Noting that the Capitol is a political environment where issues get debated, Doerflinger said he understands that while he supports education savings accounts, there are those who are equally opposed to them.

Gov. Mary Fallin, who appointed Doerflinger to his post, called in her State of the State address for the Legislature to approve a bill creating education savings accounts.

Doerflinger, Fallin’s chief budget negotiator, said he and others would have liked to have seen a vote on the issue so constituents would know where lawmakers stood on the bills.

He said education savings accounts have been part of the GOP platform for years, and that he was frustrated that legislative leaders did not allow a vote on them.

Under the concept, public dollars would follow a student who wishes to attend a private or religious school. Supporters say it would create more choice, while critics say it would harm public education by removing funding.

Doerflinger said he was not opposed to tapping the state’s Rainy Day Fund to help offset cuts made this fiscal year to common education but that he believes the education establishment is more about getting additional dollars than implementing reforms.