NORMAN — We don’t often side with state Rep. Randy Terrill, R-Moore.
His views on making immigration a state issue instead of a federal one have been criticized more than a few times on these pages.
But we are apt to take up his cause of opening up the legislative hearings called to investigate Mr. Terrill’s criminal bribery charges. The Moore Republican’s district includes parts of northwest Norman. He has been accused of scheming with former state Sen. Debe Leftwich in a plan to get Leftwich a state job in exchange for her not seeking re-election.
House Speaker Kris Steele appointed a bipartisan committee of lawmakers to look into the Terrill-Leftwich fuss. Much is at stake here as Mr. Terrill could be expelled from the House. He faces potential prison time on the Oklahoma County felony bribery charge, which is independent of the House proceedings.
The committee’s meeting was halted Tuesday when a television news reporter asked to attend. Mr. Terrill has asked for full transparency in the proceedings. Making all of the sessions public avoids the perception that somehow Mr. Terrill got a pass from his fellow legislators.
An attorney hired to guide the House members in their investigation said Tuesday’s meeting was an opportunity for House members to ask questions about the investigative committee’s rules. If that’s the case, there’s no valid reason to keep the press, and the public, out of the session.
In a time when lawmakers are all preaching the value of transparency in government, Speaker Steele should step in and order future hearings open to all.
