By Associated Press
Oklahoma City, OK – Stimulus spending on schools in Oklahoma defended
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) A spokesman for Gov. Brad Henry is defending how Oklahoma spent its federal stimulus dollars on education.
Paul Sund says Oklahoma met federal guidelines in spending the money and increased overall funding for education.
Sund commented after the Obama administration warned Pennsylvania it may withhold millions of dollars if states use stimulus money to plug budget holes instead of increasing aid for schools.
Sund says the spending situation in Oklahoma and Pennsylvania are not comparable.
The president of the Oklahoma Education Association, Roy Bishop, sees similarities, however.
Bishop says Oklahoma joined other states in simply filling budget holes, instead of using the stimulus funds for innovative programs to improve schools.