OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — An Oklahoma City attorney claims a bond program used by colleges and universities to fund more than $600 million in buildings and projects at campuses across the state is unconstitutional.
Attorney Jerry Fent filed a legal brief Thursday with the Oklahoma Supreme Court claiming the Master Lease Program created by the Legislature in 2002 is illegal because the original bill included the program in an appropriations bill. Fent claims this is an example of "logrolling" because it violates a provision of the Oklahoma Constitution that requires bills to address only one subject.
A state agency that issues the bonds is asking the state's highest court to approve the issuance of several bonds under the program.
A state senator filed a separate challenge to the bond issue earlier this week.