OPINION/COLUMN
I’ve always focused on efficiency and accountability in state government, but we cannot be reckless about how cuts affect Oklahomans across the state. This week, Governor Stitt announced his first cuts in his Elon Muskstyle project. Stitt’s office identified $157 million in health care funding that they want sent back to the federal government – that’s our federal tax money that we paid in, and it’s supposed to help address real problems in our state. The money was for things like reducing diabetes, stopping the spread of viruses, and addressing our overdose problems. These were competitive grants that our State Department of Health applied for and won to serve people in Oklahoma.
If we send that money back to Washington, D.C., it’s just going to be sent to other states. We’ve called on the governor and our Republican colleagues to consider the consequences of cuts on Oklahomans, and to not send back federal money that’s making a difference in our communities. When we look at efficiency, we are committed to putting people over politics.
Another big issue we’ve been working to address has to do with the new social studies standards pushed by Superintendent Ryan Walters and approved by the State Board of Education. I filed a resolution to reject those standards, and House Democrats have done the same. For someone who said he wants to focus on student success, Walters has piled politics on these standards.
Every six years our educational standards are updated for different subject areas. The Senate followed our state’s procedures by confirming Oklahomans to a standards committee, including educators and community members who worked for a year looking at what needed to be updated for students to learn about our history and government.
But Walters threw out their recommendations and instead tapped people from national political organizations for an “oversight” committee. They changed those standards to include religious and politically charged material that oversteps government’s role teaching our kids. We’re calling on our colleagues from across the aisle to join us in rejecting those standards. We really need to listen to our educators and our communities about what should be in our classrooms, and make sure we’re focusing on student outcomes instead of teaching political ideas in our schools.
This past week marked our big deadline for each chamber to finish votes on the bills introduced by their members. We were disappointed by missed opportunities to address the issues we have been hearing from people across the state, including growing wages for working Oklahomans.
When we look at economic development and business services, we need to be focused on solutions that make sure people earn good wages. Also, we know Oklahomans need better access to health care, including specialists. People have to wait far too long for care or have to travel long distances to see the doctors they need. These are just two areas that did not get the attention needed. We are still committed to bipartisan solutions for Oklahomans to live heathier, full lives.
I am pleased with some of the education bills that moved forward, including bipartisan measures that are going to make a difference in math education. I’m also proud of Senator Mark Mann’s bill to offer additional training for emergency certified teachers, helping address our teacher shortage. Another key education bill that advanced was by Senator Carri Hicks to help us identify and assist students with dyslexia, one of the most prevalent learning disabilities, so those children can succeed in school and in life. These are the kinds of problem-solving bills we need to be focused on, and that’s what Senate Democrats will continue to do.
Onward!
