The Oklahoma Corporation Commission has finally set an August 22 date to handle a nearly 27-year dispute over a bribed vote that gave a massive rate hike to Southwestern Bell. But Attorney General Scott Pruitt is objecting. Some consumers are asking for a refund totaling nearly 16 billion dollars.
It’s a case where a handful of consumers including Corporation Commission Chairman Bob Anthony went to the Oklahoma Supreme Court but the court returned the matter to the Commission. Commissioner Anthony has made it clear that he supports the consumers.
It stems from the 1989 bribed vote by the late Commissioner Bob Hopkins. Commissioner Anthony has contended that the original bribery by attorney Bill Anderson on behalf of Southwestern Bell actually began when Anderson was a staff attorney for the Commission during the 1960s. Anderson took bribes from the telephone company then later went to work for it and ended up paying bribes to Commissioner Bob Hopkins who went to prison following a federal conviction.
The consumers want 16 billion dollars refunded but AT&T and Attorney General Scott Pruitt are both fighting against it.
The 3-member Commission says it will make a decision August 22 on the bribed vote and a call for the 16 million refund.