Recently, Preston Doerflinger the Oklahoma Secretary for Finance and Revenue has come under fire for his handling of the state budget and for divisive statements he has made against other officials and citizens. His ongoing verbal insults against public officials and others are beneath the office he holds. We are calling on Governor Fallin to remove Doerflinger from his current position.

The Governor has allowed for money from the Rainy Day Fund to supplement education and corrections. Doerflinger agrees with supplementing corrections but as far as education goes he stated he was "embarrassed" to give funds to common education. He would rather invest in jails than in schools. This is unacceptable, our children deserve better. 

Our teachers are once again being asked to do more with little help. Meanwhile, Doerflinger is embarrassed so much by distributing money from the Rainy Day Fund that he has stated "Republicans just should put D's after their name and call it good." Those who live in this great state of Oklahoma should not be relegated to just R's and D's. In an attempt to insult his fellow Republicans he insults everyone. Our state cannot afford to have divisive rhetoric coming from someone at the top, now is a time for us to come together.

No matter your politics the education and safety of our children should not be relegated to rhetoric and talking points. Doerflinger is a proponent of a voucher system that many parents and teachers are strongly against. If enacted this system could cost the state upwards of 15 million dollars. We are already in a debt freefall and should not incur more debt in the millions for a system that many parents and administrators do not want. The Oklahoma State Board Association, the Oklahoma Education Association and the Cooperative Council for Oklahoma School Administration are all opposed to the voucher program.

Our schools are in a financial crisis, programs are being eliminated, teachers are having to pay more for basic supplies for their students, there are discussions of shortening the school week, and increasing class sizes. This is not the time to throw insults or to advocate for a program that will put a bigger financial strain on an already stressed system, which will cost the state more money. 

Doerflinger's judgment also comes into question not only based on his lackluster performance as Secretary of Finance, but also his personal behavior which includes an arrest for Physical Control of a Motor Vehicle While Under the Influence of Alcohol. Luckily no one was injured in that incident.

We are calling on Governor Fallin to do what is best for the citizens of this great state by removing Preston Doerflinger from his position. We don’t need insults or rhetoric. We need a Secretary of Finance who can help bring Oklahoma out of the financial crisis that we are currently in.

Join We The People in demanding better for our children, our communities, and our state.