Cyndi Munson (D-OKC)
OKLAHOMA CITY – House Democratic Leader Cyndi Munson, D-Oklahoma City, released the following statement after HB 2787 was signed into law. The bill appropriates $2 million from the General Revenue Fund to the State Department of Health to pay for legacy contracts associated with the Choosing Childbirth Act.
“This bill directs $2 million in tax dollars to a non-profit organization instead of toward state agencies which provide vital services to Oklahomans,” said Leader Munson. “With the Governor calling for flat agency budgets across the board, we are not seeing this kind of fast-tracked supplemental funding being provided to state agencies which we know will be forced to make cuts that will harm access to services for Oklahomans. Oklahoma Pregnancy Care Network has other avenues to receive private funding for services for women and children, instead of using taxpayer dollars to supplement their budget when that money could be going toward state agencies that have government oversight and transparency.
“Oklahoma is currently ranked 48th nationally for women’s healthcare outcomes because of restrictive laws and limited healthcare access. We rank near the bottom when it comes to the health of mothers and babies. According to a 2024 report from The United Health Foundation, Oklahoma is 42nd nationally when it comes to access to clinical care for women. We are considered a maternity care desert. These monies could go toward decreasing the maternal mortality rate and improving access to healthcare. Instead, taxpayers are funding a private organization that has been accused numerous times of not meeting their goals in providing pregnancy-related services. We need to listen to our doctors and put forth money toward keeping them in the state to provide real, evidence-based support for women. Women in Oklahoma deserve comprehensive reproductive healthcare, and they deserve to have their tax dollars go toward improving access to that healthcare.”
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