Here's how Oklahoma Republicans will investigate Walters, state Dept of Ed

After recent escalations, Republican lawmakers in Oklahoma will use a state financial agency to investigate Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters and the state’s Department of Education.

State Rep. Kevin Wallace said he would ask the Legislative Office of Fiscal Transparency (LOFT) to look into Walters and the Department of Education after lawmakers signed a petition calling for a committee in the House to look at six recent issues earlier this week.

Walters told a local TV station that those calling for an investigation are “liberal Republicans” who are “flat-out wrong” and are a “lackey of the teachers union.”

“The Legislative Office of Fiscal Transparency (LOFT) is a state agency in the legislative branch that assists the Oklahoma House and Senate,” the agency’s website reads. “LOFT provides budgetary recommendations to the LOFT Oversight Committee for use in setting the funding of state government, higher education, and public schools.”

A previous petition to create an investigative committee in the House received support from 20 Republicans in the House, but fell short of the necessary support required to get House Speaker Charles McCall to create the committee, The Center Square reported earlier this week. (Like Chalkboard News, The Center Square is owned and operated by the Franklin News Foundation.)

McCall said in the press release Thursday that he approved the LOFT investigation of the Oklahoma State Department of Education.

“LOFT is designed to ensure that taxpayer dollars are being spent responsibly by state agencies, making them the ideal entity to examine any concerns related to spending at OSDE,” McCall said in the media release. “This investigation by LOFT allows us to address these concerns efficiently without the need for a costly special legislative session.”

“I trust that Chairman Wallace, and LOFT, will conduct a comprehensive review that will provide clarity on the issues at OSDE and offer solutions to ensure that taxpayer funds are managed appropriately,” McCall said. “I fully support this process.”

McCall said he would also assist the state attorney general in investigating Walters and the state education agency.

“Additionally, my office will be sharing all relevant information with Attorney General Gentner Drummond regarding any potential violations of the Open Records or Open Meeting Acts by OSDE,” McCall added. “We are committed to transparency, and the findings from this investigation will be made available to the public.”

Wallace said that the fiscal oversight agency would be looking into how the Department of Education used public funds.

“In my capacity as Chairman, I intend to have LOFT investigate funding disbursement concerns raised by both citizens and legislators in regard to funds earmarked to OSDE for specific purposes,” said Wallace in the release.

Wallace said the investigation is not intended to pursue Walters but to ensure public money is being spent correctly.

“This isn’t about Superintendent Walters; this is about the transparency of a State Agency and getting answers for our constituents,” Wallace said in the release. “When the Legislature approves funding for a specific purpose, it is incumbent on the agency to which those funds are allocated to spend them properly and in a timely manner.”

Senate leadership also backs the investigation and will move on any potential findings, according to a Friday statement from Senate Pro Tem Greg Treat's office.

“Numerous Senators and I have been raising questions about spending and money not being allocated to specific programs the legislature has authorized at the Department of Education,” Treat said in the press release. “While Senators will need to recuse themselves from the investigation to avoid a potential conflict of interest if we have to act on the findings, I fully respect Speaker McCall’s desire to move forward with an inquiry and I will not be an impediment."

Treat said he would direct staff at LOFT to help, but said the investigation is outside the agency's intended function.

“While this does not follow the original mission or purpose of LOFT, and the Senate was not involved in the initiation of the investigation, the concerns are serious, and the nature of this matter deserves attention," Treat said. "I look forward to the outcome of the House investigation.”

This piece has been updated since publication to include comments from Senate Pro Tem Treat's office.