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Oklahoma Democrats say possible investigation in State Superintendent Ryan Walters is overdue

Members of both parties agreed an investigation is needed, but Democrats said it should have happened months ago. Some Republicans argued that now is the time

Oklahoma Democrats say possible investigation in State Superintendent Ryan Walters is overdue

Members of both parties agreed an investigation is needed, but Democrats said it should have happened months ago. Some Republicans argued that now is the time

OVERDUE. YEAH, GUYS, MEMBERS OF BOTH PARTIES AGREE AN INVESTIGATION ON RYAN WALTERS IS NEEDED. HOWEVER, DEMOCRATS ARGUE THIS SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED MONTHS AGO. WHILE REPUBLICANS SAY THE RIGHT TIME IS NOW. AND WHAT WE’VE SEEN ARE A GROUP OF MODERATE REPUBLICANS HAVE PARTNERED WITH DEMOCRATS. THESE ARE FOLKS THAT WANT PORNOGRAPHY IN YOUR KIDS SCHOOL. THESE ARE FOLKS THAT DON’T WANT THE BIBLE IN SCHOOL. SINCE LAST AUGUST, HOUSE DEMOCRATS HAVE MADE FIVE PUBLIC CALLS FOR SPEAKER. THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE TO CREATE AN INVESTIGATIVE COMMITTEE TO INVESTIGATE THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT. REPRESENTATIVE MUNSON SAYS IT’S AN IDEA THAT’S LONG OVERDUE. THERE HAVE BEEN MISUSE OF TAX DOLLARS. THERE HAVE BEEN, YOU KNOW, VIOLENCE THAT HAS BEEN INCITED ALL OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS. BOTH PARTIES SPEAKING OUT AFTER REPUBLICAN REPRESENTATIVE MARK MCBRIDE SENT A LETTER TO HOUSE SPEAKER MCCAUL ASKING FOR A SPECIAL INVESTIGATIVE COMMITTEE ON THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION BECAUSE IT HAS TAKEN THEM THIS MUCH TIME TO DO IT. MORE HARM HAS BEEN CAUSED IN OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS. BUT REPRESENTATIVE MCBRIDE SAYS HIS PARTY NEVER TURNED A BLIND EYE ON THE TOPIC. WE’VE BEEN INVESTIGATING THIS STUFF ALL ALONG. THE DEMOCRATS, THEY SEND OUT PRESS RELEASES, THEY WANT IT INVESTIGATED. WELL, WE’VE BEEN INVESTIGATING AS REPRESENTATIVE MCBRIDE POINTED OUT, IN HIS LETTER, HE FEELS THERE ARE ENOUGH RECENT ACTIONS THIS SUMMER FROM SUPERINTENDENT RYAN WALTERS AND OSD THAT WARRANT INVESTIGATION. THINGS LIKE STATE SENATORS NOT BEING ALLOWED INTO OSD, EXECUTIVE SESSIONS, FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH LEGISLATIVE, BUDGETARY DIRECTIVES, AND FAILURE TO RESPOND TO OPEN RECORDS REQUESTS. BUT NOW WE HAVE SOMETHING WE HAVE A LOT OF SOMETHINGS IN THE 18 MONTHS HE’S BEEN ELECTED THAT THAT WE CAN REVIEW AND LOOK AT. A DIRECT QUOTE FROM THE REPRESENTATIVE’S LETTER TO SPEAKER MCCAUL SAYS, I HEAR DAILY FROM CONSTITUENTS, FROM MY DISTRICT AND TAXPAYERS FROM ACROSS THE STATE PLEADING FOR THIS BODY TO TAKE ACTION AND HOLD THE SUPERINTENDENT AND THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR ROGUE BEHAVIOR. YES, HE DID GET ELECTED TO DO A JOB, BUT IS HE DOING HIS JOB? AND I THINK AS A LEGISLATURE, WE’VE GOT TO DECIDE IS THIS MAN IS HE DOING HIS JOB OR NOT? NOW, EARLIER TODAY, HOUSE SPEAKER MCCAUL DID SAY THAT HE WILL NOT COMMIT. HE WILL EXCUSE ME. HE WILL NOT CONSIDER FORMING AN INVESTIGATIVE COMMITTEE UNLESS 51 OUT OF 81 HOUSE REPUBLICANS SUPP
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Oklahoma Democrats say possible investigation in State Superintendent Ryan Walters is overdue

Members of both parties agreed an investigation is needed, but Democrats said it should have happened months ago. Some Republicans argued that now is the time

