Oklahoma House of Representatives Democratic Leader Cyndi Munson
OKLAHOMA CITY – House Democratic Leader Cyndi Munson, D-Oklahoma City, issued the following statement after the Governor and Republican legislative leaders from the House and Senate announced a budget deal was finalized.
“I don’t see how we can, in good conscience, celebrate finalizing a budget deal this early when many Oklahomans did not get a seat at the table to voice their needs. Republican leaders are touting record savings to protect future core services, but we have present day core services that need investments today. We have Oklahomans who need help today. Our health care outcomes are among the worst in the nation, and yet Republican leaders are advocating for potentially removing 200,000 Oklahomans off of Medicaid.
“This budget continues to put public dollars in private schools without any transparency or oversight. While I am grateful our teachers are getting a much needed pay raise, $2,000 still does not make us competitive in the region and we continue to leave behind support staff. As we discuss literacy and math outcomes, any implementation in our schools should be fully funded, otherwise it is simply an unfunded mandate.
“Only a handful of Members in both the House and Senate have been included in budget negotiations, ignoring the requests and concerns of thousands of Oklahomans who deserve representation in these meetings. We are all learning of this budget deal alongside every Oklahoman—and it’s precisely why we don’t see their needs reflected in this budget, especially as federal cuts are looming and made.
“There is no real effort to provide tax relief to help working Oklahomans. When over 50% of working Oklahomans are working more than one job to be able to afford basic necessities, we shouldn’t be hoarding tax dollars for pet projects, we should be helping these families—including raising the minimum wage.
“We were all elected to do a job now to protect and help our constituents, and we have plenty of time to do it.”
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