McCall Removes Osborn As Appropriations Chairman
Oklahoma Speaker ousts budget chair day after public disagreement
by Dale Denwalt, NewsOK.com
State Rep. Leslie Osborn, R-Mustang and Oklahoma House Speaker Charles McCall, R-Atoka.
Oklahoma Speaker Charles McCall has replaced Appropriations and Budget Committee Chair Leslie Osborn a day after she and others publicly disagreed with him.
McCall emailed some members of the House notifying them that Osborn, R-Mustang, would be replaced by Wellston Republican Kevin Wallace, who served as vice chair last session.
On Monday, Osborn and two House appropriations subcommittee chairs disputed claims that the Department of Human Services was to blame for program and service cuts that were announced last week. McCall and the House majority leader separately criticized DHS for eliminating or suspending nearly $30 million worth of programs that support children, vulnerable adults and the elderly.
DHS contends that growing costs and years of under-funding forced its hand.