For Immediate Release:
September 2, 2005
Sen. Wilcoxson Urges State to Scale Back Centennial
Costs
to Help Hurricane Katrina Relief Efforts
State Sen. Kathleen Wilcoxson is urging Oklahoma to consider
scaling back planned expenditures on upcoming centennial celebrations
in order to offer greater assistance to neighbors in need.
“I’m looking at these heartbreaking images coming out of
Louisiana—countless people have lost everything they have. Officials
are saying the death toll could be in the thousands. The devastation
there and in other southern communities is too great to even comprehend.
Given that, I’m wondering why don’t we scale back our centennial
celebrations and redirect those resources to help our neighbors,”
said Wilcoxson, R-OKC.
Sen. Wilcoxson asked that question on the floor of the Senate Wednesday
when a bill calling for a $10 million appropriation for centennial projects
was being debated. Several members voiced concerns that the bill should
contain specifics about exactly which projects are to be funded and
at what level. The measure was defeated, but Sen. Wilcoxson said at
some point the issue would be revisited by lawmakers.
“On the floor I compared this to parents planning a birthday party
for their child but then learn their neighbors had just lost everything
in a house fire. Out of concern that family plans a less lavish party
so they can help their neighbors. That’s what I’m asking
us to do now. We should simply plan a less lavish party so that we can
help our neighbors,” Wilcoxson said.
For
more information contact:
Senate Communication's
Office - (405) 521-5774