House Speaker Kyle Hilbert, R-Bristow, and Senate President Pro Tem Lonnie Paxton, R-Tuttle, released the following joint statement in conjunction with Gov. Kevin Stitt calling on the state Auditor today to audit the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services:

"House and Senate leadership have taken immediate action to activate the services at the Legislative Office of Fiscal Transparency (LOFT) to determine why this unacceptable shortfall exists, what its breadth is, and how we prevent it from ever occurring again. Constitutionally we are obligated to pass a state budget no less than 12 weeks from now. 

In addition to the engagement of LOFT through a joint legislative service request to dig into the agency's finances, we also urge the state Auditor to conduct a forensic audit. LOFT can provide us the quick answers we need to do our constitutional duties before sine die adjournment while the breadth of a forensic audit from the State Auditor is needed to ensure there is no waste, fraud or abuse associated with this shortfall.

This two-pronged approach, which is supported by the Department, is needed to give us both short-term and long-term answers to rectify the situation and ensure it does not happen again."

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