Sen. Lamb Says Inadequate Funding for DA's Puts Public at Risk

The budget needs of the state's District Attorneys have not been adequately addressed by Governor Brad Henry and Speaker Todd Hiett. Sen. Todd Lamb said he was terribly concerned that public safety will ultimately suffer for it.

"The highest priority of any government should be to protect its citizens. The budget compromise announced by the Governor doesn't give our DA's the money they need to do their job and in fact they could be forced to start laying off staff attorneys by this fall," said Lamb, R-Edmond. "That's going to delay the prosecution of murderers, rapists and other dangerous criminals who need to be behind bars."

Lamb said District Attorneys' offices were hard hit by Wal-Mart's decision to privatize their bogus check collections.

"The zero-based budget that has been proposed doesn't even take into account the $3.2 million loss from the bogus check program," Lamb said. "Their proposal would appropriate only $4.3 million, but our DA's actually need a minimum $9.7 million to continue their work protecting law-abiding citizens from dangerous criminals."

Lamb explained he has a particular interest in law enforcement because of his background as a former Special Agent with the United States Secret Service.

"Often I worked with local DA's to prosecute cases and I know they're our first line of defense in putting bad people behind bars and I want to make sure they're properly funded," Lamb said. "I'd like every Oklahoman to contact their legislator and let them know they want our prosecutors to be properly funded."