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Oklahoma Ethics Commission

Interesting News That Needs Reading Today

Oklahoma News Headlines

Oklahoma Voice gets the prize for having the most interesting reads in one place this week.

When I opened the email today I was pretty surprised at the topics they’d covered.

Panasonic to delay production at Kansas battery plant as electric car sales decline, policies shift – Oklahoma had tried to land this plant, offering nearly $700M in incentives.

Why is this important? Because of the tag line – Oklahoma was going to offer SEVEN HUNDRED MILLION of YOUR tax dollars to get the plant here. Fortunately, everyone and their dog in Topeka, Kansas, offered more taxpayer dollars than Oklahoma and the plant went to Topeka.

As so many of us fighting the ‘green agenda’ have said – most of these deals are done via non-disclosure-agreements (NDA’s) that leave neighbors of the plant/project/etc. almost completely in the dark as to what has been promised to the plant/project/etc., though the neighbors (i.e. tax payers) are paying for it and will have to live with it as part of the “people in their neighborhood“.

Here we have a plant that was ready to go, but then had to scale back because people are deciding to scale back on EV purchases and because President Trump has put the kibosh on EV subsidies through the Big Beautiful Bill. The plant has already spent taxpayer dollars to get up and running. What’s going to happen to the rest of Panasonic’s community promises of jobs, etc. with the scaleback?

This is just one of the many reasons why OKLAHOMA should NOT be pumping taxpayer dollars into private businesses – in so many cases, taxpayers aren’t getting what they paid for. But who cares, right? It’s not the Governor’s money, or the Commerce Department’s money…

Oklahoma parents, faith leaders drop lawsuit over Catholic charter school

There’s no reason to sue when the Supreme Court has said that taxpayer funds can’t fund religious education.

“The plaintiffs and their legal counsel — who include attorneys from the American Civil Liberties Union, Americans United for Separation of Church and State, and the Freedom from Religion Foundation — declared victory while dropping their case”. The Oklahoma Parent Legislative Advocacy Coalition was also involved.

Sadly, these are all left-of-center organizations that hate Christians and religion. I’m a conservative Christian, so they don’t represent me – other than my viewpoint that the state should not fund religious schools. Here’s why:

  1. My God is a jealous God and if I had autonomy over my purse I would not ever financially support another religion. It’s America. You do your own religion. But don’t do it on my dime. When the government takes my money by force and gives it to a church outside the sphere of my religious belief, I’ve funded a religion whether I meant to or not. I vote. The government is of the people, by the people, for the people. How I can say I have absolutely no say against that is mind-blowing.
  2. The government controls what it funds. During COVID, lots of churches closed down because their state told them to. People quit going to church because they were simply told, “you can’t” and lots of people listened. I do not want my government controlling religious institutions of any kind. Churches are to be the pillar of the state. They can’t be that when the government tells them “you can’t”. Churches should make the state accountable to the people and to God. They can’t if the government tells them, “you can’t”.
  3. It is against the Oklahoma State Constitution to use tax dollars to subsidize religious schools. How did a bunch of attorneys decide that the highest land in the nation can just change Oklahoma’s Constitution and not its people. Who knows? Maybe Oklahomans would decide to change the state Constitution to allow that, but we wouldn’t have known because Oklahoma school choice pushers – Governor Stitt, etc. – wanted to remove The People from the government by making an end-around to the Supreme Court. Nope.

So, obviously, I’m thankful the Supreme Court deadlocked and the School Choice pushers were thwarted.

Former Oklahoma agency head prohibited from working for state, under settlement agreement

Well, the Ethics Commission actually did their job and slapped Shelley Zumwalt on the wrist.

In a story that personifies – for me – the absolute horror show that is the Oklahoma government revolving door of agency heads making the round of government agencies (Stitt appointed Zumwalt to three positions: the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission, the Oklahoma Department of Tourism and Recreation, Secretary of Tourism, Wildlife and Heritage – a Cabinet secretary position), Zumwalt was fined $20,000 by the State Ethics Commission and told she can’t work for the state FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS. Just enough time for Governor Stitt to be removed from office by term limits (thankfully) so that he can’t appoint her to anything else.

As the head of the OESC, Zumwalt created contracts with a business run – in part – by her husband. But don’t worry, neither she nor her husband benefitted, according to Zumwald and the Ethics Commission.

About this situation, AG Drummond said, in April of 2024: “This level of self-dealing represents an unforgivable breach of trust that disqualifies Ms. Zumwalt from overseeing the expenditure of our tax dollars,” Drummond said. “She should resign immediately and cooperate fully with my office as I seek to determine whether any Oklahoma statutes were violated.”

