Mark Costello has sent out the following email to county GOP Chairman throughout Oklahoma. Costello is trying to garner support for “Support Conservative Values by Rejecting Liberal PAC Money” as a platform plank at the GOP State Convention. Read below.
Costello Calls on State GOP Officials to Reject OPEA PAC Money
Worst yet, the Oklahoma Public Employees Association (OPEA) and their PAC are aggressively seeking favor with Republican lawmakers by contributing to their campaigns. In 2010, when Republicans held a majority in both chambers, the public employees’ PAC contributed $102,750 to Republican candidates. This compares to only $57,750 donated to Democrat candidates in the same year.
Until we became a majority in the legislature, the public employees’ PAC was a long-time political enemy of Republicans; in 2004 the OPEA contributed $86,143 to Democrats in an effort to prevent Republican from gaining a majority of House seats while contributing $2,500 to a handful of Republicans – a 34 to 1 ratio for Democrats. We won – they lost.
Big government liberals have the same right as small government conservatives to provide funding to candidates who represent their values and worldview. But we as Republicans do not have to stand quietly by and watch our political gains made on the platform of limited government be compromised to big-government PACs who target their funds to Republican candidates.
Big government advocates have changed their tactics by shifting their contributions to Republicans in a tactical maneuver to thwart reform by seeking compromise from those who accept their campaign contributions.
Costello Calls OPEA Liberal PAC
If you share my concern of Republican candidates’ willingness to accept liberal PAC money, then, I asked that you join me in adding a plank to our state party platform that encourages Republican candidates to reject big government liberal PAC money.
Costello Supports a Platform Plank Discouraging Receiving PAC Money from Liberal PACS
The platform plank I am advocating encourages all Republican candidates to reject the acceptance of Oklahoma Public Employee Association (OPEA) or Oklahoma Education Association (OEA) PAC contributions so as to avoid the appearance of compromising influence such donations suggest. The proposed plank holds those who in the past accepted such liberal PAC money harmless; however, from May 2012 forward the plank encourages party officials to deny those Republican candidates GOP contributions if they choose to accept liberal PAC money from the OPEA or OEA.
I ask that you introduce the Support Conservative Values by Rejecting Liberal PAC Moneyplatform plank in your precinct meeting and advocate its passage to adoption to the state platform.
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OPEA’s Zearley Responds to Costello Party Platform Plan Proposal on the McCarville Report
“Oklahoma Labor Commissioner Mark Costello on Saturday viciously attacked Oklahoma Public Employees Association and other associations for contributing Political Action Committee (PAC) money to Republican state elected officials. According to The McCarville Report, Costello takes aim at well-known Republican officials, including Governor Mary Fallin, House Speaker Kris Steele (R-Shawnee), and House Speaker-Elect T.W. Shannon (R- Lawton) for taking PAC money from so-called ‘liberal’ organizations.
“Mr. Costello’s comments show he lacks a fundamental understanding about our legislators, OPEA, and about what we are advocating for at the state Capitol. OPEA does not advocate for larger government; we advocate for having the tools and labor force necessary to ensure our state has the resources to operate at a smart and efficient level. Read more…………
