Gov. Kevin Stitt used his third State of the State address to push initiatives — new and old — in an effort to fulfill his lofty campaign promise of making Oklahoma into a “top ten” state.
During his roughly 38-minute speech to a joint session of the Legislature, Stitt said the relatively lenient COVID-19 restrictions he put in place over the last year makes Oklahoma in a better position than most states to weather the financial fallout from the pandemic.
As a result, he said lawmakers can pass a relatively flat budget, with no new taxes, while socking away hundreds of millions in the state’s depleted savings accounts.
The first-term governor also laid out the framework for his legislative agenda, including calls to overhaul how the state funds its public schools, give agency heads more flexibility to hire and fire state workers and attract new businesses to the state.
The Oklahoma Watch staff annotated portions (see shaded sections) of Stitt’s written speech to dive deeper into what he said and didn’t say.
Making Oklahoma Top Ten
“Mr. Speaker, Mr. President Pro Tem, Lt. Governor Matt Pinnell, Chief Operating Officer John Budd and members of my cabinet, Mr. Chief Justice, members of the 58th Legislature, my best friend — First Lady Sarah Stitt, my six children, my parents, and most importantly, my fellow Oklahomans.
“It is a great honor to stand before you, and to partner with you to lead our state through unprecedented times.
“I respect the constitutional authority of both of these legislative bodies.
“Mr. Speaker, Mr. Pro Tem, members of the House and Senate, I stand here in your chamber today and pledge to work with you, and to have the best and most productive session in state history!”
Stitt has had an up-and-down relationship with the Legislature since he took office. His first session went relatively smoothly. Lawmakers approved many of Stitt’s requests, including giving him hiring and firing authority of several powerful agency heads. Last year, however, was far rockier. Stitt and legislative leaders accused each other of walking away from the negotiating table for the budget in a showdown that led to Stitt vetoing the budget and lawmakers then overriding the veto. — Trevor Brown
“I’d also like to recognize each of the 15 new representatives and the eight new senators who are just starting their service.”
This year’s freshmen class of new lawmakers is far smaller than two years ago. At the start of the 2019 session, there were 46 new representatives and a dozen senators. — Trevor Brown
“I look forward to partnering with you as we continue to lead Oklahoma to becoming a Top Ten state.”
This was Stitt’s first of 11 references in his speech towards making Oklahoma a “Top Ten” state. What began as a campaign rallying call, has been a constant in Stitt’s messaging. But, according to the latest data on the Governor’s Dashboard of Metrics, Oklahoma remains outside of the top ten of 14 of the 18 categories that include state rankings. — Trevor Brown
“Two years ago, I took the oath of office in front of my family, my fellow Oklahomans and most importantly my Heavenly Father.
“I promised to support and defend the constitution and perform the duties of my office to the best of my ability. I take that promise as seriously today as the day I made it.
“My colleagues in the Legislature made the same promise to their constituents.
“Today I’d like to talk about the promises we’ve kept — and the promise of tomorrow.
Oklahoma, the state of our state is strong because we are resilient and well-positioned for a bright future.”
Reviewing an Unprecedented Year
“Before we look forward, let’s look back.
“2020 was a year unlike anything we’ve experienced in our lifetimes.
“If we think back to a year ago, who could have ever imagined the toll COVID would take? This pandemic is unprecedented in modern times.
“We’ve felt the impact of COVID-19 on every level — on our families, our jobs and our day-to-day lives.
“We’ve lost more than 3,000 Oklahomans to this virus. Each one of those has a name, a story, and a family who is mourning their loss. Like Paul teaches us in Romans 12, we mourn with those who mourn.
“Throughout this past year Oklahomans rose to the challenge: as individuals, as families and as neighbors. We made sacrifices; we took care of our most vulnerable; we shifted; we innovated, but we were not defeated.
“For the last 11 months, my promise has been to protect the health and lives of Oklahomans, to keep our businesses open safely and to get our kids safely back in school.
“I’m so proud of Oklahoma, our team at the Health Department, and the Governor’s Solution Task Force.
“We successfully opened our economy on June 1st and safely restarted most schools in August.
“It appears now other states are waking up to the stark reality of double-digit unemployment, huge budget deficits and the fact that our kids are safer at school than anywhere else.
“They’re realizing we took the smart approach in Oklahoma.
