Oklahoma lawmakers are reconsidering giving the governor direct appointment power over state agencies after a series of scandals and turnover in leadership. Changes made in 2018 and 2019 centralized authority with the governor and took hiring power away from oversight boards. While some saw this as a way to streamline governance, others are concerned about accountability and checks and balances.
Law professor Andrew Spiropoulos argues that the executive branch lacks adequate power to run Oklahoma’s government effectively due to the fragmented structure of agencies. However, some changes to gubernatorial power came after scandals and frustrations with certain agencies, such as the Swadley’s scandal and missing funds at the Department of Health.
Governor Kevin Stitt campaigned on expanded powers and has appointed individuals with management experience rather than agency operations expertise. This has led to conflicts with existing agency staff and lawmakers. Some lawmakers are now proposing bills to restore oversight boards’ authority in hiring agency directors, as seen with Senate Bill 4 for the Tourism Department.
While Stitt aims to limit government growth and focus on cost-cutting, concerns remain about accountability and the effectiveness of expanded gubernatorial powers. With challenges like the pandemic affecting agency operations, the debate on the balance of power between the governor and oversight boards continues. It remains to be seen how these dynamics will evolve in the upcoming legislative sessions.
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