Sen. Hall named to bipartisan Loft oversight committee

State Sen. Chuck Hall, R- Perry, has been chosen to serve on a bipartisan, bicameral oversight committee for the Legislative Office of Fiscal Transparency (LOFT). Creating the office was a top agenda goal during the 2019 Legislative Session in order to help improve government transparency and accountability. Historically, legislators have had to rely on state agencies to provide financial data. LOFT will provide independent data to lawmakers and to the public on state agency budgets and program performance.

“This will help us be even better stewards of the public’s resources—in fact more than half of the states in this country already utilize offices similar to LOFT,” Hall said. “We need to be able to account for each tax dollar we appropriate and ensure they’re being used in the most efficient and productive way possible.”

Hall, who serves as Vice Chair of the Senate Finance Committee, said LOFT will conduct performance evaluations of agencies, programs or specific divisions and will have open access to all agency data and budgets. The office will have a nonpartisan, independent staff of highly educated professionals, and all reports will be available to the public.

“It’s an honor to be appointed to this oversight committee. I believe greater transparency and accountability are essential to building and strengthening trust with the public. It’s a tremendous responsibility but one that will improve state government and the essential programs that serve citizens throughout Oklahoma.”