Rep. Tom Gann has openly chastised Senate Bill 987—legislation that just cleared the House—branding it as a move towards more opaque government and corporate welfare. According to a statement released by the Oklahoma House, Gann voiced his dissent, voting against the bill, which he believes "expands unaccountable government bureaucracy and entrenches corporate welfare practices."
The bill in question, SB987, would empower a new Department of Commerce board to potentially make decisions out of public eye. This would include the right to suddenly decide to conduct closed-door executive sessions and conceal pertinent information like business plans or financial projections. In his floor debate remarks, Gann pointed to the necessity for government proceedings, especially those concerning public funds, to be transparent, emphasizing that taxpayers "deserves transparency, debate and documentation—not decisions made in private meetings shielded from public view," as reported by the Oklahoma House.
During the contentious discussion on the House floor, Gann invoked the wisdom of economic heavyweight Milton Friedman to support his position against governmental interference in the free market. He spotlighted past economic blunders, such as the CANOO deal, a subsidized venture that crashed, leaving the state and taxpayers with nothing to show for their investment.
Echoing economic concerns, Gann articulated his view that government's role should be to "create a stable legal framework and a level playing field" and not to recklessly gamble with taxpayer dollars. According to his statement, as noted by the Oklahoma House, "I voted no because I believe in sunlight, not subsidies. Oklahoma deserves real economic growth, not more rent-seeking risky ventures and backroom deals."
Gann is now urging the governor to reject SB987 and wants to reverse laws that support nondisclosure, while also pushing for reforms to rebuild public trust and protect the free market. He ends his statement with a call to action for both lawmakers and citizens, saying the focus should shift from "politically motivated giveaways" to transparent governance, as per a report by the Oklahoma House.
