OHP Troop S working 9 to 5, and a ODOT SLUSH FUND?

Did Gary Ridley say that?

So, Gary just how much is in that
Size and Weights fund?

Oklahoma Governor misusing the State Airplane?

Last month Governor Brad Henry office announced that revenue for the State of Oklahoma is down almost 20 percent. It is a staggering number; we are more than $1 billion short of balancing the budget.

And that is why this latest case of state-dollar spending is particularly concerning.

But, Governor Brad Henry can uses a State Aircraft for personal vacations; at least once to attend a wedding in Pensacola, Florida.

The governor presided at the wedding. The groom was an Oklahoma Highway Patrol Trooper and the bride was the First Lady's assistant.

The cost to Oklahoma taxpayers totaled about $5,700; not including the salaries of the pilot and co-pilot.

In a partisan move, Senate Democrats put political posturing over "Doing the Right Thing"!

Democrats Lock Up on Program
They Didn’t Fund During Last Budget Crisis

In a partisan move, Senate Democrats put political posturing over jobs for employees in the Departments of Corrections, Highway Patrol, and common education today, as well as other vital state services today, in direct opposition to Governor Henry, who negotiated the bipartisan budget agreement which they opposed today.

“It’s a curious decision by the Democrats today,” said Senate President Pro Tem Glenn Coffee. “They are fighting for restoration of a line item, senior nutrition, which they cut in the 2003 budget crisis.”

In a budget vote on the Senate floor today, Democrats locked up to deny funding for common education, corrections, the state Emergency Fund which pays cities and towns after ice storms, tornadoes and other natural disasters, the state School for the Deaf, state School for the Blind, Department of Public Safety, Military Department, Agriculture, Conservation and other agencies.

“I find it curious that these Democrat political leaders will jeopardize the jobs of troopers, prison guards and education in an election year, under the guise of protecting Oklahoma’s seniors, yet forgot all about those same seniors in a past budget crisis when they had unfettered control of the Oklahoma legislature,” Coffee continued. “The hypocrisy meter is spinning out of control.

“They complain about not having a seat at the negotiating table, yet the governor and his budget negotiator, the Democrat State Treasurer, negotiated this bipartisan agreement on their behalf,” Coffee added.

“And I recall the Senate Democrat Leader saying earlier this session that he would stand with his governor on matters such as this during the budget crisis.

“The Democrat Leader and his caucus have been unwilling to stand by the governor on this deal,” Coffee concluded.

Coffee pointed out that the Democrats’ demand of “only $2.5 million” in the budget for senior nutrition is a blatant act of deficit spending, modeled after their Democrat counterparts in Washington.

“Senators Laster and Corn say all they want is a mere $2.5 million for senior nutrition, yet it would require another $7.5 million next year, creating a $10 million hole in the 2011 budget,” Coffee said. “As the governor recognizes, this is irresponsible.”

It is disappointing that my colleagues on the other side of the aisle are adopting the partisan approach of Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid in that they need to come to grips with the fact that our state is in an unprecedented budget crisis, and that more tough decisions will be made before this is over,” Coffee continued.

“I hope they join the governor’s bipartisan approach and abandon the election year grandstanding.

“I urge them to do the right thing for Oklahoma taxpayers,” Coffee concluded.

Corrections Training Academies to Move to OKC

Action Will Save
More Than
Half-Million Dollars
a year!

The Department of Corrections will relocate its correctional officer training from Wilburton to the Highway Patrol Training Center in Oklahoma City, officials announced today.

The agency will also relocate a separate employee training facility from the OU College of Continuing Education in Norman to the Oklahoma City facility.

The move is expected to save the state more than $500,000 without a reduction in services.

“In this time of budget downturn, this is going to save money in one of our most vital public safety areas – corrections,” said state Sen. Anthony Sykes, a Moore Republican who chairs the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Public Safety and Judiciary. “This helps both agencies better utilize existing resources in the most cost-effective way possible while maintaining public safety standards.”

Sykes noted the announcement comes a day before Senate Republicans plan to discuss their public safety agenda – on Thursday at an 11 a.m. press conference.

“This move will centralize and consolidate training for correctional officers,” said state Rep. Randy Terrill, a Moore Republican who chairs the House appropriations subcommittee on public safety and judiciary. “We believe this move will produce a nice synergy between the DPS and DOC and save taxpayer money while maintaining training standards.”

Closing the Wilburton facility is expected to save about $250,000 annually and moving the training center at the College of Continuing Education at OU will save another $350,000 – bringing the total annual savings to approximately $600,000.

Staff at the Wilburton and OU facilities will be relocated to fill higher-priority positions currently vacant or understaffed at DOC.

The Department of Corrections just completed the agreement with the Department of Public Safety to use the DPS facility.

