Oklahoma County funds flow for Tinker Air Force Base lobbying

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ Although Tinker Air Force base remained off a federal base closure list released in May, Oklahoma County continues to spend thousands of public dollars for Tinker's protection

Sunday, August 7th 2005, 11:42 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ Although Tinker Air Force base remained off a federal base closure list released in May, Oklahoma County continues to spend thousands of public dollars for Tinker's protection and lobbying.

The money flows to the Greater Oklahoma City and Midwest City chambers of commerce, and most of those doling out and handling the funds say they're as necessary as ever.

Officials say for 10 of the past 11 years Oklahoma County has given the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce $100,000 per year to lobby on Tinker's behalf.

According to county records, the Midwest City Chamber got more than 18-thousand dollars in county money to spend between July 2004 and June 2005. The county approved a similar budget for the Midwest City Chamber that extends through summer 2006.

Chamber officials say the lobbying is needed to keep jobs at Tinker and attract new jobs.