A recent announcement that the number of days the Department of Public Safety offices in McAlester and Poteau operate will be cut, has House Democrats pointing fingers at Republicans.
DPS announced that starting in October, it will close its McAlester Office on Tuesdays and Thursdays, while its Poteau office will be closed on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
Rep. Donnie Condit said it would create issues for people seeking a driver’s license in eastern Oklahoma.
“Closing on Tuesdays and Thursdays will force area citizens to either wait to obtain a driver’s license, or drive to another town that has a DPS office to get a license on a Tuesday or Thursday,” said Condit.
The reduction in service is a result of cuts which reduced the DPS budget from $100.3 million last fiscal year to $89 million for the current fiscal year.
“The Republican-controlled Legislature and the Republican Governor have concentrated so much on cutting taxes and giving away tax credits that the Legislature cannot meet the needs of public safety,” Condit said. “I have said before and still maintain that some people demand smaller government. Well, you’re getting it. How do you like it?”
Rep. Brian Renegar feels DPS will likely be asking for more money when the Legislature returns in February.
“The Department of Public Safety should continue to provide the services they’re supposed to provide,” Rep. Brian Renegar asserted. “If they run out of money in, say, January or February, ask the Legislature for a supplemental appropriation. That’s what Corrections does.”
Commissioner Michael Thompson has already requested $12 million in supplemental funding. The Oklahoma Highway Patrol is not conducting a trooper academy this year because of the cuts. Furloughs also are being considered.
“I don’t think this is the smaller state government that Oklahomans had in mind,” Renegar said. “It’s about time for us in the Legislature to start taking a long, hard look at all of those lucrative tax credits and other tax giveaways that aren’t producing any jobs nor any tax receipts for the state treasury.”
