The state actually hired 2 consulting firms to help with oversight and management of the funds from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).
Obviously Guidehouse was one firm. The other was 929 Strategies, a public policy and "government relations consulting company." 929 Strategies was founded by former state labor commissioner, Melissa McLawhorn Houston.
McLawhorn Houston served on the current Governor of Oklahoma, Kevin Stitt’s transition team. You can read more about Oklahoma's ARPA money and McLawhorn Houston in this article written by Oklahoma's SPN affiliate.
Once again, I find it so odd that multiple "small government" loving elected politicians across multiple states, are not only all connected by the same Heritage Foundation affiliate network, SPN which is dumping money into policy design for these state affiliates, they're also all using the same D.C. area consulting firm, which has been partnering with the F.B.I. for decades.
I honestly don't think most state citizens would be ok with so many outside influences trying to influence or purchase the policies that determine every day life for citizens of the state. I found out my own local government in Louisiana violated transparency laws and met in secret with Guidehouse, and I know I'm in no way ok with it. You cannot demand transparency and oversight, and then pretend it's somehow ok to hide shady business dealings paid for with tax dollars just because you're pointing the finger at other people.
Hiring the consultants was allegedly justified by the state because of the Federal restrictions on how the money could be spent.
As McLawhorn Houston points out, "This is not funding for pensions... This is not for funding ‘rainy days..."
She said the "basic purpose” of the federal funds was “to respond to the public health emergency” of COVID-19 and its associated impacts.
However, according to this Treasury webpage that outlines eligible uses for the funds, there were actually several ways that money could have been put directly into the pockets of some Oklahoma citizens.
This includes:
Respond to the far-reaching public health and negative economic impacts of the pandemic, by supporting the health of communities, and helping households, small businesses, impacted industries, nonprofits, and the public sector recover from economic impacts
Provide premium pay for essential workers, offering additional support to those who have and will bear the greatest health risks because of their service in critical sectors
I'm curious to know if that's how Guidehouse and 929 strategies advised it be spent? Did citizens of Oklahoma benefit from these billions of dollars?
