Opinion

We began last week back in the Senate Chamber to debate veto overrides of Senate Bill 26, regarding the tobacco compacts, and House Bill 1005 on the motor vehicle tax tribal compacts. Both of these measures were vetoed by Governor Stitt back in May just days after receiving overwhelming approval by both chambers.

Dear Newcastle Parents and Guardians,

For 63 years, the National Defense Authorization Act has provided for our nation’s defense and supported our service members and their families. By authorizing $863.3 billion in defense funding, a $28 billion increase from the fiscal year 2023 NDAA, the bill passed in the House last week puts a halt to President Biden’s attempt to return our military to that of the disastrous Obama-era.

Everyone in Oklahoma is keenly aware that food security is national security. A nation that cannot feed itself cannot hope to defend itself.

We had a great time in South Carolina at the Southern Legislative Conference (SLC). I gained some great insight and new perspective on many important policies we’ll be tackling in the upcoming session. I’m looking forward to visiting further with my Senate colleagues about these to decide how best to move forward.

Oklahoma Democrats care about the quality of life in rural Oklahoma. During 2019-20 Democrats pounded the streets to get signatures on petitions to expand Medicaid for working people who could not afford health insurance. Now more than 200,000 people have Soonercare who were living without health insurance. Plus, we brought $1 billion back to Oklahoma.

Last week, I was in beautiful Charleston, South Carolina, for the annual Council of State Governments (CSG) Southern Legislative Conference (SLC), which includes 15 member states that come together to study and discuss the issues of greatest importance to our region of the country.

When KFOR reporter Kaylee Olivas called out state Superintendent of Schools Ryan Walters for dragging out a public records request for more than 100 days, education journalists around the state could no doubt relate.

Last month, the United States Supreme Court released three landmark decisions that strengthened Constitutional protections for all Americans. The Court struck down racism with affirmative action, upheld the freedom of speech over government mandate, and put a stop to Joe Biden’s illegal student loan scheme – all significant victories for the rule of law.

The fallout from the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2020 ruling in McGirt v. Oklahoma continues today. A recent federal court decision declaring Indians to be exempt from city police enforcement of municipal laws in local courts in Tulsa is just the latest example.

One-party Democratic rule in Washington notably led to several unprecedented crises in our country and around the globe. However, despite the challenges of working with a Democrat Senate and president, House Republicans have kept our commitments to the American people these past six months upon taking back the House majority.