Oklahoma lawmakers on both sides of the political aisle are joining forces against Superintendent Ryan Walters due to his anti-LGBTQ+ school policies, mismanaged budgets, and state law violations.
Republicans Demand Investigation
Over 20 Republican lawmakers in Oklahoma have signed a letter calling for an investigation into Superintendent Ryan Walters for illegal and unethical conduct.
Controversial Superintendent
Ryan Walters is the current Oklahoma State Superintendent of Public Instruction, but he has only held the position for 18 months and has already made a controversial name for himself by pushing conservative policies to fight against “woke” ideologies.
McBride Leads the Charge
The 20 Republican lawmakers who signed the letter for investigation into Walters are being led by Rep. Mark McBride, who serves as the chair of the Appropriations and Budget Subcommittee on Education.
McBride’s Last Stand
While Walters is fairly new to his position, McBride is nearing the end of his political career thanks to term limits and seems to be taking a last stand against Walters while he still can.
Fiscal Responsibility Concerns
McBride is well known for his focus on fiscal responsibility and transparency and has had several public clashes with Walters over his concerns about education budget mismanagement.
Bible in Schools Controversy
On top of the concerning budget management, Walters has also ruffled feathers by trying to force Bible education in public schools while limiting LGBTQ+ discussions.
Call For Independent Investigation
McBride’s letter calls for an independent investigative committee to determine if Walters’ actions can be classified as a “willful neglect of duty” as defined by the state constitution.
“Increasingly Concerned”
“Since Superintendent Walters took office 18 months ago, I have grown increasingly concerned about the budget performance, spending priorities, and transparency surrounding the Department,” wrote McBride in his letter to House Speaker Charles McCall.
Unprofessional Conduct
McBride emphasized that Walters and the Board of Education “has been, to say the least, unprofessional, beneath the dignity of a statewide elected official, and most importantly, contrary to the best interest of the taxpayers and students of the State of Oklahoma.”
Major Budget Accusations
One of the largest budget accusations placed against Walters is a failure to comply with budget directives, like the misappropriation of school security funds and a $250,000 meant for asthma inhalers.
Walters Denies Allegations
Walters denied the allegations in a statement to KOCO, saying, “The claim that his office inappropriately reallocated school funds is a complete lie.”
“Not Backing Down”
Walters then went on to say that he will not “back down to moderate Republicans partnering with Democrats to try to overturn the will of the people.”
McCall Sets Threshold
House Speaker Charles McCall addressed the Oklahoma Republicans who signed the letter and said the investigation would only proceed if “51 or more Republicans sign the letter,” calling for Walters’ impeachment.
Democrats’ Longstanding Calls
However, these Republicans are far from the first to call for Walters’s impeachment, as State Democrats have asked for this since August of 2023.
Democrats Focus on LGBTQ+ Policies
The difference between these Republican and Democratic calls for impeachment, however, is that Democrats are doing so in response to Walters’ anti-LGBTQ+ policies and inflammatory rhetoric.
Hostile Environment for LGBTQ+ Students
They accuse Walters of creating a hostile environment for LGBTQ+ students, leading to increased violence and mental health crises within this vulnerable community.
Repeated Calls For Investigation
House Minority Leader Rep. Cyndi Munson said, “Since last August, House Democrats have made five public calls for the Speaker of the House to create an investigative committee to investigate the state superintendent.”
Link to Increased Violence
While such claims may seem overexaggerated, Walters’ policies have been linked to an increase in anti-LGBTQ+ violence, like the tragic death of Indigenous nonbinary teen Nex Benedict.
Over 350 Rights Groups Call For Resignation
Over 350 LGBTQ+ rights groups have called for Walters’ resignation, and the Rainbow Youth Project USA has reported a sharp increase in crisis calls from LGBTQ+ students in Oklahoma since Walters took office.
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Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock / Katherine Welles.
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