But, never fear, our intrepid AG will not now investigate Ms. Zumwalt because he’s satisfied – after the Ethics Commission ruling – that no crimes were committed here. Come on. Seriously? State Auditor Cindy Byrd’s office found that she violated the rules on conflict of interest by issuing contracts to a company of which her husband was vice-president.

So, breaking the rules isn’t committing a crime? Rules put in place to protect taxpayers from contract-fixing? Why have rules then? What are those supposed to do exactly? Provide a typist somewhere something to do entering it into a database? Again. Slap on the wrist. Yawn. Sigh. Who cares? It’s just taxpayer money…

State board calls for investigative audit of Epic Charter School – Mismanaged budget resulted in mass layoffs at Epic, state officials say

Why has somebody at the Oklahoma Statewide Charter School Board not created an agenda item for closing Epic Charter Schools? My word. This school has been mismanaged from the word “go” and cost taxpayers MILLIIONS and MILLIONS of dollars. Why does this keep happening? Why is the OSCSB LETTING it happen?

First there was State Auditor Cindy Byrd’s scathing audit of Epic which showed that, “since 2015, Epic was allocated $458 million in tax dollars, with $125.2 million funneled to a private company owned by Ben Harris and David Chaney, according to the audit“, though AG Drummond has declined to prosecute the men since taking the case over in 2023. Now, there are massive layoffs and a $30 million shortfall.

Cindy Byrd’s office performed the original audit. Now, Chair Bryan Shellem and the OSCSB have decided to hire an outside auditor to examine the school’s books. This is concerning. The ‘right’ auditor has to be found. So many state agencies and governments use auditors to obtain generalized information that doesn’t provide meaningful results to taxpayers. It will be interesting to follow this story to find out how EPIC will be audited now – and by whom.

FAMILY ORIENTED INFORMATION –

Porn and marijuana are hurting our boys. Parents and schools need to speak up.

“They smoke to relax. They watch to escape. They become lethargic, less motivated, more isolated. Not because they don’t care; but because they’re chemically rewarded for not caring.”

This is a HUGE and IMPORTANT statement. In point of fact, every dad (and mom) needs to read this OpEd in the Daily Oklahoman today and ACT ON IT. Young men in our society are being turned into zombies and we’re effectively letting this happen. Unfortunately, too many parents don’t care as much as this letter-writer. Please read this short editorial and take it to heart.

2025 Homeschool Curriculum Picks and Practical Planning Tips – Aby Rinella and Yvette Hampton

We’ve had Yvette on the show before. She and her husband produced the movie, “Schoolhouse Rocked: The Homeschool Revolution“, a documentary about the rise and possibilities of homeschooling.

Yvette – and Aby Rinella – just released this list of homeschool curriculum picks and planning tips! JUST IN TIME FOR YOU TO DECIDE TO HOMESCHOOL INSTEAD OF GOING BACK TO YOUR PUBLIC SCHOOL!

Check these out and opt for staying home with your kids. It was the best thing I EVER did and I wouldn’t take it back for all the money in the world. In fact, the only downside I EVER found to having my kids with me 24/7 was that when they finally grew up and flew out of the nest, it was just SO LONELY. Having them around was just the best! I recommend it HIGHLY.

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An-Op Ed Received After Today’s Video With Jason Murphy On The Ethics Of The Oklahoma Legislature

Ethics definition

Though I haven’t edited the video to shorts yet, if you didn’t see this morning’s live video with former legislator and current author of The Oklahoma State Capitol on Substack, Jason Murphy, I suggest you do. You can find it on our YouTube and Rumble channels. If you’re not paying attention to the Oklahoma legislature, she better be. They’re not only not acting very “Red”, they’re also not acting very ethically either.

The following is an Op-Ed I received after the video.

Where Is the Oklahoma Ethics Commission When We Need It Most?

By Domesticated Warrior – domesticatedwarrior@gmail.com

When we think of government ethics, we often assume there’s a safeguard in place to ensure that public officials are held to the highest standards. In Oklahoma, that safeguard is the Oklahoma Ethics Commission—an independent agency charged with enforcing rules around conflicts of interest, campaign financing, and transparency in public service. But lately, many of us are asking a very simple question: Where are they?

This session alone, we’ve seen several troubling examples of apparent conflicts of interest among our lawmakers:

  • Senator Lonnie Paxton, the new President Pro Tempore, has drawn scrutiny for his close ties to PACs and dark money groups, particularly from the energy sector. He also reportedly brushed off concerns about conflicts of interest during a recent Senate Education Committee hearing, suggesting such conflicts were acceptable—rather than disqualifying.

  • Senator Paul Rosino filed a resolution to oust the head of the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health—while his wife works there whether directly or via a contractor. That’s not just poor optics. That’s a textbook case for recusal, and one that should have triggered an immediate ethics review.

