The Oklahoma State Capital

Oklahoma City - State Representative Tim Pope, a Republican candidate for Labor Commissioner, today announced that, should his campaign be successful, he plans to breakup and eliminate the Department of Labor during his first, and only term, in office. "My goal," said Pope, "is to be the best Labor Commissioner in the history of Oklahoma by being the last."

"I have been an active member of the House Commerce, Industry and Labor Committee for the past 14 years. During that time, I have gained a working knowledge of the Department's budget and the responsibilities of each of its divisions. And, after much thought, I have come to the conclusion that they would operate just as well, if not better, if they were merged with other already existing state agencies," said Pope.

He added that, "As a conservative Republican legislator, I have a long history of working for smaller and more responsive government." Pope says, "Even though this proposal will result in the elimination of my own job as Commissioner, I believe that it is a position I must advocate as a matter of principle. It's a bold move that, in these lean financial times, will save the hardworking, taxpaying citizens of this state more than $1 million dollars per year."

Pope points out that, "The current Commissioner has consistently resisted any budget cuts and repeatedly ask for more money even when she knew there wasn't enough to go around. And, to add insult to injury, she has grown the size of her administrative staff to an all-time high. Just recently she gave her campaign manager a $40,000 per year job at the agency but he runs her campaign in his "off time". In addition, the Department of Labor now has the one of the highest lawyer-to-employee ratios of any state agency."

He adds, "At the same time, other critical staff positions have gone unfilled. The top- heavy bureaucracy that has been created and is currently being maintained by Labor Commissioner Brenda Reneau-Wynn, especially after confessing that she has nothing left to accomplish, just is not consistent with my vision of the way things should be. She has clearly and unequivocally demonstrated that she has neither the intention nor desire to adhere to the Republican belief in smaller government."

Pope said, "Those who will principally be affected by this much needed and overdue action will be the incumbent Commissioner's political appointees. And, it is something they should expect because it is the nature of those positions anyway." He adds, "I have a long career of demonstrating a concern for the safety of Oklahoma's workers and an ambivalence toward bureaucrats. I honestly believe that this move will address both of those concerns at the same time."

Pope concluded by saying, "The technical process of dismantling the agency rests with the legislature and the voters. But, if elected, I will do everything in my power to completely phase out the Department of Labor and consolidate its still vital functions with other already existing state agencies within my 4-year term as Commissioner. On August 1st, I will release a plan that describes precisely how I am going to accomplish this task."