[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6227876,"mediaKeyId","3479048-b93e4e38e387775bd36fbca0cc27dcb4","parentId",3479048,"title","Governor criticizes tribal license-plate sales, says tribes owe more than $5 million in turnpike fees","audioSeconds",120,"startMs",1980000,"endMs",2100000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3479048-b93e4e38e387775bd36fbca0cc27dcb4&start=1980&end=2100","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3479048-b93e4e38e387775bd36fbca0cc27dcb4/thumbnail_1980000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6227876/Oklahoma/Governor-criticizes-tribal-license-plate-sales-says-tribes-owe-more-than-5-million-in-turnpike-fees","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6227876-5d946b3cc1ee685ed7ab7bad13be8dd1/orig.mp4?Expires=1770756571&Signature=DTcA7SYeOwOFb7xPCoU7ajGgqL1wv6jyMPqTEclthaBExN7NwQvdFGbl-wYEGL4st~u-z93f8layH3GQJ8tNgy2~5kwyvG87EOqDmClO~oNnDpy2xZt8EFIMR4wpF03ukXPWqfdRZpP3LSaDT~TO8VXyEJT6GgQ7LClZrlGg14hq51euQVbDDKMDUZ~vLHNPjkRMbJu4tEFrocUpO8fcSA6T0aj6BmnNEXOFLs1wpSlofMuI-ZXZmv4Pe5aSYsPBiV-Qg2fesQuroovaVOFSFv~AsQ0fV0V828-EmEMEv4pLUlwTMlO0LgWuLVRAOgbXUPh6ySe9s7uCtttKWi4joQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Governor Kevin Stitt","date","2025-05-24T01:44:53.18Z","article","Governor (name not specified), the governor of Oklahoma, raised concerns about tribal license-plate sales and turnpike revenue during the press conference, saying specialty plates tied to tribes do not send money to the state for roads and bridges and that the state’s turnpike system has not been made whole.

\"When you see a creek tag, a license plate, none of that money goes to the state of Oklahoma for roads or bridges or anything,\" the governor said, and added reporters should investigate the practice of selling and printing tags.

He said law enforcement lacks information about some of those plates and said the unpaid amount owed to the state is \"up to over $5,000,000\". The governor argued for treating all motorists equally on turnpikes and asked why the media were not running more coverage of the issue.

\"I cannot, in good conscience, as the governor of Oklahoma, allow you to drive illegally on the roads and sell tags in Guymon and Guthrie and Edmond,\" he said, and urged making turnpikes free for everyone only after resolving outstanding payments and enforcement questions.

The governor did not announce specific legislation or enforcement steps at the press conference; he encouraged reporters to pursue coverage and urged the legislature to address perceived inequities in how specialty plates and turnpike fees are handled.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Catch my weekly press briefing. Join in!","oneSentenceSummary","Governor (name not specified), the governor of Oklahoma, said tribal license-plate sales do not send revenue for state roads and that the state’s turnpike system is owed \"up to over $5,000,000,\" urging uniform treatment of motorists and more investigative reporting.","taxTitle","Governor's Office, Executive, Oklahoma","taxId",72757,"location","Oklahoma","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6227881,"Governor says federal DOJ sued county DA over reservation prosecution after McGirt, vows support for local prosecutors",165,2185000,2350000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3479048-b93e4e38e387775bd36fbca0cc27dcb4&start=2185&end=2350","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3479048-b93e4e38e387775bd36fbca0cc27dcb4/thumbnail_2185000.jpg","/articles/6227881/Oklahoma/Governor-says-federal-DOJ-sued-county-DA-over-reservation-prosecution-after-McGirt-vows-support-for-local-prosecutors","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6227881-7243884796e2e42a617c07f7dd8ab36c/orig.mp4?Expires=1770756571&Signature=JfowUc3XMsRlrB6I-AOcEMktCf6VdkuK36ite7-hsG9s53bkQT7Rfcm5bEjqN6B5vPLFTBlPaKi7goT-8BZ9QUT2QLx65F~os6qHurmMjbnRvRU5G-YcubpPvpdA2yQ6LG9nd9nToPTgwPets-WEIcoiuvtzZWuOHMH8vcpKyZJPkDo1kmTeXwxC7McS6Xh9dhAtS2VUnSrulN4sYrz9FpU2~hQvIx5HEsfIm0pSOaV-KNdc9Azxw1CR0yOnk6eWKT5g64KaLhNTtsPYW7g8bxKx5VyJllCY82twOrNQ~YcKid9FDAEUoa~mMOxS0ALLJvjC-vPz8SIvy09zMUL0Yw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Governor (name not specified), the governor of Oklahoma, described a legal dispute in which the U.S. Department of Justice sued a locally elected district attorney, saying the case involved jurisdictional questions on tribal land following the McGirt decision.

