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Oklahoma
Legislature
For Immediate Release: May 24, 2010
Sen. Susan Paddack
Sen. Johnnie Crutchfield
Legislators Vow to Fight Closure of SORC
in Pauls Valley
Legislation that would close the Southern Oklahoma Resource Center
(SORC) that passed out of a House committee late Friday evening
and landed in a Senate committee on Monday has a group of southern
Oklahoma legislators vowing to do their part to kill the measure
before session ends on Friday.
State Senators Susan
Paddack and Johnnie
Crutchfield and State Representative Wes Hilliard say they are
frustrated the move came in the waning days of session by urban
legislators who do not represent the people living in the community
of Pauls Valley or have an understanding of the residents who have
called SORC home for years.
On Monday afternoon, Sen. Paddack (D-Ada) gave an impassioned debate
against House Bill 2456 in a Senate committee where the bill passed
along party lines. She centered her debate on the issue of valuing
the lives of the residents of SORC.
“We talk a lot about valuing life in this building and this
legislation that would close SORC and leave these residents and
their families out in the cold, simply to save a dime, does nothing
whatsoever to value life,” Paddack said. “How can you
say you truly value life if you are simply going to turn your backs
on the most vulnerable citizens of this state?”
Senator Crutchfield (D-Ardmore) said he is appalled any decision
to close SORC would not include the legislators who represent SORC
and whom have been working with SORC and DHS officials for months
on alternatives to closing the facility.
“That’s not the way you do business around here,”
Crutchfield said. “We were elected by the people of this area
to represent their voice, and now urban legislators who have no
interest in what happens in our area are trying to silence our voice
and it’s simply unacceptable.”
Rep. Hilliard (D-Sulphur) said the plan to close the SORC is short-sighted
and will likely be devastating for residents and their families.
“I believe the residents of the SORC and their guardians should
be included in any discussion that so directly impacts their future
and quality of care,” he said. “Oklahomans who have
family members at SORC are devastated and expect us to do what we
can to stop this measure from becoming law and that is exactly what
we intend to do.”
Paddack, Crutchfield and Hilliard said they will continue to fight
against the passage of HB 2456 at every possible step left in the
legislative process. The Legislature must adjourn by 5:00 P.M. on
Friday May, 28th.
For more information, contact:
Sen. Paddack: (405) 521-5541
Sen. Crutchfield: (405) 521-5607
Rep. Hilliard: (405) 557-7412
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