  • Representative Josh West, co-chair of the mental health caucus, is actively involved in mental health policy while his wife owns a mental health practice. This isn’t about questioning his passion for the issue. It’s about whether his votes and advocacy may directly benefit his family’s business.

  • Representative Brian Hill, a vocal champion of workforce reform, sits on the Workforce Committee and frequently collaborates with the Oklahoma State Chamber. The same Chamber that holds exclusive $350 fundraising dinners and pours money into legislation favorable to their corporate agenda. Hill’s workforce bills align tightly with the Chamber’s interests, raising red flags about policy being steered by private influence instead of public need.

  • And most recently, House Speaker Kyle Hilbert violated House rules and called for a bonus vote on a bill that directly benefited initiatives pushed by the State Chamber. It was a maneuver that should have been stopped—not rubber-stamped. Hilbert has received donations from Koch PAC, a major financial backer of the State Chamber and local business chambers throughout Oklahoma. If that’s not a conflict of interest, it’s certainly one that deserves real scrutiny.

Yet in all these cases, the Oklahoma Ethics Commission has remained silent. No public inquiries. No investigations. No statements.

We shouldn’t have to be the ones filing ethics complaints just to get accountability. That’s literally the job of the Ethics Commission—to proactively monitor, investigate, and respond to behavior that threatens public trust. When those charged with protecting integrity fall asleep at the wheel, the system begins to erode from the inside.

We’ve allowed a dangerous narrative to take root in our Capitol: that conflicts of interest are normal, that they’re manageable, or worse—that they’re nobody’s business. But they are our business. Every piece of legislation passed by conflicted lawmakers risks being tainted by undue influence. Every ignored conflict of interest sends the message that the rules don’t apply to those in power.

This isn’t partisan. This is about restoring a basic expectation of fairness and accountability in Oklahoma governance. And if the Ethics Commission is unwilling or unable to do its job, then maybe it’s time we ask a more fundamental question:

Who watches the watchdog?

We need structural reforms: increased funding and independence for the Ethics Commission, greater transparency on legislator financial and familial ties, mandatory recusals in cases of direct personal benefit, and timely public reporting of ethics violations. Because right now, ethics in Oklahoma politics looks less like oversight—and more like a cover-up.

If you’ve lost faith in the system, I don’t blame you. But silence will only allow these problems to deepen. Speak up. Push back. And as we head toward the next election cycle, ask yourself this:

Did your legislator work for the people—or for the people who fund their campaigns?

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VIDEO: Dark Money – a look at PACS, 501C4s and independent expenditures in Oklahoma’s 2022 elections

We’ve all seen them; the mailers that call a candidate names, but have nothing but a PAC title to identify themselves. Who are these PACs? Who or what supports them? Why is it hard to identify PAC owners? Shouldn’t we be able to ask questions of people slamming the candidates we like with seemingly unlimited money to do so? Many of us are tired of this endless dark money SWAMP and want answers. This video will give you a start at answering some questions you may have about who is influencing Oklahoma’s elections.

This video was filmed at the Tulsa 912Project on 9/8/22. You can find the original video here – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KkFjhHzI-Ww 

Tulsa 912Project’s website can be found here – https://www.tulsa912project.com/

The diagram can be found here:

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Dark Money – Elections and Ethics Dark Money Interim Study

This is the video from the Oklahoma House of Representatives website recorded during the Interim Study on Dark Money held by the Elections and Ethics Committee at the Oklahoma State Capitol, 9/7/22.

Only the Chair, Representative Jim Olsen and the Vice-Chair, Representative Max Wolfley were in attendance for the presentation. In addition, Ethics Director Ashley Kemp left before my presentation and was not available to answer any of the questions asked in my presentation.

Please, if you have questions after watching the video above (or the full video of my presentation to the Tulsa 912) contact the members of the Elections and Ethics Committee listed below and tell them so. We must let our legislators know that the practices outlined in the video are not ok with Oklahomans and changes must be made. Transparency in elections is paramount to the continuation of our Republic.

Jim.Olsen@okhouse.gov, Max.Wolfley@okhouse.gov, Merleyn.Bell@okhouse.gov, Cyndi.Munson@okhouse.gov, Jim.Grego@okhouse.gov, David.Smith@okhouse.gov, Anthony.Moore@okhouse.gov, Rande.Worthen@okhouse.gov

Here is the link the Oklahoma Ethics Commission. Here is the link to their staff page and here is the link to the Ethics Commissioners.

Please send this link and any others on this website to friends and educate them about what is going on in Oklahoma elections and who’s behind the over 5 million dollars spent on Independent Expenditures in Oklahoma over the primary and run-off elections so far this year (22).

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