FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Feb. 5, 2011

Old Story New Game:

Republicans Can’t Win Playing by the Rules So They Try to Change the Rules

Senate Republicans announced Friday they are unwilling to abide by a system that has been in place for Decades.

Republicans have decided to take disgraceful measures upon hearing that Superintendant Janet Barresi’s nominee for her Chief of Staff did not meet certain basic requirements, and consequently the Board of Education did not approve her choice. Now, the Republicans won’t change their nominee; they instead are trying to change the rules.

The Board of Education has been in place since 1971, and the State Superintendant acts as the Chair of that Board. Todd Goodman, Chairman of the Oklahoma Democratic Party said the Board serves an important purpose and released the following statement on the matter:

“This Board has been in place for decades, under Republican and Democratic Governors, and provides a necessary balance so that no one person can act as a dictator when it comes to educating our children.

“Sandy Garrett served for over 20 years alongside her Board, eight of which were under Republican Governor Frank Keating, and now suddenly Republicans can’t get their way quick enough and were caught breaking the rules so they try to change the rules.  This is overreaching at its worst, and I hope Oklahomans won’t stand for it.

“I urge all Oklahomans, not just Democrats, to contact Senator Bingman and Senator Ford and tell them they cannot change the rules just because the rules do not suit their immediate political agenda.  Democracy is too important, and we cannot allow them to make a mockery of it.

“Many of the board members’ appointments are finished in April and will be replaced by a Governor Fallin appointee but that isn’t soon enough for this Republican-led legislature.  To hide their blatant political agenda under the guise of protecting the voice of the people while they are trying to deliberately destroy a system of checks and balances is shameful, but shame only applies to those who can be shamed.  The question is does this Republican legislature have any?”

The contacts for the Senators are as Follows:

Senator John W. Ford: 2300 N. Lincoln Blvd., Rm. 424A, OKC, OK 73105, (405) 521-5634, fordj@oksenate.gov

Senator Brian Bingman, 2300 N. Lincoln Blvd., Rm. 424, OKC, OK 73105, (405) 521-5528, bingman@oksenate.gov