As part of the agreement, inmate labor will be used to provide food, janitorial, maintenance and grounds-keeping services at the Oklahoma City facility. As much as 70 percent of food products served at the facility will come from prison farms.

“From a budget standpoint, the Department of Corrections is out of cash,” said Justin Jones, director of the state Department of Corrections. “We have no other option than to look at consolidation of services with other state agencies. This happened to be one option that was very workable and amenable to both state agencies and it provides greater efficiencies without reduction in quality of training or reduction in public safety preparedness.”

“Some agencies have assets that can be used by other agencies in these tough economic times,” said Commissioner of Public Safety Kevin Ward. “It appears the Department of Public Safety’s facility is compatible with DOC’s training needs, so we are glad to share assets and make better use of personnel and infrastructure at both agencies. By combining resources, we believe our two agencies will both save money and put out a great work product.”

The move should also enhance recruitment and retention efforts as well as save some correctional officers the cost of extensive travel to southeast Oklahoma to attend the more-than-month-long training sessions.

Sen. Brogdon Bill would ban fingerprinting for driver's license

Oklahoma State Sen. Randy Brogdon is sponsoring a bill to prohibit the state Department of Public Safety from requiring driver's license applicants to give their fingerprints.

The bill (SB 289) would prevent the state from collecting or keeping "any biometric data in connection with motor vehicle registration or operation or in connection with driver licensing."

Biometric data would include fingerprints, palm prints, voice data, iris recognition data, retinal scans and DNA.

It would also apply to Social Security numbers.

Oklahoma Highway Patrol Capt. Chris West says the fingerprint requirement is intended to reduce identity theft and is required under a law that took effect in July 2004.

West says the Social Security numbers help in collection of child support.

Oklahoma State Senate Salutes Highway Patrol Troopers

Members of the State Senate paid tribute to Oklahoma’s Trooper of the Year Award winners for 2007, which included state troopers who risked their own lives to perform a daring helicopter rescue of a Kingfisher couple. Sen. Charles Laster authored legislation honoring Lt. Brian Sturgill and Trooper Joe Howard for their bravery.

Howard, from Shawnee, and Sturgill, from Harrah, both live in the Senator’s district, but the Shawnee Democrat said their heroism had been a source of pride for the entire state. Laster also praised Kingfisher Fire Chief Randy Poindexter, who was with Howard and Sturgill during the helicopter rescue.

“These men could easily have lost their own lives. The conditions were extremely dangerous, and the helicopter was not even designed for rescues, but they were determined to save this couple from the deadly flood waters,” Laster said. “They truly are heroes.”

Last August, Hurricane Erin moved inland, causing the flood waters that submerged the truck Bernice and Leroy Krittenbrink were driving. Their daughter in Utah and much of the nation watched on TV as the Highway Patrol helicopter navigated the swirling waters, submerged trees, and floating debris to rescue the couple. Both victims were too exhausted to hang on to the skids and fell off during the first attempt, but the men repositioned the helicopter and attempted a second rescue which was successful.

“Just this morning on my way into the State Capitol I saw a trooper stop and help an elderly gentleman change a flat tire—a small act of kindness and heroism that is repeated daily by the fine women and men of our Highway Patrol,” Laster said. “Lt. Sturgill and Trooper Howard epitomize that heroism, and we salute them for their public service.”

Oklahoma Senate Pays Tribute to State’s Oldest Trooper

In 1937 Ed Vandergriff was among the very first state troopers to serve the state when the Oklahoma Highway Patrol was first formed. At the age of 97, he is now the oldest living retired trooper in the state.

On Tuesday the State Senate honored Vandergriff with the passage of Senate Concurrent Resolution 86. Sen. Jeff Rabon was principal author of SCR 86. The measure was co-authored by Rep. R.C. Pruett, Rep. Paul Roan and Rep. Glenn Bud Smithson who are all former state troopers.

Rabon said Vandergriff had been a long-time family friend.

“Ed was a teacher in Frogville, Oklahoma when he read a newspaper article about the legislature creating the Highway Patrol. He applied and was a member of the first state trooper class at OU in 1937,” said Rabon, D-Hugo. “He left for a few years to protect his country in World War II, but after returning home he returned to his job as a trooper. He really is a hero.”

Rabon said Vandergriff had often recounted the technical challenges troopers faced in the early days. The only communication device in the 1937 Ford he drove was a giant pole wrapped in copper wire placed on the bumper. Every time Vandergriff and his partner went under an overpass, one of them would have to get out of the car to remove the pole so the vehicle could drive underneath.

Vandergriff eventually retired from the Highway Patrol in 1960, later serving as sheriff of Choctaw County for two years before retiring to a farm.

Vandergriff said he’d slowed down since turning 97, but was still doing “pretty good.” He also applauded the members of the Senate for their service.

“You have a job to do and you’re doing it,” Vandergriff said. “We appreciate you.”