“Even Governor Cuomo in New York has seen the light. Just a few weeks ago he said, ‘We simply cannot stay closed until the vaccine hits critical mass. The cost is too high. We will have nothing left to open.’ ”
In earlier public remarks, Stitt’s also namechecked the Democratic New York governor, who was highly visible in the early months of the pandemic on cable TV news. But Cuomo has come under intense criticism for the way his state handled nursing home patients. The New York attorney general last week accused the Cuomo administration of severely undercounting COVID-19 deaths in nursing homes. — Paul Monies
“Oklahoma faced the same decisions as every other state.
“I’ve kept my promise to follow the data and make the right decisions for Oklahoma at the right time. And now we are months and months ahead of other states.
“Across Oklahoma, doctors, nurses and health care workers have delivered on their promise to care for Oklahomans. They risked their lives to care for their fellow citizens and help them fight an unknown virus.
“I’ve met with Chief Medical Officers and other frontline health care workers, both in my office and in their hospitals. I’ve witnessed their professionalism, their endurance and their compassion on full display.
“Amy Petitt, the ICU Nurse Leader at Saint Anthony hospital, was one of the heroes we met. She told me about nurses and doctors working so hard to offer human touch to those who can’t see their families. No matter how tough the conditions are, they’re treating their patients with dignity. They’re caring for them like they’d want their own family members cared for.
We will forever owe them a debt of gratitude because they have been magnificent.
“When testing was a challenge around the world, we leveraged the resources we had here in Oklahoma. We quickly converted a diagnostic lab in Stillwater, which dramatically raised our testing capacity in the early stages. Our State Health Department partnered with County Health Departments to stand up 80 test sites across the state.
“We’ve made sure any Oklahoman who needed a test could get one for free, and we’ve completed more than 3 million tests so far.
“We quickly overcame a global PPE shortage and refilled our stockpile. We continue to distribute millions of masks, gloves and other protective items across the state. We’re delivering to nursing homes, to first responders and to school districts in every part of our state.”
When the first coronavirus cases were reported in Oklahoma last March, the state had very little personal protective equipment in its stockpile. The dash to refill those supplies also cost a lot of money, although most of it came from the federal government. Not all of the purchases have proven wise: Oklahoma spent $2.6 million to buy 1.2 million doses of the antimalarial drug hydroxychloroquine, a drug touted by then-President Trump and some of his advisers as a cure for the coronavirus. Federal health authorities later rescinded their recommendations to use the drug on an emergency basis. Now, Stitt has asked Oklahoma Attorney General Mike Hunter to try to return the drug. — Paul Monies
“I ask all Oklahomans to join me in thanking Secretaries Jerome Loughridge, Dr. Kayse Shrum, Kevin Corbett and Elizabeth Pollard; Commissioner of Health Dr. Lance Frye, Gino DeMarco, Director Mark Gower and his team at the Department of Emergency Management, the men and women of the Oklahoma National Guard, our teams on the front lines at the Department of Corrections and the Department of Veterans Affairs and our many other state and local partners.
“I want to specifically thank my Chief Operating Officer, John Budd.”
Stitt created the job of Chief Operating Officer to be a cabinet-level that has oversight over state government. Budd originally served as the chief operating officer in addition to directing the Office of Management and Enterprise Services, but has since moved over to a full-time role as the chief operating officer. — Trevor Brown
“He’s in the gallery, representing the Governor’s Solution Task Force and everyone who played key roles in protecting Oklahomans.
“John, we cannot thank you enough.”
Fighting COVID
“Oklahomans across the state played a key role in our response as well.
“Together, the three W’s became part of our daily life. We’ve washed our hands frequently; we’ve watched our distance from others, and we’ve worn masks in public places.”
Stitt has been consistent in his mask messaging since last summer, but he’s steadfastly refused to issue a statewide mask mandate, though most of Oklahoma’s neighboring states have. Stitt late last year did put in a mask mandate for the public areas of state buildings. (Read more about the mask fights in this earlier Oklahoma Watch story.) — Paul Monies
“We took the personal responsibility to protect our families, our neighbors and our most vulnerable.
“Our 7-day average of new cases is down 45% from its peak. Our hospitalizations are down 35% as well.”
The first few weeks of January were the worst so far for the pandemic in Oklahoma, although new daily cases and hospitalizations have both fallen from their recent highs. The state health department reported more than 1,000 Oklahomans died from COVID-19 in the past month, with the death toll reaching 3,564 on Monday. — Paul Monies
“We can see the finish line in our fight against this virus. Rather than coast our way in, let’s continue together with a final sprint.”
