OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Oklahoma lawmakers are studying whether to expand the governor's appointment authority to include the heads of state agencies and commissions.
The state Senate General Government Committee conducted a legislative study Wednesday on authorizing the governor to name the heads of all state agencies in the executive branch of government.
Currently, the heads of some agencies like the attorney general and education superintendent are elected by voters. The directors of dozens of other agencies are appointed by boards whose members are appointed by the governor.
Andrew Spiropoulos of the Oklahoma City University School of Law says giving the state's chief executive more control over the executive branch of government will make government more effective. But some lawmakers expressed concern about making state government operate like the federal government.