\"So Ballard, the district attorney who is elected to defend and protect the citizens of his county, files a suit files a, a criminal charge against this person... The Biden Department of Justice sued Ballard, our district attorney, and said, no. No. No. You can't prosecute this Indian because it's it's on reservation,\" the governor said, discussing a case where he said a nonresident allegedly committed crimes in Oklahoma.

The governor said the state attorney general declined to defend Ballard and that the administration has sought funding to defend local district attorneys in litigation against the United States. He also said tribal governments have intervened in some cases and filed competing charges.

\"We have to now go get money to defend our own district attorneys to be able to fight these cases against the United States government,\" he said, and added he has asked the Trump Department of Justice to intervene and drop the case.

The governor named Ballard and other local prosecutors (Iskey, Ballard and Ocmulgee referenced) and said tribes including the Creeks and Cherokees had intervened. He framed the issue as one of local prosecutors' ability to protect citizens and said the legal landscape after McGirt has created complex federal-tribal-state jurisdictional questions.

No new state legal action or legislative proposal was announced during the press conference; the administration said it is seeking resources and federal cooperation to resolve the litigation and protecxt local prosecutorial authority.","The governor described litigation arising from prosecutions on tribal land after the McGirt decision, saying the U.S. Department of Justice sued a locally elected district attorney (Ballard) for pursuing charges and that the administration is seeking funds and federal cooperation to defend local prosecutors.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6227885,"Governor says forensic audit underway after state agency report finds a shortfall, disputes \"bad culture\" characterization",180,1510000,1690000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3479048-b93e4e38e387775bd36fbca0cc27dcb4&start=1510&end=1690","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3479048-b93e4e38e387775bd36fbca0cc27dcb4/thumbnail_1510000.jpg","/articles/6227885/Oklahoma/Governor-says-forensic-audit-underway-after-state-agency-report-finds-a-shortfall-disputes-bad-culture-characterization","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6227885-1240d30440d8aeb0e20692022b11b4c2/orig.mp4?Expires=1770756571&Signature=InT7TylbwTSAd4~X7B9rNQoxVDJ814pz6jLERjL~QWAQKBQRsktq7JvmgmmLCwKfcVqcaH-8VPxKP4qcElHepwzjjT8bVbHSWH8bXfjntHsVxFTrXpHcw0bULxZ9bW1rNEqqM~teE4ZZmS5hu41AXTZJurMwNRSILB3XAOUiUiFr~EiiLBZBlc5augXvKbqwgTr~JT5BT4YXg4~xTf7TpxSxt84~ek4h6OV9S6aJAY2~ZvungLczinMqwGZauC1zb228oYeVW2P9x-vB8bQBj~6oh-ahsQIXMH0ijuL44Woe~zM6L83te~vsw9pKI53jmBv2b3fGzPAuGN9uAVvZfA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Governor (name not specified), the governor of Oklahoma, said he asked the state auditor to review the last five years of financials for a state agency after press reporting and an auditor’s report drew criticism and political attention.

\"I asked the auditor to, you know, audit the last 5 years of financials,\" the governor said, adding he views some public statements about \"bad culture\" as political commentary rather than an accounting finding.

The governor said the administration has hired forensic auditors David Greenwald and Robert McCampbell to investigate the figures and that the state expects to plug a roughly $29,000,000 shortfall. He said senior finance staff, including a CFO and payroll employees, have been dismissed as part of the agency’s reorganization.

\"We issued our statement. I think there's a $29,000,000 shortfall that we're gonna get, plugged,\" the governor said. He described the staffing changes and promised the administration will \"get to the bottom of it.\"

The governor also pushed back on media reports that the administration was cutting mental-health funding, saying the same or more dollars went into mental-health services this year than last.

He framed some critical public statements about the agency as politically motivated ahead of elections and said the forensic review is meant to provide clarity for Oklahomans. The governor did not provide a timetable for the audit's completion or detailed accounting of the shortfall during the press conference.

