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June 11, 2008 by
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The trial of OK Auditor and Inspector Jeff McMahan and his wife continues this week with Lori McMahan taking the stand. In her testimony, Mrs. McMahan claimed she took large sums of money, trips, and expensive jewelry from Steve Phipps without her husband’s knowledge. Steve Phipps had business interests regulated by McMahan’s State Auditor office.
The nexium reports that Lori McMahan testified that Phipps gave her the following:
- $10,000 in cash late in 2002
- $5,000 on Oct 22, 2002
- cash for campaign signs
- trip to New Orleans with Mr. and Mrs. Phipps and another couple
- expensive jewelry on at least two occasions
- trip to New Orleans in October 2004
- at least $3,000 to attend the 2004 DNC Convention
- more than $100,000 in illegal contributions to the auditor’s 2002 campaign
I would understand if Jeff McMahan didn’t see an extra few hundred dollars slip into their household budget, or if he missed some of his wife’s new jewelry. However, how could he miss piles of cash plus two trips to New Orleans, plus a trip to the DNC convention, plus the new jewelry? He’s the state AUDITOR AND INSPECTOR. He should have used his business skills to take a cursory look at his own household budget and campaign account.
This case is a breathtaking example of why Oklahoma needs and needs for statewide elected officials.
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The Oklahoman has more .
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June 7, 2008 by
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Here is the Sunshine News that held my attention over the weekend. Enjoy!
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Al Baldasaro takes a whack at John Stephen at for not being fully transparent in his role in the NH Department of Health and Human Services. Stephen has resigned this post after claiming to reach his goal of bringing “transparency and openness to the department.”
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A discusses the need for citizen activists and journalists to keep government officials and bureaucracies honest by serving as watchdogs over the public till. It also discusses legislation aimed at making it easier for citizens to fill these roles.
My favorite part of the column: nexium
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The Times-Picayune’s James Gill wrote on Congressman Bill Jefferson’s family members being indicted for stealing government charitable grants. Warning: This article may make you a little nauseous with nepotism and complete lack of oversight.
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Great Letter to the Editor in the , submitted by Don Baker
Quotable: nexium
If any of these articles inspire YOU to get involved with your level of community transparency, please go to to learn more about how you can make your government more open and accountable.
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June 1, 2008 by
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What happens when the guy elected to monitor the ethics of others in state government is accused of shady business practices himself? Well, if you are Oklahoma’s State Auditor and Inspector Jeff McMahan, you have a corruption trial that begins Monday and face up to 8-10 years in prison.
The indictment alleges that McMahan and his wife took trips, cash, and gifts from Oklahoman businessman Steve Phipps in exchange for favorable treatment of Phipps’ businesses. The Oklahoman has the full .
Today’s includes this nugget:
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Ironically, the first words on are “Protecting Your Tax Dollars.” I think pushing a corrupt politician off the taxpayer dime is the first step in this mission. The second would be for Mr. McMahan to repay taxpayers for all of his salary, convicted or not. As state Auditor and Inspector, the minimum requirement is to run an honest and independent shop. If he failed so profoundly at that simple requisite, taxpayers should reclaim the entire amount lost. Recovering that cash will certainly be a lot easier than recovering voters’ faith in public officials.
shares my outrage.
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May 19, 2008 by
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I have been browsing around state websites today to identify some shining examples of government transparency. One of the best is Oklahoma’s site, which details state spending in more ways than you can rope a cow. (Okay, I have no idea about cow roping, but I do know they have a Grade-A transparency website.)
The site details state appropriations, spending restrictions, details about the education lottery and rainy day fund, and even information on the Oklahoma budget process.
The only controversial portion seems to be the “Where does the state’s money come from?” section. It includes this : (click to enlarge)
One might argue that you could decode the chart categories by saying…
- “taxes and interest” = taxes
- “license/permit/tuition/fees” = taxes
- “federal grants” = redistributed taxes
- “assets held for others” = unclaimed property
Therefore, I think the page would be much more honest if there was a tagline to the chart that stated “OK government is 100% Taxpayer Funded.”
That issue aside, OpenBooks is a great example of how transparent government should be.
Homework: Ask your elected officials to match Oklahoma’s lust for spending disclosure. (If you’re from Oklahoma, see if you can get that tagline added for me.)