Democrats have been highly critical of Stitt’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, especially his opposition against issuing a statewide mask mandate. After Stitt’s speech Monday, House Minority Leader Emily Virgin, D-Norman, said, “we heard a rosy picture painted by the Governor today, but the reality is that his actions, or more often, his failure to act, have cost Oklahomans financially, emotionally, and physically.” — Trevor Brown
“To the Oklahomans who have made so many sacrifices to slow the spread, I thank you, and I ask everyone to join us as we put this virus behind us.
“I promised Oklahomans we would bring efficiency to state government. We are doing just that with our vaccine rollout.
“Thanks to the hard work of Deputy Commissioner Keith Reed and his team at the State Health Department, local public health workers and our state’s medical community, we are seventh in the nation — Top Ten — in vaccines administered per capita!
“I’ll never forget watching Hannah White, a nurse at INTEGRIS Health in Oklahoma City, be the first Oklahoman to get the vaccine.
“Once it was over, she hugged the nurse who gave it to her. She said, “Hopefully this is the start of something better.” As I speak to you today, more than 356,000 Oklahomans now have that same hope.
“We’re accelerating our efforts — more supplies of vaccines are on the way. I assure you we will be relentless.
“My vision is to get our summer back, and we can do it by continuing to lead the nation in vaccinations.”
In-person Learning
“Because I am committed to getting all kids back in their classrooms, I made sure we prioritized teachers to get this vaccine. Many teachers over 65 have been vaccinated already, and many more teachers will be eligible this month.
“In almost every district in Oklahoma, parents and students have an option to choose to go back to the classroom. To the school districts that have innovated and followed the data to offer safe, in-person instruction — on behalf of your parents, and the future of our state, I can’t thank you enough.”
In-person schooling is more prevalent in Oklahoma than other states. One recent estimate found 38% of U.S. students attended a school that was virtual only as of Feb. 1. — Jennifer Palmer
“You’re providing an important safety net to our children, and you’re the glue that holds many of our communities together.
“I’ve heard stories of teachers doing everything they can, but they’re worried about their students not being in the classroom.
“Kathryn Szallar teaches kindergarten in Deer Creek. She’s a phenomenal teacher who goes above and beyond for her students.
“Her school is on an A/B schedule, and she told me how hard it is to teach young kids through distance learning. She feels it’s essential for young people to have the option to be in the classroom with their teachers.
“A child’s education is a building block, and it starts in their youngest years.
“Ms. Szallar, and many other teachers, are worried that keeping students from their classrooms could set them back for years.
“Can you imagine being a first grader and trying to learn to read on Zoom?
“Distance learning is perfectly fine for some students, but when we force it on everyone, it widens achievement gaps and jeopardizes our future as a Top Ten state.”
Under the safety protocols recommended for the 2020-21 school year by the state Board of Education, schools in all but three counties should be using distance learning or “carefully managed alternative schedules”, as of Jan. 28 (here’s that map, updated weekly by the Oklahoma State School Boards Association). — Jennifer Palmer
“Our kids deserve the option to be in their classrooms. I promise to keep fighting for our students every day!
“We’ve kept our promise to thousands of business owners by allowing them to stay open safely.
“As you know, some states shut down completely for months at a time.
“But we found the right balance between protecting public health and protecting Oklahomans’ right to provide for their families!
“We went to Phase 1 of the Open Up and Recover Safely plan April 24th. We went to Phase 3 — fully reopen— on June 1st.
“Back then, I said by reopening safely and responsibly, we’d be months ahead of other states. Our June unemployment rate was fifth lowest in the country — 40% lower than the national average — and almost 60% lower than New York.
“Because of that, almost 100,000 more Oklahomans were back to work compared to the national average.
“Everywhere I go across the state, small business owners and workers tell me how grateful they are for being able to keep their businesses open, to provide income for their employees and their families and to provide the services their communities rely on.”
Keeping Businesses Open
“The other day I stopped in at Eddie’s Restaurant in Edmond.
“I got to meet Eddie, who drove across town to see me before I left. He shook my hand, sat down, and looked me in the eye. He said, ‘Thank you. Keep doing what you’re doing. It’s made a huge impact on our life.’
“Like so many small business owners across the state, Eddie and his wife started with nothing but hope. They took out their life savings to buy a restaurant on the corner of Coltrane and Second.
“After years of sacrifice and hard work, they expanded. They now own three restaurants, a catering company and a food truck.
“Eddie told me that when the pandemic hit, like many business owners, they were worried.
He said, ‘My daughter’s college tuition needs to be paid. I don’t have a private investor, a bank. I have to continue on.’
