How it might affect his agency’s work in battling the Environmental Protection Agency and representing consumers in rate cases before the Oklahoma Corporation Commission we don’t know. But Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt is asking the governor to forego a legislative appropriation for his office in the coming fiscal year. In other words, save the state some money. And he is suggesting his move will not affect the work output from his agency.
“In effect, we have been able to do more with less,” he wrote Governor Mary Fallin this week, according to Tuesday’s edition of The McCarville Report.
Pruitt told the governor that since he took office in 2011, his office has contributed more than $25 million to the state “due to our successful work in case settlements, fines and penalties.” He also has been able to reduce the expense of outside law firms to state agencies by more than $5 million.
“And although the OAG has taken on additional responsibilities in representing 75 state agencies, boards, and commissions (an increase of 25 during my term), assuming the statutory duties of the Human Rights Commission through our Office of Civil rights enforcement, strengthening our Tobacco Settlement enforcement efforts and launching our Solicitor general unit to preserve and protect Oklahoma’s interests in federal court, we have done so without creating an additional burden on the General Revenue Fund,” wrote Pruitt.
When asked how the no-budget request might affect the Agency’s representation before the Oklahoma Corporation Commission and in battling the Environmental Protection Agency, spokesman Aaron Cooper referred OK Energy Today to one section of the letter that read:
“In light of the on-going revenue crisis and the impending budget challenges facing you during the legislation session, I charged my team to find ways to reduce expenses while maintaining service levels and ensuring the faithful discharge of our statutorily required duties. This guide and our sustained success have allowed me to request that the State Legislature forego appropriating FY2017 funds for operations of the OAG. Last year, this amount totaled approximately $6.4 million.”
Pruitt also explained that the appropriations attributable for OAG operations have dropped by 12 percent Fiscal Year 2011.
“It is our hope that releasing these funds will assist in mitigating the apropriations shortfall for agencies charged with public safety,” he added.
The only money Pruitt is asking for from the legislature is a continuation of appropriations for pass-through funds to the AG for state shelters, the Safe Oklahoma program and legal aid.
Read full story in The McCarville Report.
McCarville Report
Read Pruitt’s letter.
