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Henry’s Veto of Corrections Bill Violates Independent Audit’s Recommendations

Sen. Glenn Coffee Sen. Glenn Coffee

On Friday Gov. Brad Henry line item vetoed Senate Bill 1323, a budget bill for the Department of Corrections, violating two major recommendations of an independent performance audit of the agency.

“This veto is another example of Gov. Henry snubbing his nose at good and honest government reforms. The governor was against the independent performance audit of DOC from the beginning, so it is not surprising that he would try to wipe out some of the audit’s common sense recommendations,” stated Senate Co-President Pro Tempore Glenn Coffee, R-Oklahoma City.

The audit, performed last year by MGT of America, Inc., recommended that the Legislature “establish specific funding allocations for major operations and program components” at DOC, which SB 1323 did. But Henry vetoed these funding allocations.

MGT’s audit also recommended that the Legislature provide funding for DOC to “contract for new maximum-security beds at the CCA Davis facility.” The additional money for these beds was included in Section 1 of SB 1323, which Henry vetoed.

Contact info
Paul Ziriax, Leadership Assistant Office of the Co-President Pro Tempore State Capitol: (405) 596-3874ziriax@oksenate.gov