Oklahoma lawmakers are calling for an investigation into State Superintendent Ryan Walters amid allegations of misconduct.Twenty-one House Republicans signed a letter, authored by state Rep. Mark McBride, asking the speaker to form an investigative committee into Walters. The state superintendent faces a slew of accusations, including disobeying lawmakers, not communicating with them and failing to respond to open records requests. Members of both parties agreed an investigation is needed, but Democrats said it should have happened months ago. Some Republicans argued that now is the time. “What we’ve seen are a group of moderate Republicans that have partnered with Democrats. These are folks that want pornography in your kids' school. They don’t want the Bible in schools," Walters said. State Rep. Cyndi Munson, a Democrat and House minority leader, said the idea of forming an investigative committee into Walters is long overdue. "Since last August, House Democrats have made five public calls for the Speaker of the House to create an investigative committee to investigate the state superintendent," Munson said. "There has been misuse of tax dollars. There has been violence inside our school districts.”Both parties are speaking out after McBride sent a letter to House Speaker Charles McCall, asking for a special investigative committee on the Oklahoma State Department of Education.“Because it has taken them so much time to do it, more harm has been caused in our public schools," Munson said. McBride, a Republican who has been a critic of Walters, said his party never turned a blind eye to the topic. “We've been investigating this stuff all along. The Democrats send out press releases. They want it investigated. Well, we’ve been investigating," McBride said. McBride pointed out in his letter that he feels there are enough recent actions this summer from Walters and the OSDE that warrant investigation, including state senators not being allowed into OSDE executive sessions, failure to comply with legislative budgetary directives and failure to respond to open records requests.“But now, we have something, we have a lot of somethings, in the 18 months he’s been elected that we can review and look at," McBride said. In McBride's letter, he said he hears daily from constituents, asking him and the House to take action and hold Walters accountable. “Yes, he did get elected to do a job, but is he doing his job? And I think, as a legislature, we have to decide if this man is doing his job or not," McBride said. Earlier Tuesday, McCall said he will not consider forming an investigative committee unless 51 of 81 House Republicans support it.Top Headlines Man in critical condition after being shot in car outside Oklahoma City metro hotel Body cam video shows Edmond officers finding 2 toddlers at home alone after neighbors heard crying Law firm to launch employee investigation at Oklahoma Corporation Commission 30 more Republicans must sign letter before investigative committee looks into State Superintendent Ryan Walters Washing your fruits and veggies isn't enough anymore. Here's how to kill pesticides

Oklahoma lawmakers are calling for an investigation into State Superintendent Ryan Walters amid allegations of misconduct.

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Twenty-one House Republicans signed a letter, authored by state Rep. Mark McBride, asking the speaker to form an investigative committee into Walters. The state superintendent faces a slew of accusations, including disobeying lawmakers, not communicating with them and failing to respond to open records requests.

Members of both parties agreed an investigation is needed, but Democrats said it should have happened months ago. Some Republicans argued that now is the time.

“What we’ve seen are a group of moderate Republicans that have partnered with Democrats. These are folks that want pornography in your kids' school. They don’t want the Bible in schools," Walters said.

State Rep. Cyndi Munson, a Democrat and House minority leader, said the idea of forming an investigative committee into Walters is long overdue.

"Since last August, House Democrats have made five public calls for the Speaker of the House to create an investigative committee to investigate the state superintendent," Munson said. "There has been misuse of tax dollars. There has been violence inside our school districts.”

Both parties are speaking out after McBride sent a letter to House Speaker Charles McCall, asking for a special investigative committee on the Oklahoma State Department of Education.

“Because it has taken them so much time to do it, more harm has been caused in our public schools," Munson said.

McBride, a Republican who has been a critic of Walters, said his party never turned a blind eye to the topic.

“We've been investigating this stuff all along. The Democrats send out press releases. They want it investigated. Well, we’ve been investigating," McBride said.

McBride pointed out in his letter that he feels there are enough recent actions this summer from Walters and the OSDE that warrant investigation, including state senators not being allowed into OSDE executive sessions, failure to comply with legislative budgetary directives and failure to respond to open records requests.

“But now, we have something, we have a lot of somethings, in the 18 months he’s been elected that we can review and look at," McBride said.

In McBride's letter, he said he hears daily from constituents, asking him and the House to take action and hold Walters accountable.

“Yes, he did get elected to do a job, but is he doing his job? And I think, as a legislature, we have to decide if this man is doing his job or not," McBride said.

Earlier Tuesday, McCall said he will not consider forming an investigative committee unless 51 of 81 House Republicans support it.


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