Senator Wants To Give Taxpayers Stimulus Money

By Ashli Sims, The News On 6

TULSA, OK -- A state lawmaker says the best way to stimulate Oklahoma's economy is to put more money in your wallet.

State Sen. Randy Brogdon, R-Owasso, announced a plan Thursday to steer stimulus cash directly to taxpayers.

From roads and bridges to classrooms and teachers, Oklahoma has big plans for its stimulus cash.

But one state lawmaker wants no part of it.

"I have said from the very beginning -- if we're going to take any stimulus money from Congress, it must come without strings attached," Brogdon said.

Brogdon wanted to say no thanks to the federal stimulus money. He says the cash would obligate Oklahoma budget dollars for years to come. And he fundamentally disagrees with the concept.

"To allow Washington, D.C., politicians to tell us in the state of Oklahoma how to spend our money is just plain wrong," Brogdon said.

Brogdon's plan to send the stimulus money back to Washington never caught on, so now he wants to send it back to you.

"If we bring in $2.6 billion from the federal government, then we send back out of the state coffers $2.6 billion to the taxpayers," he said.

Brogdon says it works out to about $400 per person.

As far as the construction projects already promised, he says they could still happen. The state would just have to prioritize.

He says the alternative is an IOU. Our children would have to pay.

"We just can't afford any more free money from Congress," Brogdon said. "It is indebting our state. It is indebting our nation. We are creating generational debt right here in the state of Oklahoma."

The Owasso Republican is considering a bid for the governorship, but he laughs off any suggestion that this is a political ploy.

"I've been talking about the same things ever since I ran for city council 10 years ago," he said.

Brogdon says he will be introducing legislation soon with more details on his plan.