Sen. Brooks issues statement on Administrative Rules Committee Hearing

OKLAHOMA CITY – Sen. Michael Brooks, D-Oklahoma City, issued the following statement after the Senate Administrative Rules Committee held a hearing on Monday to provide more information about agency rules, including those passed by State Superintendent Ryan Walters and the Board of Education. Such rules can be approved by the Legislature or rejected. If the Legislature does not act, the governor can make that determination.

“Attorney General Gentner Drummond has already issued an opinion that the State Board of Education and Ryan Walters overstepped their authority with the rules they are seeking to enact. Today’s meeting was supposed to provide us with additional information.

“Questions were limited and the representative for the Department of Education was unable to clarify why Superintendent Walters’ power should be expanded, especially in light of the AG’s opinion. Many members have long contended Walters is simply trying to bypass the legislative process with these rules, and nothing I heard today convinced me otherwise.

“We have an obligation to the citizens of Oklahoma to be transparent and accountable and neither was accomplished today. I hope future discussions will be more informative and better serve our constituents.” – Sen. Michael Brooks, D-Oklahoma City

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For more information, contact:  
Sen. Michael Brooks: (405) 521-5557 or Michael.Brooks@oksenate.gov