“Eddie said because of the decisions we’ve made; he and his 100 employees can continue on.
“They can feed their families. They can pay for their children’s education. They can continue to live.”
State support for higher education has dropped significantly since the Great Recession in 2008. Meanwhile, tuition and fees have skyrocketed. — Jennifer Palmer
“I’m proud to tell you Eddie plans to open a new location next month, and I can’t wait to be there to support him.
“Through the Oklahoma Business Relief Program, we invested $143 million in 8,661 small businesses just like Eddie’s.
“This program touched 344 different communities throughout all 77 counties.
“Twenty-five percent of the businesses were minority owned, including the Black Wall Street Liquid Lounge, a coffee shop in Tulsa’s Greenwood District; TS&H Shirt Company in Seminole and Azteca Mexican Restaurant in Oklahoma City.
“Azteca’s owner, Alejandria Camarena, opened her restaurant three years ago. She had always dreamed of owning a business.
“COVID-19 threatened that dream, but thanks to our Business Relief grants, she kept all 12 employees on her payroll. And she continues as a successful Hispanic female business owner in Oklahoma.
“Small businesses like these are the lifeblood of our communities. Their continued success is key to making Oklahoma a Top Ten state.
“The pandemic isn’t over — but we can see the light at the end of the tunnel.
“As Will Rogers once said, ‘Don’t let yesterday use up too much of today.’
“The people of Oklahoma have sent us here to make their lives better. They expect us to work together, and they expect us to do things for the right reasons — never for personal gain or political purposes.”
Legislative Agenda
“For the past few months, we’ve been working on a legislative agenda to deliver on the promises we’ve made to our constituents.
“Secretary Bingman and I have been meeting with Speaker Charles McCall and President Pro Tem Greg Treat. We’ve worked together to craft not the governor’s agenda, not the House’s agenda, not the Senate’s agenda, but the people’s agenda!
“The people of Oklahoma made their voices heard loudly in November.
“They gave House Republicans five more seats, and the strongest supermajority in state history!
“More than 80% of the House and the Senate are now led by conservative Oklahomans.”
Stitt appears to be resetting a sometimes contentious relationship with the GOP in the Legislature, but he didn’t do much outreach to the minority party in this speech. — Paul Monies
“We will keep burdens low on our taxpayers.
“We’ll support our oil and gas industry and protect it from radical liberals in Washington.”
It’s unclear if this is a direct reference to one of President Joe Biden’s early moves to impose a moratorium on new federal oil and gas leasing. That announcement spurred condemnation from oil and gas groups as well as Republicans who argued it would kill thousands of jobs. But in Oklahoma, where less than 2% of the land is owned by the federal government, the impact would be far from the dire scenarios Trump suggested for the state’s oil and gas industry. — Trevor Brown
“We’ll fight for our farmers and ranchers and the Oklahoma way of life.
“We’ll enact business-friendly policies.
“We’ll protect the rights of unborn children and stand up for the personal and religious freedoms of Oklahomans!”
These are all key issues for many Republicans in the Legislature. House Democrats held a press conference on Monday afternoon at St. Anthony Hospital in Oklahoma City. They criticized Stitt for the divisive tone of his speech and accused him of focusing more on national politics and “political patronage” as coronavirus cases and hospitalizations surged. “The version of the last year that the governor sold to Oklahomans today was nothing more than revisionist history,” said Rep. Emily Virgin, D-Norman, the House minority leader. — Paul Monies
“ ‘The People’s Agenda’ for this legislative session has three main pillars:
“Number one, Make Oklahoma a Top Ten state for business, number two, deliver taxpayers more for their money and number three, invest in our fellow Oklahomans.
“I know so many of you in the chamber — and those watching — believe we can be and should be a Top Ten State for Business. What we need is more taxpayers, not more taxes.”
“I’m proud to say Oklahoma is open for business, and we’re seeing results.
“More companies are looking to relocate to our state than ever before.
“We’ve been aggressive. We’re reaching out to companies in states that are keeping businesses locked down and dictating their citizens’ personal freedoms.
“In the past two years, we’ve had many meetings with companies in California.”
Stitt rolled out the red carpet for Elon Musk last summer, pitching a site near Tulsa for a truck factory for Musk’s California-based Tesla electric vehicle company. The factory ended up going to Texas, but Stitt garnered national headlines for his aggressive pitch to the automaker. — Paul Monies
“They all say the same thing: ‘We want out.’
