For Immediate Release – January 17, 2007
Contact: Stuart Jolly (405) 418-2113 or Annie Patnaude (202) 349-5880

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma chapter of the free-market grassroots group Americans for Prosperity (AFP-Oklahoma) today unveiled its legislative agenda for the 2007 state legislative session. Topping the agenda is the goal of making government more transparent and accountable by working for legislation that would create a searchable database of state spending. The proposal mirrors a successful move by Oklahoma Senator Tom Coburn to create a searchable federal spending database.

“Shining more sunlight on how our state government spends our tax dollars will help uncover instances of corruption and waste,” said AFP-Oklahoma State Director Stuart Jolly. “The trend toward bigger government is forcing citizens to carry a heavier and heavier burden. With our grassroots activists behind us, Americans for Prosperity will work for fiscally responsible spending and against unnecessary tax and fee hikes to ease the burden of big government on citizens.”

Among the goals on the Americans for Prosperity – Oklahoma legislative agenda: 

*       Make Government More Transparent and Accountable – AFP-Oklahoma will work for legislation that will create a searchable database of state government spending so citizens are never more than a few mouse clicks away from discovering how their tax dollars are being spent by state lawmakers. 
*       Cut Wasteful Government Spending – Reining in excessive government growth begins by ferreting wasteful spending out of the state budget. With the help of citizen activists and principled lawmakers, AFP-Oklahoma will shine a bright light on wasteful spending.
*       Repeal the Business Franchise Tax – AFP-Oklahoma will help free businesses from burdensome taxation and regulation, including working toward full repeal of the business franchise tax. A healthy business climate will provide all of Oklahoma’s citizens with the opportunity for prosperity.
*       Create Sensible Solutions to Oklahoma’s Transportation Crisis – Transportation dollars must be used to address Oklahoma’s transportation problems, not diverted to pork-barrel projects or used to fund other areas of government. AFP-Oklahoma will work to ensure transportation dollars are used appropriately, rather than supporting efforts to raise taxes.

“Oklahoma taxpayers expect and deserve more from lawmakers than stale tax-and-spend policies,” Jolly concluded. “There truly is a better way. These policy initiatives are vital to addressing the problems our state faces and bringing more accountability to state government.”

Americans for Prosperity (AFP) is a nationwide organization of citizen leaders committed to advancing every individual’s right to economic freedom and opportunity. AFP believes reducing the size and scope of government is the best safeguard to ensuring individual productivity and prosperity for all Americans. AFP educates and engages citizens in support of restraining state and federal government growth, and returning government to its constitutional limits. For more information, visit www.americansforprosperity.org
# # #