OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - Two
state lawmakers want an Oklahoma County judge to block the appropriation
of $2 million in public funds to a private, non-profit livestock show.
Republican Reps. Mike
Reynolds of Oklahoma City and Mike Ritze of Broken Arrow have sued the
state Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry to stop it from
giving state funds to the Oklahoma Youth Expo livestock show. A hearing
on a temporary injunction to stop the transfer is set Wednesday before
District Judge Barbara Swinton.
The lawmakers claim appropriations to the Youth Expo are an inappropriate use of state tax dollars and are unconstitutional.
But Agriculture Secretary
Jim Reese says the money has already been appropriated. Reese says it is
authorized as a public-private partnership between the state and
private entities to help farmers and ranchers.
Copyright
2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not
be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
