OKLAHOMA WATCH: Democracy Watch: Corporations, individuals fund inaugural festivities | News

Oklahoma’s just lately elected statewide officeholders will probably be sworn in on the State Capitol steps at this time beginning at 11:30 a.m. 

Among them is Gov. Kevin Stitt, who begins his second and last four-year time period upon taking the oath. Governors have traditionally offered a brief inaugural speech peppered with hints on their coverage priorities and the way they intend to manipulate. Expect extra element from Stitt’s State of the State deal with on Feb. 6. 

A weekend of festivities, together with inaugural balls on the BOK Center in Tulsa on Friday and the Stride Banker Center in Enid on Saturday preceded at this time’s inauguration. Lawmakers, donors and supporters will collect for a last ball tonight on the Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum. 

A mixture of company and particular person donors fund the celebrations. Stitt’s 2019 inaugural committee raised $2.4 million, greater than twice what former Gov. Mary Fallin generated following her 2014 victory. Tulsa-based QuikTrip was the top donor to Stitt’s first inaugural committee, pitching in $100,000. 

The 2023 inaugural committee website credit greater than 5 dozen company sponsors, starting from Tyson Foods and Boeing to the Bank of Western Oklahoma and Chisholm Broadband. 

The contributions have raised concern amongst some good authorities advocates, who advised Oklahoma Watch in 2019 that limitless inaugural contributions may improve the chance of cash corrupting politics. 

Oklahoma requires documentation of inaugural committee donors. We probably gained’t know the total scope of who donated and the way a lot till mid-summer. Ethics fee guidelines don’t require the report back to be submitted till six months after the very fact. 

We’ll preserve a watch out for that report. Check the Oklahoma Watch Twitter feed for updates on at this time’s inauguration. 

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