How the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority operates like a Soviet Regime

In a succinct presentation before the Oklahoma Senate Transportation Committee on September 27, 2022, Professor Tassie Hirschfeld illustrates the absurdity of the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority operations. Hirschfeld is a professor in anthropology who specializes in post-soviet autocratic countries and anti-corruption research.

Watch Hirschfeld explain how the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority operates more like a Soviet regime than a “State of Oklahoma” agency here:

Hirschfeld focuses on 3 policy failures: Cross-pledging, lack of independent oversight, and the perils that accompany OTA’s unlimited borrowing, taxing, and spending powers

Oklahoma Turnpike Authority Policy Failure #1

• Cross-Pledging

  • Loans are never repaid, only refinanced
  • Banks get rich from fees
  • Drivers get high tolls

Oklahoma Turnpike Authority Policy Failure #2

• No independent oversight

  • Results in poor planning & runaway costs
  • Autocratic decision-making
  • Abuse of eminent domain
  • Red flags for corruption

Oklahoma Turnpike Authority Policy Failure #3

• No limits on OTA’s borrowing/spending/taxing

  • OTA bonds are rated “investment grade” because there are no limits on toll increases
  • Debt service has been the OTA’s largest expense since the 1990s and they have continually miscalculated how high their debt service payments will grow