State Senator Alleges a 'Secret Fund' in the House

By Jon Jordan, NEWS 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- A state senator said he has the answer to restoring the full funding of the state's Senior Nutrition program by using money from what he calls a "secret fund."

The Senior Nutrition program lost nearly $7.5 million as a result of budget cuts last year, but Senator Kenneth Corn said there is funding available and it lies within the House leadership.

Corn said while agencies and programs like the Senior Nutrition program have been forced to make drastic cuts, the House during that same period has been able to grow their own budget by $5-6 million. Money he claimed the House is using to buy things like new carpeting for the House chambers, as well as, new high-definition TV's for offices. He said that money should be going toward more important things.

"If we have extra money laying around that we can use in things that are more important than that's what we should do," Corn said.

Attempts to contact House Speaker Chris Benge were unsuccessful. However, the speaker has been quoted in the past as saying there is no secret fund, and any money they do have will be used to help the House get through this economic downturn.