An Oklahoma Supreme Court referee heard arguments whether a bill that deals with future appropriations to the state Transportation Department as well as transfers money from the agency is constitutional. A report will be submitted to the high court, which will decide whether to hear the case.
NewsOK
BY MICHAEL MCNUTT mmcnutt@opubco.com
Published: August 18, 2011
Attorneys argued Wednesday before a state Supreme Court referee over the constitutionality of a bill passed this year that deals with future appropriations to the state Transportation Department as well as transfers $101.7 million from the agency to be spent on other purposes this fiscal year.
It's the second time in the past couple months that Jerry Fent, an Oklahoma City attorney, asked the high court to decide whether a bill dealing with state highway and bridge money is constitutional.
Fent, an Oklahoma City attorney, said the measure, Senate Bill 976, violates the state constitution's “one subject matter” rule. He said the issues should have been handled in separate bills.
The bill increases the amount of money that automatically is placed into a Transportation Department fund. It also authorizes the transfer of $101.7 million in state fuel tax revenue from the Transportation Department to the state treasurer's office so it can be spent on agencies not involved in road and bridge construction and maintenance this fiscal year... FULL ARTICLE
Posted on
Thu, August 18, 2011
by John Cox