Oklahoma City, OK (February 12, 2010) – Oklahoma DemocraticParty Chair Todd Goodman expressed surprise today that Senate Pro Tem GlennCoffee, the embattled Republican leader of the Senate, is actually familiarwith the term “fiscal discipline.”

“I was amazed to see that Sen. Coffee was able to use theterm ‘fiscal discipline’ in a release his office issued earlier this week,” statedGoodman.  “He hasn’t been able topractice fiscal discipline in his own financial affairs or in his use of statedollars, so that was definitely a surprise to me.”

Coffee stated in yesterday’s release that, in light ofcontinued revenue reports well below estimates, “certainly everyone in stategovernment will be expected to show fiscal discipline. 

However, Coffee has in the past failed to practice what he’spreaching.

In 2009, during a budget crisis, Coffee gave his own staffoutrageous salary increases – even while other state agencies were consideringcutbacks and furloughs.  Among theworst instances was when Coffee gave a nearly 50% raise to one of his personaladvisers, former State Rep. Fred Morgan, and began to pay him more than anyother state official, including the Governor.  Coffee’s Republican former colleague received more than$15,500 per month in salary, plus benefits.

Coffee also was forced to address his own tax problems afterit was revealed that a tax lien had been filed against him, due to his owingmore than $28,000 in back taxes.Coffee refused to answer questions about the loan secured to pay off theback taxes.

He also faced repercussions from the Oklahoma Tax Commissionwhen he failed to pay the franchise tax for his corporation.

More questions were posed when Coffee claimed about $58,000in travel expenses during 2008, with all of the amounts submitted mysteriouslyending in round, whole numbers.

Coffee later missed a deadline for filing his campaignethics report. 

“Given Sen. Coffee’s rich history of failing to practicefiscal discipline, I’m sure he’ll understand why I’m stunned to learn that hehas heard of that term,” Goodman stated.

“I’ll welcome any efforts from Sen. Coffee in the future tobe fiscally sound and to be a good steward of our taxpayer money.”