House panel subpoenas 3 in the executive branch
Three executive branch officials were sent subpoenas Thursday to answer questions about financial mismanagement at the Oklahoma State Department of Health. The subpoenas were issued by state Rep. Josh Cockroft, chairman of the Oklahoma House of Representatives Special Investigation Committee, to Interim Health Commissioner Preston Doerflinger; Denise Northrup, acting director of the Office of Management and Enterprise Services; and Chris Benge, who serves as Gov. Mary Fallin’s chief of staff.
Each was asked to answer 39 questions, many of which extend beyond the Health Department inquiry. The committee also asked the three to produce any records related to missing or misreported state funds at the Health Department or any other state agency.
Officials will also have to provide records about any protest or rally at the Capitol over the past three years, and any attempt by agencies to influence the legislative budgeting process. After the Department of Human Services announced it would have to discontinue the Advantage Waiver Program because of inaction at the Legislature to fill a $250 million budget shortfall, several lawmakers accused the agency of inflating public concern about the issue.
Cockroft also wants to see original documents that led to Fallin’s veto of the budget bill lawmakers adopted in special session.
“We felt that it was important to gain a better understanding surrounding the governor’s veto just because we have yet to see any native document outlining exactly what she did in that veto,” said Cockroft, R-Wanette. “We’ve received word of what has been done, but what we’re hoping to look into is to figure out the background behind the veto.”
The state Health Department declined to comment on the subpoena sent to Doerflinger, who left the Office of Management and Enterprise to run the agency after former Commissioner Terry Cline resigned as the allegations surfaced. A spokeswoman for Office of Management and Enterprise said there would not be a comment about Northrup’s subpoena.
In a written statement, Fallin said she needs time to review Benge’s subpoena before she responds to it.
“We further need to determine that providing the relevant information requested does not interfere with the investigations by the attorney general and the state auditor and inspector,” Fallin wrote. “As I stated on Oct. 30, my office has enlisted the help of the fiscal staff of the Office of Management and Enterprise Services, the state attorney general’s office and the office of the state auditor and inspector to look into the matter to immediately investigate and bring forth clarity to the situation and offer solutions to ensure proper fiscal management of the Oklahoma State Department of Health. Legislative leaders have been briefed about the situation.”
The investigative committee also asked the officials to provide records about salary changes for any agency head.
“My hope is that when we enter into these hearings and we start gathering this documentation, we find that state government is running effectively and taxpayer dollars are being used wisely. But it’s our constitutional duty to ensure that,” Cockroft said.
The hearing is scheduled for 9 a.m. Dec. 20 at the state Capitol.