Oregon: GOP cuts Secretary of State budget; is it payback?
AP reports: A House panel carved $1 million from Secretary of State Bill Bradbury's budget for auditing government agencies, a move that could limit his office's ability to spot fraud and wasteful spending.
Republican Rep. Wayne Scott, chairman of the House Budget Committee and House majority leader, said Wednesday the cut resulted from a "prudent scouring of the budget. We feel strongly they can perform their duties and keep within the restraints of the budget."
Scott said the reduction had nothing to do with GOP complaints of bias in the Democratic secretary of state's redrawing of legislative districts in 2001. ...
If the full House passes the panel's budget bill for Bradbury's office, it would set up a confrontation with the Democrat-controlled Senate. That chamber has passed a version of the budget that doesn't cut funding for audits. -- OregonLive.com: NewsFlash - House committee shaves Bradbury auditing money