“Over the last year, I’ve worked together with the Department of Commerce and the Oklahoma Business Roundtable to get those companies free from California’s anti-business policies.
“PAS MRO, an aerospace company based in California, announced last summer it would be moving its operations to Bristow, Oklahoma.
“Company President Jim Agee said the decision was easy. He said it was because of Oklahoma’s business-friendly policies, availability of highly trained workers and the lower costs of doing business in our state.
“One of our key tools we have in Oklahoma to close deals like these is the Governor’s Quick Action Closing Fund. It lets us recruit new industries and growing companies.
“We also need to invest in innovation by using accelerators for entrepreneurs and supporting startups statewide.”
Stitt’s budget proposal for fiscal year 2022 has a $32.5 million increase for the state Commerce Department. It’s one of the few agencies with an increase, and Stitt wants to put $20 million of that budget boost into his Quick Action Closing Fund. Another $15 million would provide state funds to match private money for business accelerator programs. — Paul Monies
“A few weeks ago, I was at the Cattlemen’s Congress at the fairgrounds in Oklahoma City.
“The folks in Denver turned their back on the Ag industry. They wouldn’t let them have their major national cattle show because they insisted on keeping their state locked down.
“That put the stability of the U.S. beef industry in danger.
“So we started a new tradition here in Oklahoma City, and the Cattlemen’s Congress brought $50 million to our economy!”
Public School Funding
“We can’t have a strong economy without a skilled workforce and a strong education system.
“Right now, we have the opportunity of a lifetime. We have a chance to rethink and reimagine the future of education in Oklahoma.
“One of the ways we can do this is by looking at how schools get their funding. The current formula lets schools pick their highest number of students over the last three years.
“Here’s what that means.
“Say you lived in Tulsa and moved to a new district to make sure your kids could go to school in person. Your kids could be counted by both districts.
“They’re called ‘ghost students.’
This is a talking point of the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs, a conservative think tank that is pro-school choice. It was first used by an OSBI agent in July 2019 to describe Epic Charter Schools’ alleged practice of enrolling pupils who received no actual instruction from the school. OCPA, and now Stitt, is using the term to describe an aspect of school funding that allows districts to collect funds based on current year students or one or two years prior, whichever is higher. The provision helps districts avoid abruptly laying off staff when enrollment dips unexpectedly like it did in most school districts this year amid the coronavirus pandemic. — Jennifer Palmer
“We’re sending money to districts to educate kids who don’t go there, and that’s simply not fair.
“There are more than 55,000 ‘ghost students’ in our funding formula right now. That means we’re allocating close to 200 million of your tax dollars to students who don’t exist.
These numbers do not match state Education Department data. — Jennifer Palmer
“This is unacceptable.
“It’s time for schools to be funded based on how many students they have now — not how many they had in the past.
“COVID-19 has also shown us that every child has unique needs. Being in a physical classroom is so important for most students to succeed.
“By not giving our parents and children an option for in-person learning, schools have tied their hands.
“It’s now been 325 days since Tulsa students in 4th through 12th grades have been allowed to be in their classrooms. 325 days!”
Stitt is continuing to publicly pressure Tulsa Public Schools to open classrooms. He has singled out the district’s leaders multiple times on social media and in a recent press conference. Just before the speech, Superintendent Deborah Gist announced plans to bring students back in-person before the end of the month, citing a decline in Tulsa-area COVID-19 rates.— Jennifer Palmer
“Meanwhile, just a few blocks away, the rest of the Tulsa metro has been safely in session most of the year.
“Union, Jenks, Broken Arrow, Bixby, Owasso, Sapulpa, Sand Springs, Sperry, Skiatook, Collinsville. The list goes on. They’ve all found ways to put their students first and give them the choice to come back to the classroom.
“The only difference between schools that stay closed and those that have safely reopened is the mindset to find a way to make it happen.
“My heart breaks when I hear stories like Abby Cavness’s.
“She said, ‘I’m a Tulsa Public Schools lifer and never in a million years thought I’d be uttering these words.
“ ‘My kids are miserable. They beg every day through tears to not do distance learning anymore. My 4thgrader is begging to switch to any school that is actually open.’
“ ‘It is devastating to watch our beloved school lose family after family.’
“Abby finished by saying, ‘I’m scared for what Tulsa and the school system is going to become after this.’
“Stories like Abby’s are why students and parents need the choice to transfer to public schools that best fit their needs.
“If a school district has space available and is a better fit for a child, the government should make that happen – not stand in the way.”
