OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR)– The Oklahoma House and Senate Joint Committees on Appropriations and Budget passed a ban on the State Department of Education’s public relations spending Monday.
“It’s sad that we have to actually do something like this,” House of Representatives Education Appropriations and Budget Subcommittee Chair, Representative Mark McBride (R-Moore) told KFOR.
Last year, News 4 reported OSDE paid Texas-based video production company, Precision Outreach $22.5k in taxpayer dollars to produce 30 minutes of videos for the department.
One of those videos included a “public awareness campaign” with clips of people speaking at events for national education and teachers’ groups, while ominous music played in the background. It also featured clips of interviews State Superintendent Ryan Walters gave to national media outlets in which he criticizes teachers’ unions.
As of Monday afternoon, that “public awareness campaign” only has 3.8k views on YouTube.
“This is a poor use of state dollars for self-promotion on whatever news network it is,” said Rep. McBride.
That $22.5k contract ran from May 22, 2023 through May 21, 2024.
Another purchase order obtained by News 4 shows the Oklahoma State Department of Education entered into a new $50k contract with Precision Outreach to create social media videos for OSDE between March 6 and June 30, 2024.
After June 30, Precision Outreach and OSDE can renew the contract for three optional 12-month periods.
Additionally, further records provided to KFOR show OSDE entered into a separate contract with Washington D.C.-based PR firm Vought Strategies.
The contract between Vought Strategies and OSDE lists the following public relations responsibilities for Vought Strategies:
“Consult for third-party communications activities.”
“Provide national media bookings and placement activities.”
“Provide print and digital Opposite the Editorial Page (Op-ed) placement nationally.”
“Coordinate national events and appearances for executive staff.”
“Write speeches for events.”
OSDE contract with Vought Strategies It goes on to list specific requirements Vought Strategies must meet in order to stay in compliance with the contract:
“Provide at least three op-ed placements per month.”
“Compose at least two speeches per month.”
“Complete at least 10 media bookings per month.”
“Provide public relations consultation for education-related activities on an as-needed basis.”
OSDE contract with Vought Strategies Since OSDE hired Vought, State Superintendent Ryan Walters has made numerous appearances on national commentary outlets including Fox News and Newsmax.
A purchase order shows OSDE paid Vought Strategies $30k in tax dollars for services between March 6 and June 30, 2024.
Like the purchase order between OSDE and Precision Outreach, the purchase order between OSDE and Vought Strategies also indicates the contract can be renewed for three 12-month periods, at a rate of $200 per hour.
“A lot of what [Walters] has done that has frustrated people has been absolutely outlandish and bombastic and unfortunately within his rights,” said Representative Forrest Bennett (D-OKC).
Current Oklahoma law doesn’t prohibit Walters from spending taxpayer dollars on self-promotion and public relations. Lawmakers are now working on a proposal that would ban it though.
Senate Bill 1122 states in Section 16, “No funds appropriated to the State Department of
Education in Enrolled Senate Bill No. 1125 of the 2nd Session of the 59th Oklahoma Legislature or under the control of the State Department of Education shall be encumbered or expended for the purpose of securing media interviews, public relations, or other public promotional purposes.“
There is an emergency clause attached to SB1122 which means it would go into effect July 1 if signed by Governor Kevin Stitt.
Tuesday afternoon, the Senate passed an OSDE budget worth $3,861,909,518.
“We need somebody here in the office taking care of our teachers and our students and dealing with parental questions instead of somebody traveling around or talking on some talk show or whatever,” stated Rep. McBride. “We don’t need to hire a firm out of D.C. or a lobbyist group out of Texas or their cronies, whoever they work with.”
It’s a small step, but a step in the right direction. The legislature advancing this policy is proof they do not believe it was the right way to spend money.
Representative Forrest Bennett, D-OKC House Democrats have been requesting a bipartisan investigative committee to look into OSDE and Walters for months. To do so, Speaker of the House Charles McCall (R-Atoka) has to sign off on it, but he has made no movement publicly.
“The legislature has the ability to be a check and balance on the executive branch. I believe there are privately many, many legislators who want to see more done about this. But publicly not much has been done,” added Rep. Bennett.
If the proposed measure is signed into law, it would take effect July 1. However, with Walters’ PR and video production contracts ending June 30, lawmakers are concerned it could open a loophole for a quick turnaround contract.
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Anybody in [their] right mind would not do that. If the governor decides to sign it, it pretty much makes a statement that we don’t want you doing this and I don’t think it would be a wise move on anybody to do that.
Representative Mark McBride, R-Moore “It would be a violation of the spirit of this law and while it’s beyond me why we didn’t find a way to make that legislation effective sooner, the bottom line is we have sent the message that the state of Oklahoma does not agree with that way of spending money. If he does it again, it will fly in the face of what a bipartisan group of legislators has decided,” stated Rep. Bennett. “I guess that’s to say the ball is in his court. If he wants to show Oklahomans that he’s a serious person who’s interested in putting the state first, our educators and our kids above himself, he will not do that. But I would bet the farm that he will. If he does, I think that is proof this legislature needs to take stronger actions.”
Today, it’s Ryan Walters. Tomorrow, it may be a governor who is out of control or another statewide elected official. The legislature has a solemn responsibility to be that check and balance as a co-equal branch of government.
Representative Forrest Bennett, D-OKC