Gov. Stitt issues executive order to stop "wasteful" spending on PR contracts

Shortly after vetoing part of a bill that would have stopped State Superintendent Ryan Walters from using taxpayer dollars for promotional purposes, Governor Kevin Stitt issued an executive order prohibiting no-bid contracts between government agencies and public relations firms.

OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — Shortly after vetoing part of a bill that would have stopped State Superintendent Ryan Walters from using taxpayer dollars for promotional purposes, Gov. Kevin Stitt issued an executive order prohibiting no-bid contracts between government agencies and public relations firms.

Stitt says that he issued the order in an effort to minimize wasteful spending of taxpayer dollars by state agencies who are hiring outside PR firms.

"We all have to remember, the money we spend doesn't belong to us - it belongs to Oklahoma taxpayers," Stitt said. "Oklahomans expect my administration to steward each tax dollar well, and that's exactly what we're going to do. It makes no sense for state agencies who pay the salaries of communications staff to outsource work to PR firms via sole source contracts. It's wasteful and we're putting a stop to it statewide."

The executive order states that all agencies must adhere to the competitive bidding process through a minimum 30-day request for proposal (RFP) process for all contracts with PR firms.

In addition to prohibiting new no-bid, or sole source, contracts, the order also restricts agencies from renewing previous sole source contracts with vendors.

The order also says that state agencies, directors of state agencies, or state employees are not allowed to use tax dollars to fund self-promotion, or the promotion of any other matter outside of the scope of their respective state agency.

Read the full executive order here.