Oklahoma law has allowed the open transfer of students to a different school district (as long as the receiving school’s board approves) since 2000. — Jennifer Palmer
“We have to put our students first. Period.”
Economic Development
“Another way to make Oklahoma a Top Ten state is to have an infrastructure that grows and attracts businesses.
“Last year, we hit a major milestone as we reached Top Ten in bridge conditions — an incredible achievement considering we were near the bottom just a few years ago.
“Tim Gatz, Secretary of Transportation, is doing a great job working with the teams at ODOT and the Turnpike Authority to modernize their agencies. That lets us focus on projects that link our cities and towns and provide access to new areas for economic development.
“A strong infrastructure is the backbone of any strong economy.”
Stitt’s budget includes a $36.2 million increase for the Department of Transportation. Outside of the appropriations, Stitt wants the agency to sell bonds to fund rural, two-lane safety projects. He also wants the Legislature to replace $180 million in the agency’s ROADS Fund that was used to shore up education in FY 2021 and FY 2022. — Paul Monies
“Another key to a strong economy is letting businesses grow without fear of government overreach.
In his first week in office, President Biden issued 22 Executive Orders. Many of them will kill jobs and put burdensome regulations on our businesses.”
This is Stitt’s first and only direct reference to President Joe Biden. Stitt, a Trump supporter, welcomed the former president to Tulsa for a campaign rally that sparked much controversy last year. But Stitt was among the early Republican governors who acknowledged that Biden won the election. Following the inauguration, Stitt tweeted, “I am praying for America’s success under the Biden-Harris administration and look forward to working with them for the betterment of Oklahoma.” — Trevor Brown
“It’s a different story here in Oklahoma. We must continue our focus on cutting red tape.
“By working together to get rid of excessive regulation, we’ll unlock Oklahoma’s full economic potential for workers, business owners, farmers, and families.
“Instead of letting Washington strangle Oklahoma’s businesses, we need to unleash them!
“The government’s job is not to slow things down. It’s to get out of the way!
“Thanks to the support of our legislators, we built our savings account to $1 billion in 2019.”
Stitt made an ambitious goal upon taking office to build up the state’s reserves to $2 billion by the end of his first term. The governor made strides toward the goal in 2019 when the Legislature set aside nearly $200 million, which grew the fund to just over $1 billion. But he and lawmakers have tapped much of the savings to shore up the budget over the past year. The rainy-day fund’s balance now is only at $58 million. — Trevor Brown
“Some folks criticized us for wanting to save this money, but that’s proven to be a lifesaver during the tough financial season we had last year.
“I also want to credit my colleagues in the House and Senate for their wisdom and careful thinking during last year’s session. Our state was reeling from a massive drop in oil prices and 13% unemployment, but you recognized the uncertainty and wisely held the budget to 78% of the spending authority while still providing core services.”
Oil prices have recovered somewhat from the shocks of the early part of the pandemic last year when the price of West Texas Intermediate crude went as low as $17 a barrel. WTI crude was trading at about $53 a barrel on Monday, down from $63 a barrel at the beginning of 2020. — Paul Monies
“Your fiscal prudence is one of the reasons why we have the opportunity we do today, and I thank you for the challenging decisions you made.
“It’s because of these tough decisions — reopening our economy, how we spent our COVID Relief Funds across the state, and the Legislature’s careful budget — that the Fiscal Year 2022 predictions are much better than many states.
“We’ll be able to invest in strategic places while avoiding cuts.
“We can also significantly replenish our savings account, so we stay prepared for whatever comes our way.
Stitt wants the Legislature to approve a $300 million deposit into the state’s Revenue Stabilization Fund. — Paul Monies
State Government Reforms
“Now our challenge is to make sure Oklahomans get more for their money.
“A perfect example of this is our Department of Human Services. Secretary Justin Brown and his team did a great job innovating this year.
“DHS is prioritizing service over brick and mortar office space. It’s closing 25 offices but embedding those staff members in more than 100 community spaces.
“The result is Oklahomans get better access and more services instead of paying for real estate.
“I thank the hardworking men and women at DHS and all our state agencies for innovating to get more for our money.
“Another way to deliver taxpayers more for their money is to make sure hard work gets rewarded.
“Like many of you in this room, my background is in the private sector. When I was building and running my business, I recruited and hired talented people.
“I could pay and promote them based on their experience, capability and work ethic. But that can’t happen in state government.
“Agency leaders have their hands tied in who they can hire and promote because of outdated restrictions. State agencies should be able to hire the best people and promote good employees.
