An attorney questions plans to spend $100 million that is earmarked for state transportation expenses on other purposes. State leaders say the arrangement is constitutional.
NewsOK
BY MICHAEL MCNUTT mmcnutt@opubco.com
Published: June 9, 2011
An integral part of the state's $6.5 billion 2012 fiscal year budget package that even some lawmakers were fuzzy about was challenged Wednesday in a lawsuit filed with the state Supreme Court.
Jerry Fent claims in his lawsuit, which lists Gov. Mary Fallin and others as defendants, that legislators and the governor inappropriately are taking $100 million that is earmarked to be spent on roads and bridges and spending it instead on other purposes.
It's unconstitutional to use the money for purposes other than what it was collected for, Fent said.
“It's definitely for the construction of roads,” he said.
The budget agreement instead calls for allocating that money to 10 other state agencies to balance the budget.
If his lawsuit is successful, the state would come up $100 million short in paying its anticipated expenses for the 2012 fiscal year, which starts July 1. Lawmakers likely would address the problem when they return in February, most likely through additional budget cuts... FULL ARTICLE
Posted on
Thu, June 9, 2011
by John Cox