By Ylleana Berryhill and Barbara Hoberock, Oklahoma Voice
OKLAHOMA CITY— Republican lawmakers are facing criticism from both sides of the aisle for spending over $10 million in taxpayer money on three special interest projects that appear to have limited benefit to the entire state.
Critics said the late-session vote to allocate $5 million to build a sculpture park in Edmond, $4 million to relocate a World War II submarine in Muskogee and $1.8 million to make infrastructure improvements at an industrial park in Frederick amount to pork-barrel spending that benefits constituents living in Republican districts.
Supporters though are defending the investments, saying they will have far-reaching impacts beyond the local communities. They say they are not pork-barrel spending, a type of allocation in which lawmakers award taxpayer money to specific local projects that have questionable benefit to the entire state.
In the final days of session, the measure barely secured passage in the Senate, mustering the minimum 25 needed votes.
“I thought it was a pork bill,” said Sen. Mark Mann, D-Oklahoma City, who voted against House Bill 2794.
He said it sent money to three projects without an application process or avenue for any other entities that needed funding.
“If you are going to fund a monument park or something like that, there are a lot of communities across Oklahoma that would like to apply to receive something similar,” Mann said. “That didn’t happen. I thought it was just a pork bill. Nothing competitive about it.”
Sen. Shane Jett, R-Shawnee, said he opposed the bill because it spends “taxpayer money on isolated projects in three localized areas,” which doesn’t benefit every Oklahoman and clearly amounted to pork.
Jett said his constituents are now paying for an Edmond park that they may not be able to afford the gas money to visit, and that’s being built in a suburban community that already has an ample number of city parks and other luxuries.
“If I remember right, it seemed like a lot of money to be spent on not moving Oklahoma forward,” said Sen. Casey Murdock, R-Felt, who also opposed the spending.
Supporters of the projects though said that they will be beneficial to the entire state and are a worthwhile expenditure for the Progressing Rural Economic Prosperity, or PREP, Fund. The legislative fund is designed to support economic development in rural communities. Lawmakers have said the expenditures are designed to make those communities more economically competitive.
“The projects funded through House Bill 2794 represent strategic investments in economic development, which is exactly what the PREP Fund was created to support,” said Sen. Adam Pugh, R-Edmond, in a statement. “While these projects are located in specific communities, their benefits extend well beyond local borders. The money is going toward economic development and infrastructure to support local communities, including a hospital in Frederick.”
He did not directly answer specific questions asking why state money should be allocated to support these three projects, including funding for The Uncommon Ground Sculpture Park in his home city of Edmond, an Oklahoma City suburb of over 99,000 residents.
The $50 million sculpture park, set to open fall 2026, is under construction along Route 66. The 62-acre park will feature over 40 sculptures, a dog park, playground, ponds for fishing, a hiking trail, a walking trail, a stage and event lawn. So far, supporters have raised $37.4 million.
“While the park lives in Edmond, its impact is much more far reaching,” said Melissa Pepper, The Uncommon Ground Sculpture Park executive director.
The USS Batfish, a World War II naval submarine, is currently at Muskogee War Memorial Park. During the war, it sank three Japanese Imperial Navy submarines. In 2019, the submarine was damaged due to flooding.
Supporters plan to use the state funding to move it to Three Forks Harbor, which is located near where the Arkansas, Grand and Verdigris rivers converge.
“This is history, not pork,” said James Erb, curator of the Muskogee War Memorial Park Museum.
He also said that it was important to remember and preserve history because “otherwise, we are doomed to repeat it.”
“If it was in California, where there’s submarines for a dime a dozen, it wouldn’t be a big deal, but this is Oklahoma’s final submarine,” Erb said.
Rep. Neil Hays, R-Checotah, who defended spending money on the submarine during questioning on the House floor, did not return a message left seeking comment.
Rep. Trey Caldwell, R-Faxon, and Sen. Chuck Hall, R-Perry, who authored the bill, did not respond to a request for comment.
Rep. John Waldron, D-Tulsa, said while he supports preserving history, he doubted the submarine drew very many visitors. He also said The Uncommon Ground Sculpture Park was categorized as “rural development,” despite Edmond being a suburban community.
While nothing in state law prohibits lawmakers from spending money on special projects, Sen. Mary Boren, D-Norman, said the three expenditures seemed inconsistent at a time when Republicans also cut the state income tax by 0.25%. That’s expected to cost the state about $350 million.
“When you decide to cut income tax, then you have to say no to some really worthwhile projects,” she said.
