OKLAHOMA CITY -- As $119 million begin to flow directly into
classrooms of cash strapped school districts across Oklahoma, Todd
Goodman, Chairman of the Oklahoma Democratic Party, is reminding
Oklahomans Congresswoman Mary Fallin was a vocal opponent of this
funding that will keep teachers in the classroom and maintain smaller
class sizes.

State Superintendent Sandy Garret told the Tulsa World this funding
was crucial.

“This funding comes at a very critical time when our schools are
struggling amid record enrollment and $200 million less in state
funding than what they were appropriated in 2009,” Garret said.
Goodman agreed and said it’s important once again to show Fallin has
lost touch with Oklahoma’s values.

“Only in Washington, DC, does it make sense to send billions to Wall
Street banks and let their executives use taxpayers’ money for
extravagant bonuses, only to turn your back on Oklahoma’s students,”
Goodman said. “Let’s get this straight, Congresswoman Fallin is for
Wall Street but against Oklahoma’s classrooms– unfortunately, her
attitude is typical of the Washington way.”

When Congresswoman Fallin voted against the funding, she said the
bill was just “wasteful government spending.” Goodman said education
and students are not wasteful spending and that statement is
“outrageous coming from someone who authorized nearly a trillion
dollars to bailout Wall Street.”

Goodman said voters should look at the impact the funding is already
having in classrooms across the state.

“Congresswoman Fallin may think investing in education is
wasteful spending, but I am sure there are a lot of teachers, parents,
business leaders, and students who would disagree,” Goodman said.

Of the over $116 million allocated to Oklahoma, the URL below
outlines the allocations Congresswoman Fallin deemed “wasteful
spending.”

http://sde.state.ok.us/Finance/Recovery/pdf/StateFiscalStabilization/EducationJobsActAllocations.pdf