Possible Downtown Museum

[PonderInc]

And here's where you can easily find your Oklahoma state senators and representatives...

http://www.oksenate.gov/FindMyLegislature.aspx?

[Conan71]

While OK Pop could be great for Tulsa, I don't like that it appears to only come as a by-product of a bill to finish funding the completely mis-managed Indian Heritage Museum (or whatever the official title is).  I say let OKC find private funding to finish that white elephant and we can find our own for OK Pop.  I really am sick of Tulsa always having its needs or wants addressed only after those of OKC being met.

[DTowner]

While OK Pop could be great for Tulsa, I don't like that it appears to only come as a by-product of a bill to finish funding the completely mis-managed Indian Heritage Museum (or whatever the official title is).  I say let OKC find private funding to finish that white elephant and we can find our own for OK Pop.  I really am sick of Tulsa always having its needs or wants addressed only after those of OKC being met.

Sadly it is inevitable that for Tulsa to get state money for OK Pop, OKC will get more money for the mismanaged Indian museum.  My bigger concern is that Tulsa's legislators don't get played as they so often have in the past with promises that never come true.  That is why I am disturbed that the bill front loads the OKC funding spread over 3 years and back loads the Tulsa funding spread over 4 years.  Payouts should be exactly the same.

[AquaMan]

That's a real concern imo. They get their museum and poof! The money for ours suddenly dries up. Its like, "You can be my boyfriend till my husband gets out of prison...".

[swake]

The state should accept an upfront loan from the Tulsa Community Foundation for $40 million, no interest. Two good things happen, the facility gets built faster and the state is on the hook contractually for the money.

[PonderInc]

I believe the Indian museum will be considered as a separate bill: SB1132

[rdj]

I believe the Indian museum will be considered as a separate bill: SB1132

If it isn't the OKC anti-logrolling attorney whose name is escaping me will sue and have it thrown out.

[cynical]

If it isn't the OKC anti-logrolling attorney whose name is escaping me will sue and have it thrown out.

Bingo. Jerry Fent.

[DTowner]

House Committee approves funding bill for Indian culture center, but takes no vote on Okla. Pop money due to weather.

Indian cultural center funding advances; OK POP museum bill vote delayed
By RANDY KREHBIEL World Staff Writer on May 21, 2013, at 2:24 AM  Updated on 5/21/13 at 6:39 AM


Senate OK's measure to tap rainy day fund for tornado relief
Senate Bill 249 would provide up to $45 million from the fund, which contains nearly $600 million.

CONTACT THE REPORTER
Randy Krehbiel

918-581-8365
Email
OKLAHOMA CITY - A bill that would channel $40 million to the mothballed American Indian Cultural Center made it through a House of Representatives committee Monday, but a vote on a similar bill for the proposed OK POP museum in Tulsa was postponed because of the weather.

Senate Bill 1132 by Sen. Clark Jolley, R-Edmond, prevailed in the House Joint Appropriations and Budget committee by a count of 13-10, meaning a likely floor vote later this week.

"I promise there will never be another dime asked for here," said J. Blake Wade, who was brought in by the museum's governing board two years ago to try to save the struggling project.

Members of the committee were far from convinced. The museum's cost overruns and the manner in which the funding scheme was hatched in the final days of the legislative session prompted a steady fire of questions, directed at Wade and others by committee Chairman Scott Martin, R-Norman, and Vice Chairman Tom Newell, R-Seminole.

"I found out about it Thursday afternoon on the floor (of the House) while it was being heard in Senate committee," Martin said.

When Rep. Chuck Hoskin, D-Vinita, remarked that he "might be the only person in this room surprised by this," Martin and Wade quickly said they, too, were caught off guard.

"We heard about something like this a couple of weeks ago, but we thought it was dead," Newell said.

More than $90 million has been invested in the museum, of which $67 million has come from taxpayers. The museum is far from completed and has been in mothballs since funding ran out last year.

Wade said just maintaining the site and meeting debt payments costs $52,000 a month.

Twelve of 17 Republicans on the committee joined one Democrat, Joe Dorman of Rush Springs, in the majority. The opposition was evenly divided between parties.

The Democratic caucus announced before the Monday morning committee meeting that it would oppose funding both the Indian Cultural Center and the Oklahoma Museum of Popular Culture unless raises for state employees are addressed.

State employees have not had cost-of-living adjustments in six years.

The committee's three Tulsa-area legislators - Democrats Eric Proctor and Jeannie McDaniel and Republican Weldon Watson - voted against the bill.

Wade said he has pledges for $40 million in private funding, including $28 million from the state's Indian tribes, to match the state's $40 million.

The funding would be taken out of use-tax revenue for three years beginning July 1, 2014.

A bill with a similar funding mechanism for OK POP was to be presented Monday afternoon, but the House adjourned early because of the weather. It was not clear when the committee would next meet.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Randy Krehbiel 918-581-8365
randy.krehbiel@tulsaworld.com

[Conan71]

Had that tornado been further north and gutted the Indian Cultural Center it would have solved that problem for good.

[DTowner]

Had that tornado been further north and gutted the Indian Cultural Center it would have solved that problem for good.

Hardly, we'd be paying to rebuild the whole thing bigger than before.

[heironymouspasparagus]

Just Okie politics as usual...only the names and the amounts have been changed to positively identify the involved...

[LeGenDz]

sigh...

State backs off plans for Tulsa popular culture museum
By WAYNE GREENE World Senior Writer on May 21, 2013, at 1:32 PM 



OKLAHOMA CITY – Backers of a proposed popular culture museum for downtown Tulsa have given up on their plans for the year, saying it would be inappropriate to proceed with their plans amid the tragedy of the Moore tornado.

"We need to be thinking first of our fellow Oklahomans who have suffered from this devastating disaster," said Bob Blackburn, executive director of the Oklahoma Historical Society. "I have talked to board members, private donors and supporters who have pledged matching resources for the museum, and they are in total agreement. This is the time to grieve and rally around those who need our help."

A state House budget committee was on the verge of considering plans to commit $40 million in state use tax to the project over a four-year period starting next year when the storm struck.

The committee approved Monday a companion plan to fund the same amount for the half-built American Indian Cultural Center in Oklahoma and had broken for lunch, planning to return to consider the OKPOP museum plan when the tornado struck.

"Due to the unfolding tragedy facing our friends and neighbors in the Moore and Shawnee communities, we agree this is the best course of action," said Mike Neal, president and CEO of the Tulsa Regional Chamber of Commerce. "We applaud Gov. Fallin, the Legislature and other state leaders for their diligent attention to ensuring any and all state resources are focused on assisting the victims of this terrible tragedy."

Blackburn said the issue won't be revived this year, but backers will continue to pursue it next year.

"I will never give up personally," Blackburn said. "We've got a dream that can work."

[LeGenDz]

But I suppose it ISN'T inappropriate to spend $40 million instead 11 miles away from the epcicenter of the damage itself. 

[DTowner]

But I suppose it ISN'T inappropriate to spend $40 million instead 11 miles away from the epcicenter of the damage itself.  

This is outrageous.  By what logic must Okla. Pop be put on hold while the Indian cultural center goes forward?  How is the Oklahoma legislature doing its job by considering and voting on legislation interfering with our concern for those who have suffered in Moore?  If money is the issue, the Indian center is getting much more money up front and will interfere with recovery efforts far more than the $5 million that would have gone to Tulsa.  Without the quid pro quo of linking the two together, what are the chances there will be the votes for Okla. Pop next year?  I would say less than 20%.  Tulsa gets played again.