By Barbara Hoberock, Oklahoma Voice
OKLAHOMA CITY – Saddled with more responsibilities, Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond is seeking to expand his office’s physical footprint across the street from the Capitol.
“The Legislature has seen fit to give the Attorney General’s Office multiple new responsibilities, including the Organized Crime Task Force, the PBM (Pharmacy Benefit Manager) unit, and most recently, the long-term care ombudsman program,” Drummond told a Senate panel Wednesday examining agency budgets.
He said the office has expanded nearly every unit to implement its work.
The agency is seeking $50 million from a recently created state fund and a $2.5 million annual appropriation to expand the office to the west of the main campus.
The agency currently rents a building on the Chesapeake campus for about $1 million a year, he said.
“That could go back toward the payment of this investment,” he said.
In addition, the agency recently paid off two bonds used to pay for the current building, Drummond said.
The final bond will be paid off in June, he said.
The office would benefit from having all of its employees in one location, Drummond said.
“It would not be completed during my tenure, but still, I believe it is responsible for me to advocate for the long-term needs of this office,” he said.
Last year, the agency received an appropriation of $63.9 million, according to Drummond’s office. In fiscal year 2021, the appropriation was $11.1 million, according to the agency.
It is seeking an additional $6.6 million for operations, $6 million for pass-through-funds to combat domestic violence and human trafficking and $2.5 million for building expansion, according to the agency.
Phil Bacharach, a Drummond spokesperson, said the total cost of an additional building is about $50 million. The add on to the current building will be about 129,000 square feet, he said.
The office is also seeking funds to create a unit to tackle cold criminal cases, Drummond said.
“Native American women make up a significant portion of the missing and murdered cases,” Drummond said.
Drummond said he is asking lawmakers to fully restore the $10 million appropriated in prior years to the federal overreach and extraordinary litigation fund.
The funds have been used to push back against policies of former President Joe Biden.
“And with a new president, our efforts in federal litigation will continue, but pivot,” Drummond said.
The focus will be on challenging those who fight President Donald Trump’s administration and to support policy initiatives that benefit the states, he said.
The money also is used to pay for extraordinary litigation, such as cases to recoup funds from Winter Storm Uri, fighting the inflation of insulin prices and to hold social media companies accountable for predatory and harmful effects on children, Drummond said.