“2020 showed us how dramatically our world can change overnight. Our state agencies need to be able to adapt and change in real-time.
“Thousands of our state employees are stuck in a system where qualified, dedicated and hungry employees are often waiting years to be promoted, all because they’re stuck behind someone in line.”
Non-higher education state employees are either unclassified or classified. Under the state’s Merit Protection Act, classified employees have certain job protections from retaliation or political interference. Stitt announced his plan to give state leaders more flexibility to hire and fire state workers last year. But that effort, which drew early opposition from Democrats and the Oklahoma Public Employees Association, was sidelined after the COVID-19 pandemic broke out. — Trevor Brown
“I want to tell you about one of our hardworking state employees named Cody.
“Cody has worked at OESC (Oklahoma Employment Security Commission) for 22 years. He’s down in the Idabel office.
“Cody was doing way more work than his title and job description indicated, but factors out of his control made a promotion nearly impossible.
“One of those factors was location. An agency policy required directors to live in Oklahoma City.
“Generations of Cody’s family had lived in Idabel and a promotion wasn’t worth leaving his family.
“It took a pandemic — and my Executive Order to have state employees working from home — to change the policy so he could become a director.
“There are men and women like Cody across state government — talented, dedicated to serving our state, and stuck in an outdated system that keeps them from being rewarded like they deserve.
“To be a Top Ten state, we need a system that rewards our state employees and gives us the flexibility we need to serve our citizens more effectively.
“Finally, my team will continue to find ways to partner with the members in this room to invest in our fellow Oklahomans.”
Health Care
“America’s Health Rankings puts Oklahoma 46th in the country in health outcomes.
“”We’re one of the worst in the country in obesity and diabetes rates. We have the third most deaths from heart disease.
“That’s unacceptable to me, and I know it’s unacceptable to all 4 million Oklahomans.”
Even pre-pandemic, Oklahoma was ranked No. 46 for several years. Improving health was long a priority for Stitt’s predecessor, Mary Fallin, too. Oklahoma ranked No. 46 in the 2010 edition of America’s Health Rankings. — Paul Monies
“Oklahomans hired me to bring a fresh set of eyes to all areas of our state government.
“As governor, I can’t stand by and continue with business as usual when the system isn’t working.
“We have an obligation as leaders to do better for our citizens. I think it’s implicit in the promises we made when we all assumed office.
“With Medicaid Expansion now in our Constitution, this is the perfect opportunity to reimagine health care delivery in Oklahoma. It’s time to focus on outcomes and not just paying invoices.”
Oklahomans approved a state question last year that commits the state to expanding the state’s Medicaid program and extending health coverage to an estimated 215,000 low-income adults. Stitt, who was among the most vocal opponents of the ballot measure, was previously pushing an alternative that would’ve sought a federal waiver to move to a block-grant model, add work requirements and require many enrollees to pay up to $120 in premiums per year. — Trevor Brown
“40 states have found managed care is the best way forward: Texas, Kansas, Iowa, Tennessee, Florida. Even California and Illinois.
“It’s not a red state or blue state thing. It’s the smart thing to do.
“In fact, every other state with Medicaid expansion also uses managed care. Every other state.
“Oklahoma, this is the right path forward.”
Stitt’s plan to bring managed care, also known as privatization, to the state’s Medicaid program has drawn opposition from legislators on both sides of the aisle in addition to many of the state’s largest medical associations. Although Stitt says the move will help keep costs down, critics say it will help private companies at the expense of patients. — Trevor Brown
McGirt Ruling
“Now, we need to talk about the most pressing issue for our state’s future.
“The U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in McGirt v. Oklahoma questions the sovereignty of the state as we’ve known it since 1907.
“The Court overturned the conviction of a child rapist on the grounds that the Creek Nation’s reservation was never disestablished for criminal jurisdiction. State courts no longer have the authority to prosecute crimes committed by or against Oklahomans who are also tribal members.”
Jimcy McGirt’s state conviction was overturned. However, Stitt fails to mention that federal authorities immediately charged McGirt with aggravated sexual assault and abusive sexual contact and took him into custody. In November, a federal court found McGirt guilty of both charges. — Keaton Ross
“Hundreds of criminal cases are being dismissed.”
Gov. Stitt has insisted that the McGirt ruling has created chaos since last summer. While the state can no longer prosecute certain cases, tribal courts and federal courts can. Those who commit crimes will be prosecuted, the McGirt case just shifts the legal jurisdiction. — Supriya Sridhar
“This ruling also raises many other unanswered questions. Do tribal members living in eastern Oklahoma pay income tax and sales tax? If not, the Oklahoma Tax Commission estimates a potential loss of $200 million every year.
