OKLAHOMA CITY — A Democratic representative is accusing Oklahoma House Republicans of catering to the needs of the Taxed Enough Already Party over the needs of Oklahomans.

Rep. Ed Cannaday, D-Porum, said he is upset the Oklahoma House of Representatives adjourned early Thursday so the House chamber could be used to host a TEA Party event.

“I find it very upsetting that we adjourned early so the Republicans could hear a TEA Party activist encourage them to do things such as cede from the union,” Cannaday said. “We are in the middle of a horrible budget crisis, and we had business to take care of.”

The legislators only heard four items and seven bills before adjourning for the day. he said.

“We have people who are going without health care. We are cutting vital services for our citizens, and yet they close the chamber for the rest of the day to play politics,” he said.

Cannaday said the House could have heard almost 40 bills Thursday if it would have been open longer.

According to a press release, the TEA Party speaker was former Arizona sheriff Richard Mack, who spoke on the importance of state sovereignty.

Approximately a dozen people attended his speech Tuesday. Mack told his listeners that Oklahoma should not allow the federal government to impose “un-Constitutional tyranny,” according to the release.

A secretary for House Speaker Chris Benge, R-Tulsa, said the House was finished with its daily agenda, and that is why it was able to adjourn.

She said Benge was unavailable for comment on the event.

“I respect Speaker Benge’s right to have a small agenda for the day, but I wish he could use the time he gave to the TEA Party to help real Oklahomans struggling in this hard time,” Cannaday said.