No formal action or new statutory measures were announced at the conference; the administration characterized the work as internal financial review and oversight steps, and reporters asked for additional documentation.","The governor responded to a state auditor’s report about a state agency, saying the administration has hired forensic auditors to review finances, disputed characterization of a \"bad culture,\" and said a $29 million shortfall will be addressed as staff changes are identified.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6227890,"Governor says $4 billion EGA aluminum smelter will bring jobs, asks lawmakers to clear funding and fast-track permits",504,820000,1324000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3479048-b93e4e38e387775bd36fbca0cc27dcb4&start=820&end=1324","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3479048-b93e4e38e387775bd36fbca0cc27dcb4/thumbnail_820000.jpg","/articles/6227890/Oklahoma/Governor-says-4-billion-EGA-aluminum-smelter-will-bring-jobs-asks-lawmakers-to-clear-funding-and-fast-track-permits","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6227890-590ddc94fffb2c53dec425b9c9681ca6/orig.mp4?Expires=1770756571&Signature=Nj~udZm~xnKDgNpeqVDv0JFJ-a6Tesq1f1F4OeSajMRhc8pnFE0KerlD4NMxiJQMX0nnE~N2R6kW~S2w8w8o~gPLJCWDUhI3xkdUa6oEsXWQFLspJoxCBQvHoz6AvriUlLAjz0j6E5d94VG6uen-1TKKPtOdqBEoUKSbv44jiPEjCBrXP5zHsTc5-vSFxm3hd6c4uBVQo0nr3FaTo2S8C-oYyAaQrmqky0efTQxHxdl-3o7ebPePM8CIsVh0driq7juItEWZPpVjHPvpDDxoS67LwKmUfE0T3XLHAorseROjzsivg525bBFo5bW197zqmq~Ov68YHN4bOWlYsNX2kw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Governor (name not specified), the governor of Oklahoma, said last week the state announced “the biggest economic development project in state history,” a planned $4,000,000,000 investment by Emirates Global Aluminum (EGA) to build an aluminum smelter in eastern Oklahoma that he said would create about 1,000 direct jobs and about 1,800 construction jobs.

\"It's gonna be, a 4,000,000,000 investment in our state, and, a lot of you it'll create a thousand direct jobs. Average wage is over $80,000 a year and about 1,800 during construction,\" the governor said.

The governor framed the project as both an economic and national-security benefit, saying the smelter will produce aluminum and gallium, a byproduct used in semiconductors. He said President Trump and federal-level outreach helped attract the investment and noted an MOU linking EGA to Raytheon for gallium supply.

\"He announced $1,300,000,000,000 investment into The US over the next decade...the first 4,000,000,000 dollars of this...is gonna be building a smeltering facility in the great state of Oklahoma,\" the governor said.

On permitting and regulatory timing, the governor pointed to state authority and an executive order directing faster review. \"Most of the permitting will be handled by Oklahoma's...agencies, the DEQ primarily,\" he said, and added, \"we're delegated from the EPA to issue the permits.\" He also referenced an executive order that directs agencies to complete permits within 30 days.

The governor also discussed state budget negotiations and legislative funding for the project. He said the Senate initially did not advance a $255,000,000 appropriation connected to the EGA project but indicated confidence the funding will be approved. He highlighted utility involvement, saying Public Service Company of Oklahoma (PSO), owned by AEP, has committed roughly $1 billion to be ready for the facility.

\"PSO is also stepping up to the table...they're gonna invest a billion dollars in Oklahoma just to be ready, for this, this aluminum smeltery facility,\" he said.

The governor emphasized recruiting related manufacturers to locate near the smelter and said the project could spur additional downstream industrial investment.

He concluded by expressing confidence state leaders can secure the necessary legislative approvals. \"We're gonna get this across the finish line...we'll all take the victory together,\" the governor said.

The statements were made during a press conference in which reporters asked follow-up questions about permitting, legislative funding and local company interest. No formal state action was announced at the conference beyond the administration’s public advocacy and coordination with state agencies and utilities.","The governor described a planned $4 billion Emirates Global Aluminum (EGA) smelter in eastern Oklahoma as the largest economic development project in state history, saying it would create about 1,000 direct jobs and about 1,800 construction jobs, and urged state officials and lawmakers to approve related funding and speed permitting.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Governor criticizes tribal license-plate sales, says tribes owe more than $5 million in turnpike fees

Governor says federal DOJ sued county DA over reservation prosecution after McGirt, vows support for local prosecutors

Governor says forensic audit underway after state agency report finds a shortfall, disputes "bad culture" characterization

Governor says $4 billion EGA aluminum smelter will bring jobs, asks lawmakers to clear funding and fast-track permits