OKGOP Budget Committee Faces Obstruction in Accessing Financial Documents
This is an open letter to the OKGOP State Committee, State Convention and Republican members from the Oklahoma Republican Party (OKGOP) Budget Committee.
We, as your elected and appointed representatives for budgetary oversight and approval of all expenditures, have consistently encountered significant roadblocks in fulfilling our duties due to unprecedented habitual restrictions imposed by the current State GOP Chairman.
See Rule 14(b):
Authority and Duties: It shall be the responsibility of the State Budget Committee, and it shall have the power and authority, to prepare budgets designating the amount, classification and priority of expenditures to be made from funds of the Republican State Committee, giving due consideration to the estimated availability of funds. By appropriate actions and resolutions, it shall prescribe rules and regulation governing the fiscal affairs of the Republican Party organizations, including the procedure required for recommendations to the State Committee of amounts to be included in budgets and the incurring of obligations under such budgets.
These chairman-imposed roadblocks and restrictions directly contradict the transparency requirements outlined in OKGOP Rule 10(l), which mandates that the “Treasurer’s accounts must be accessible at all times to the State Chairman, Vice Chairman, members of the State Finance or Budget Committees, or any duly authorized representatives of these entities.”
Despite this clear directive, Budget Committee members have faced repeated obstructions in their efforts to review critical financial documents necessary for ensuring accountability and proper financial stewardship.
Restrictions on Access to Financial Documents
The most recent challenge arose when the Chairman unilaterally imposed new limitations on access to financial records. Under his restrictions, committee members must schedule an appointment with the State Treasurer at GOP Headquarters in Oklahoma City to review documents. Additionally, members are prohibited from making notes or copies, even if the documents were properly redacted to protect sensitive information. Upon persistent, repeated requests to this chairman and non-cooperation for financials for this committee, the chairman instituted this undisclosed insubordinate policy.
This move significantly hampers the committee’s ability to conduct a thorough and independent review, raising concerns about financial transparency and governance within the OKGOP. The unilateral nature of the decision, coupled with its delayed announcement at our recent meeting, has only deepened frustrations among committee members. There was not even an effort by the chairman to notify committee members of his self-imposed overreach of authority. This stonewalling of information has occurred from the beginning of his administration. The committee has continued to cooperate and provide opportunity for transparency. This oversight and approval is the committee’s stated responsibilities as outlined in our rules.
Delays and Lack of Compliance
The Budget Committee on December 7, 2024, made a formal request by committee vote to have access to financial documents. This request was to determine a line-item breakdown of several large expenditures incurred by our chairman without any approval or oversight. The committee set a firm deadline of January 31, 2025, to produce these materials. However, rather than complying with this request, the Chairman delayed making any decision on access until February 15, 2025—the same day as the most recent committee meeting. Adding to the frustration, a previously requested “workday”—which would have provided an opportunity to resolve all outstanding financial questions—was abruptly canceled at the last minute and never rescheduled.
Our chairman has consistently ignored rules, directions, and protocols from his superiors, the Oklahoma State Committee and now the OKGOP Budget Committee.
This is a recurring pattern of this administration. The last OKGOP State Committee meeting a resolution was passed, with a deadline for a financial accounting of our state convention. This accounting never occurred by our chairman or his staff. It was completely ignored. This pattern of obstruction and delay has only served to heighten concerns over the handling of party finances.
See OKGOP Rule 10(b):
Authority and Duties: The State Committee is the supreme Republican Party authority of the state Republican Party, subject to these rules and the direction and control of the State Convention. It is charged with the duty of promoting the welfare and direction, controlling the affairs of the Oklahoma Republican Party and the Oklahoma State Republican Conventions, and in promoting the welfare of the Republican Party of the United States of America.
There are critical reasons for transparency and oversight for the budgetary process. The OKGOP has recently been fined by the FEC for a significant sum of money. If budgetary oversight would have been in place, this financially crippling punishment by the Federal Government wouldn’t have occurred. At our most recent budget committee meeting on February 15th, (which the State Chairman failed attend) the FEC fine was presented by the OKGOP Executive Director. At no time was our committee notified or kept informed of the negotiations between the chairman and the FEC. Our chairman or his office personnel was never authorized to enter into negotiations with the FEC. The committee reviewed the fine and voted to bring it before our superiors, the OKGOP State Committee. If this negotiation would have come before our committee early in the process, then full disclosure and agreement could have been obtained from all parties involved. This fine is just under $200,000, and our party members deserve transparency and accountability considering they will be asked to foot the bill. Even though the budget committee understands this fine must be paid, we the budget committee and the state committee, should have been fully informed as each step progressed. The OKGOP Budget Committee is attempting to establish a checks and balance system of bringing authority and transparency back to the state committee instead of operating under an autocratic decision maker who makes decisions in isolation. This oversight is vital to the viability of our party and to continue to be a voice for you, “we the people”.
Budget Committee’s Response: Censure of the Chairman
Faced with ongoing obstruction and a lack of transparency, the Budget Committee took decisive action during its February 15, 2025, meeting by passing a formal censure of the Chairman. The censure resolution is now being forwarded to precincts and counties for their approval, marking a significant stand against the continued lack of cooperation and accountability. This censure underscores the committee’s commitment to upholding the principles of financial transparency and responsible governance within the OKGOP. Moving forward, it is imperative that party leadership respects the rules governing financial oversight and takes immediate steps to restore trust by granting full and proper access to the requested documents.
The members of the OKGOP deserve full transparency regarding how party funds are managed.
Party leadership must uphold these standards, not to impose roadblocks that prevent accountability. The Budget Committee remains committed to ensuring that financial oversight is not undermined and will continue to demand compliance with established party rules.
Wayne Hill
OKGOP Vice Chairman
Charity Linch
OKGOP National Committeewoman
Larry Murray
OKGOP National Committeeman
Cheryl Wilburg
OKGOP CD1 Budget Representative
Mike Bichard
OKGOP CD2 Budget Representative
Joe Vaden
OKGOP CD3 Budget Representative
Bradley Burnett
OKGOP CD5 Budget Representative
Gregory Hawn
OKGOP Budget Member At-Large
Vince Scoufos
OKGOP Budget Member At-Large
Please see censure resolution attached:
Original content OKGrassroots.com