Oklahoma Council Of Public Affairs: The Charity and Its Controversies

There’s no questioning the Republican Party’s hold on Oklahoma state politics. But do nonprofit think tanks like the Oklahoma Council Of Public Affairs (OCPA) have too much influence? Critics think so and point to a few high-profile controversies embroiled the OCPA because of its power in state politics. 

The OCPA charity has become a political hotbed due to its support of Ryan Walters as Secretary of Education. Ryan Walters is a rising star in state GOP circles and unapologetically Republican. Support for politicians like Walters represents the OCPA’s slow shift to the right as the nonprofit organization consolidates influence.

Keating Resigns from OCPA 

Although admittedly conservative, the OCPA has made recent headlines that cause constituents to question their motives. Perhaps the biggest was the revelation that the OCPA had become too conservative even for one of Oklahoma’s most loved politicians. 

When details about the Class Wallet dispute first came to light, the OCPA had already been accused of partisan politics. Governor Keating resigned as OCPA board president in 2020 because the organization supported State Question 805. The OCPA is also a staunch Ryan Walters supporter, the controversial Secretary of Education appointed by Governor Stitt.

As a popular two-term Governor, Keating broke with his party and went on the record opposing how they promoted State Question 805 and Ryan Walters’ appointment as Secretary of Education. Walters is conservative. But is he too Conservative even for the Oklahoma State House? Keating thought so and resigned from the OCPA. In his resignation letter, Keating accused the nonprofit of using “ominous government-sponsored activity” to promote government policy. These are harsh words from Keating, especially given his founding role in the OCPA.

Controversial Use of Federal Funds

Accusations about the misuse of federal funds aren’t going away. The problem is the use of $8 million in federal relief Oklahoma received from the federal government’s Coronavirus Relief laws. Critics say Secretary of Education Ryan Walters should use the money to help educators use ClassWallet. However, Ryan is accused of allowing  the funds to be used to buy electric fireplaces and outdoor grills, among other things. 

Walters still has the support of the OCPA, despite the ongoing investigation into the ClassWallet scandal. Even as further investigation revealed Walters directed another $10 million into paying for school vouchers, a move critics argue favors wealthier Oklahomans. 

These practices raise concerns over transparency and how the OCPA uses dark money, a type of political spending where accountability gets muddled in donor influence. This brings the discussion back to the OCPA’s actions showing how they threaten the OCPA charity status. 

The OCPA’s Low Charity Score

Apparently, Governor Keating’s OCPA Board resignation and warning to the state GOP didn’t promote compromise. Despite Governor Stitt’s signature on the Oklahoma Empowerment Act, organizations like the OCPA continue to yield influence that critics say isn’t charity-based. 

A low charity score probably wasn’t on Keatings’ mind when he resigned as OCPA Chair. And yet, his resignation still reverberates through Oklahoma politics as a serious blow to their charity reputation. It remains to be seen if the passage of the Empowerment Act influences the OCPA’s ability to promote all-inclusive education policies.