https://freepressokc.com/auditor-oklahoma-spent-millions-of-federal-dollars-incorrectly/

I hope that the tax payers are not on the hook for these millions.

Incompetence or fraud?

Why not both?

Incompetence or fraud?

Why not both?

Two heads need to be put on the chopping block. Oklahoma would be much better off without them.

I think both, leaning towards incompetence. A lot of states are finding what they spent Covid money on wasn't appropriate. Not just Oklahoma, and only approximately $30 million out of $14 billion isn't bad. Washington state was worse.

https://sao.wa.gov/37-billion-and-counting-find-out-how-washington-spent-covid-19-relief-money-and-other-federal-funding-in-2021-%EF%BF%BC/

So I think it is more an incompetence issue, versus fraud. Otherwise, you will have government leaders in both red and blue states who will be guilty of fraud.

I think both, leaning towards incompetence. A lot of states are finding what they spent Covid money on wasn't appropriate. Not just Oklahoma, and only approximately $30 million out of $14 billion isn't bad. Washington state was worse.

https://sao.wa.gov/37-billion-and-counting-find-out-how-washington-spent-covid-19-relief-money-and-other-federal-funding-in-2021-%EF%BF%BC/

So I think it is more an incompetence issue, versus fraud. Otherwise, you will have government leaders in both red and blue states who will be guilty of fraud.

There are definitely elements of fraud in the reporting.

1. A private school voucher program funded with federal pandemic relief dollars selected schools for preferential treatment, awarded funds to families not facing financial hardship, and then ran out of funds that could have been used by families that were.
2. Auditors found five private schools were given early access to apply before the program went live. One school received $6,000 per student and the others collected the full amount of $6,500 per student, even though the program was supposed to pay families’ actual tuition costs and some of those schools don’t charge tuition.
3. A special interest group, Libertas Consulting, selected the five schools given preferential treatment. Though unnamed in the audit, the president of Libertas Consulting is Jennifer Carter, who is also the senior advisor for the American Federation for Children in Oklahoma and served as campaign manager and chief of staff for former state Superintendent Janet Barresi. Carter was given the authority to choose the direction of the program even though she didn’t have a contract with the state.

There are definitely elements of fraud in the reporting.

1. A private school voucher program funded with federal pandemic relief dollars selected schools for preferential treatment, awarded funds to families not facing financial hardship, and then ran out of funds that could have been used by families that were.
2. Auditors found five private schools were given early access to apply before the program went live. One school received $6,000 per student and the others collected the full amount of $6,500 per student, even though the program was supposed to pay families’ actual tuition costs and some of those schools don’t charge tuition.
3. A special interest group, Libertas Consulting, selected the five schools given preferential treatment. Though unnamed in the audit, the president of Libertas Consulting is Jennifer Carter, who is also the senior advisor for the American Federation for Children in Oklahoma and served as campaign manager and chief of staff for former state Superintendent Janet Barresi. Carter was given the authority to choose the direction of the program even though she didn’t have a contract with the state.

Then there will be 50 states with fraud charges against them. I said a bit of both, and I think it fits. But I think not every questioned cost is fraud.

Then there will be 50 states with fraud charges against them. I said a bit of both, and I think it fits. But I think not every questioned cost is fraud.

I don't know about other states, but our leadership deliberately acted to give certain individuals/schools preference over others.

Two heads need to be put on the chopping block. Oklahoma would be much better off without them.

Not Necessarily

Not Necessarily

Yeah, now that we're a Top 10 State why would we want to change leadership?/S

I think both, leaning towards incompetence. A lot of states are finding what they spent Covid money on wasn't appropriate. Not just Oklahoma, and only approximately $30 million out of $14 billion isn't bad. Washington state was worse.

https://sao.wa.gov/37-billion-and-counting-find-out-how-washington-spent-covid-19-relief-money-and-other-federal-funding-in-2021-%EF%BF%BC/

So I think it is more an incompetence issue, versus fraud. Otherwise, you will have government leaders in both red and blue states who will be guilty of fraud.

I want this to stay focused on Oklahoma and not slide into red-blue state issue.
"Whataboutism" is not only a weak arguement to deflect accountability it also is a slippery slope.