 | | | |
| Rep. Jerry Ellisv | $70,000 | $150,000 | | |
| Rep. Randall Erwin | $886,278 | $1,416,030 | $872,893 | $947,378
| | Rep. Lloyd Fields | $122,563 | | | |
| Rep. Terry Harrison | $50,000 | | | |
| Sen. Richard Lerblance | $112,690 | $153,940 | | |
| Rep. Mike Mass | $536,857 | | | |
| Rep. Terry Matlock | $27,403 | $114,469 | | |
| Rep. Ray Miller | $19,610 | $16,500 | $9,000 | $31,146 |
| Sen. Jeff Rabon | $41,181 | $92,947 | $80,000 | $75,000
|
|
|
Home