Inola, OK (Sept. 22nd) – Rep. Tom Gann, R-Inola, today called for full transparency surrounding the proposed aluminum smelter at the Tulsa Port of Inola and criticized efforts by the City of Tulsa– Rogers County Port Authority to challenge a citizen-led initiative petition allowing Inola voters to decide whether primary-aluminum smelting should be permitted in their town.
“Oklahoma taxpayers are being asked to support a multibillion-dollar industrial project they were never allowed to fully examine,” Gann said. “Now a public authority is preparing to use governmental power against citizens who are asking for a vote. That is not representative government. That is government turning its machinery on the people it is supposed to serve.”
The proposed $4 billion project advanced through economic-development negotiations involving nondisclosure agreements and was later connected to House Bill 2781, the Reindustrialize Oklahoma Act of 2025. Reports described the original package as including $250 million in state funds, along with major tax exemptions and financing tools.
Gann said nondisclosure agreements may be appropriate for legitimate trade secrets but should never be used to prevent citizens from understanding public obligations tied to taxpayer-funded incentives, tax preferences, infrastructure or government support.
“Once a business seeks public money or government favor, the public’s right to know must prevail,” Gann said. “The Inola controversy shows exactly why Oklahoma needs stronger limits on the abuse of nondisclosure agreements in economic-development negotiations.”
Gann filed HB1378 in 2023 aimed at curbing the use of nondisclosure agreements in government economic-development negotiations. The bill never made it to committee.
On Sept. 17, the City of Tulsa–Rogers County Port Authority authorized its attorneys to take legal action challenging the citizen-led initiative petition. Gann said the move raises serious concerns because the Port Authority is a public authority with public powers, public infrastructure and public responsibilities.
“The Port Authority is not an ordinary private landowner,” Gann said. “A government-created authority should not wrap itself in private-property rhetoric while using public power and potentially public dollars to stop taxpayers from voting.”
Tulsa Ports has said more than $100 million has been invested in infrastructure at the Port of Inola and within the town. Gann said that level of public investment makes disclosure more important, not less.
“Taxpayers deserve to know what was spent, who authorized it and whether those expenditures depended on the smelter,” Gann said. “Inola’s citizens are not obstructing representative government. They are practicing it.”
Gann called for the release of project agreements, disclosure of incentives, identification of nondisclosure agreements and public officials bound by them, publication of Port litigation expenses and disclosure of commitments made by state, port and local officials.
“Economic development does not suspend representative government,” Gann said. “A promise of jobs does not trump property rights, and claims of national security do not excuse secrecy over public incentives, ownership, infrastructure obligations or environmental consequences.”
Gann said Inola families, farmers, landowners and taxpayers have the right to participate in decisions that could permanently affect their community.
“Government belongs to the people,” Gann said. “So must the deals, debts and decisions made in their name.”
Rep. Tom Gann, R-Inola, serves District 8 in the Oklahoma House of Representatives.
References
1. Jason W. Murphey, “Forcing Oklahoma Taxpayers to Fund the Destruction of Their Own Values,” The Oklahoma State Capital, January 26, 2026.
2. Thomas Pablo, “Tulsa Ports Approves Legal Action Against Inola Smelter Petition,” KOSU, September 18, 2026.
3. Oklahoma Legislature, House Bill 2781, 1st Session of the 60th Oklahoma Legislature, “Reindustrialize Oklahoma Act of 2025,” approved May 28, 2025: https://www.oklegislature.gov/cf_pdf/2025-26%20ENR/hB/HB2781%20ENR.PDF
4. https://www.oklegislature.gov/cf_pdf/2023-24%20INT/hB/HB1378%20INT.PDF
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