Governor, Speaker Respond to Walters’ PR Deal
Oklahoma Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters contracted with Vought Strategies to get him on national television at least 10 times per month, to get opinion pieces, which Vought would write, into national publications and to write some speeches.
Walters defended the contract, saying he was recruiting teachers, but teacher recruitment has not been a topic of any television appearances nor was it mentioned in story-pitch emails Vought sent to media outlets.
Jennifer Palmer, in collaboration with Wendy Suares at Fox 25 (KOKH-TV) reported that last week. Since then, Gov. Kevin Stitt and House Speaker Charles McCall have each weighed in.
Stitt, who appointed the former history teacher as the secretary of education and endorsed him for superintendent, said on Friday people had a right to criticize all taxpayer spending and ask questions on all programs. He also said it was a fair point to ask questions of every agency that hires PR firms.
McCall was more direct.
“My view of it is you should not be spending state funds, taxpayer dollars, for personal promotion,” McCall said in a meeting with reporters. “I’m sure the House, this cycle, will certainly commit to a limits bill, including the education budget, to specifically prohibit that type of expenditure going forward. But I’m certainly very surprised to hear that money is being used for that anywhere in state government.”
Other questions remain. Secretary of state records show that David Martin, an Education Department employee, who set up the LLC for Vought Strategies on Nov. 9, the last day proposals were accepted, left the agency Friday. The department told Fox 25 (KOKH-TV) that Martin proffered his resignation a month ago.
Why an OSDE employee set up an LLC for an Arlington, Virginia, PR firm remains a mystery.
Similarly, why a vendor began work in August or earlier when the RFP didn’t close until November and the contract didn’t go into effect until March 6 is unclear. Department spokesman Dan Isett said the new contract was an extension, but the department refused to produce the existing contract.
Walters traveled last week for appearances on Fox News, Newsmax and at a Prager U event.
More worth reading:
Domestic Abuse Survivor Bill Advances
Oklahoma is on a path to consider whether a person’s exposure to domestic abuse could be a mitigating factor that affects how the state punishes them for committing that crime. [The Oklahoman]
Bill Would Crack Down on Porn Sites
A bill aimed at protecting children from online pornography is making its way through the Legislature, and with it, Oklahoma has joined a fight being waged across the country over porn, free speech and safety for minors. [The Oklahoman]
Tom Stafford Dead at 93
Thomas P. Stafford, an Oklahoma-born astronaut who made history with the Gemini and Apollo space projects, died Monday. He was 93. [The Oklahoman]
“Where I live in Oklahoma, it’s all ranchers. My friends are all cowboys and pretty rough guys. If I had a hot tub back there, I may as well have Richard Simmons come over and live with me.”
— Blake Shelton
Ciao for now,
Ted Streuli
Executive Director, Oklahoma Watch
tstreuli@oklahomawatch.org
