Lawsuit Challenges Spending Plan

Tuesday, June 26th 2007, 6:08 pm

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- An Oklahoma City attorney has filed a constitutional challenge in the Oklahoma Supreme Court to a $140 million appropriations bill passed by the 2007 Oklahoma Legislature.

Among other things, Jerry R. Fent claims that the measure violates a provision of the Oklahoma Constitution requiring that funding bills embrace a single subject, except when a bill has been designated as a general appropriations bill.

The suit seeks to invalidate the appropriation of surplus funds for various projects, including $6 million for the Oklahoma Bioenergy Center, $5 million for private prisons and halfway houses and money for higher education, public schools, conservation
projects, fire equipment, replacement of Highway Patrol vehicles and other programs.

A hearing on Fent's bid to block expenditure of the funds was set for 10:30 a.m. Wednesday before a Supreme Court referee.