“Another potential issue is who regulates agriculture? Water? The energy industry? Zoning?
“Who has the right to tax businesses?”
All of these questions can be answered through compacts between the state and tribal governments. The state and tribes have come to agreements over the Indian Child Welfare Act and gaming. The same can be done with regard to taxation and land use. While the McGirt decision technically gives environmental authority to the federal government, the EPA gave that environmental authority over to the state. However, with the Biden administration, there is a possibility that the EPA can take back some of that authority and if that happens, reservation land could have to adhere to federal regulations, even land owned by oil and gas companies. In a 2005 transportation bill, Sen. Jim Inhofe added a rider that requires Oklahoma tribes to obtain an agreement with the state before administering environmental programs and requires the EPA to recognize the state’s regulatory authority over the tribal land. — Supriya Sridhar
“What is the state of Oklahoma’s ability to enforce the laws? In Muskogee County, a convicted serial rapist named Leroy Smith was recently released. The Muskogee County District Attorney said he can’t be retried because of the federal statute of limitations.”
The state and tribes have had cross deputization agreements in place even before the McGirt ruling, in which tribal officers and local police officers work together. Tribes and counties have cross deputization agreements in place, meaning that municipal or county police officers are deputized as tribal police officers and vice versa. This allows whoever responds to a 911 call to make an arrest, and any officer can respond to a call. When it comes to the courts, the McGirt case changes the jurisdiction so that crimes committed against or by tribal citizens are tried by a federal court. According to a report, Leroy Smith has been jailed again without bond. The report says that the Muskogee County District Attorney’s new filing is based on the fact that the crimes were committed before Smith was a tribal citizen and therefore the McGirt ruling doesn’t apply to Smith. — Supriya Sridhar
“We need to resolve the many unanswered questions from this ruling.
“I’ve invited the leaders of Oklahoma’s sovereign tribes to join together and work with the State of Oklahoma. Together, we must create the certainty, fairness and the unity we’ve enjoyed since 1907.
“Where we go from here will define the state’s future.
“We have a shared responsibility to live as one Oklahoma regardless of your race or where you live. We drive on the same roads; our kids go to the same schools and we benefit from the same programs.
“It is critical — while embracing the tribal heritage of many Oklahomans — that we don’t lose sight of the fact that we are all Oklahomans.
“As one Oklahoma, we will become a Top Ten state. If we are divided, we will not.
“We must come together.
“This year has tested the resiliency of our state and all 4 million Oklahomans. We’ve all faced challenges and made difficult sacrifices, but at the root of it all, we’ve endured.
“Oklahomans are no stranger to hardship. We’ve lived through dust bowls, tornados, floods, a bombing, and now a pandemic. But we’re going to make it through, just like we have time and time again.
“It’s been two years since I stood on the steps of the Capitol and was sworn in as governor.
“On that day, I shared something my dad told me.
“He’d tell us, ‘Don’t ever give up. Don’t ever quit. The future doesn’t just happen. You make it happen, so dream big.’
“With big dreams and bold decisions, we’ll capitalize on the promise of tomorrow.
“We must always focus on the next generation and not the next election. If we allow selfish ambition to drive decisions, the moral fabric of our system starts to break down.
“I’m calling on every elected official to continue serving with self-sacrifice, always putting the needs of 4 million Oklahomans ahead of the few and the powerful.
“I encourage us all today to renew our promise to the people of our great state. Our decisions have consequences, and as we go, society follows.
“Let’s lead Oklahoma to becoming a Top Ten state, and let’s deliver on the people’s agenda. Together.
“The turnaround Oklahomans demanded is well underway.
“God bless you, and God bless the great state of Oklahoma!”
Paul Monies has been a reporter with Oklahoma Watch since 2017 and covers state agencies and public health. Contact him at (571) 319-3289 or pmonies@oklahomawatch.org. Follow him on Twitter @pmonies.
Keaton Ross is a Report for America corps member who covers democracy for Oklahoma Watch. Contact him at (405) 831-9753 or Kross@Oklahomawatch.org. Follow him on Twitter at @_KeatonRoss.
Supriya Sridhar is a Report for America corps member who covers race in Oklahoma and blight in northeast Oklahoma City. Call or text her at 405-979-0907 Email her at ssridhar@oklahomawatch.org. Follow her on Twitter at @Supriyasridhar_. DMs are always open.
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