Cyndi Munson (D-OKC)
OKLAHOMA CITY – House Democratic Leader Cyndi Munson, D-Oklahoma City, and House Democratic Leader-Elect Rep. Melissa Provenzano, D-Tulsa, released the following statements after the Second Regular Session of the 60th Oklahoma Legislature adjourned Sine Die.
“Session came to an end two weeks early while many Oklahomans have not seen legislative solutions to the real challenges of rising costs of everyday living they are facing,” said Leader Munson. “While there have been investments made to public education this year, Republicans are still prioritizing sending millions of public tax dollars to private schools, now to the tune of $275M. Those dollars would have a revolutionary impact on our public schools and actually work to pull us out of the bottom of the national ranking and give all teachers and support staff a much needed raise in wages. There are also several strides toward better healthcare access that can be made for Oklahomans, starting with actually increasing healthcare access for women and girls in Oklahoma instead of diverting state dollars to nonprofit organizations that have no transparency or government oversight, and now, even some located out of state. OBGYN access in Oklahoma is extremely limited, and a truly pro life approach would work to expand that access to every Oklahoma county.
“However, I want to highlight some things I believe are worth celebrating when it comes to protecting Oklahomans. For one, I am extremely relieved that the measure to remove Medicaid expansion from the Oklahoma Constitution will not be on any ballot this year. Oklahomans were very clear when they protected Medicaid expansion in our state’s constitution. They saw a way to get the healthcare they need when the legislature would not, and I am thankful that their needs will continue to be addressed without interference from the legislature.
“I also want to celebrate that we did not dismantle the Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust Fund (TSET). That is another huge win for healthcare in Oklahoma. My hope going forward is that next session instead of seeing these attacks on Oklahoman’s healthcare access, we start to see critical investments that will not only help us rise in the national ranks, but lead to a better, healthier Oklahoma.
“One of the most pressing issues Oklahomans across our state have elevated is the increase in data centers in many rural and urban communities. There have been real concerns about rising costs of utilities and the demand on our water. Our Caucus responded to those concerns and worked in a true bipartisan effort to work on legislation that would protect Oklahoma ratepayers and our water while demanding that corporations invest their own money in data center infrastructure. With HB2992 signed into law, Oklahomans will not be on the hook for the cost of corporations.
“There is still a lot of work to be done to better prioritize our tax dollars going forward. I remain disappointed that half a billion dollars have been siphoned away to accounts that cannot be tapped and to subsidize the cost of private schools for the wealthiest families who can already afford it. When we look at the needs of public education, health care, infrastructure, and public safety, there are plenty of areas for us to better utilize our tax dollars for the majority of Oklahomans. Our constituents are demanding that we invest more in them, not those at the top with the most power to lobby politicians.
“I am proud of the Oklahoma House Democratic Caucus for listening to and working to address the needs of Oklahomans. I have no doubt that this effort to make real positive change in the lives of Oklahomans who need it most will continue under the leadership of Leader-Elect Rep. Melissa Provenzano during the 61st Oklahoma Legislature.”
Leader-Elect Provenzano celebrated the wins of the Oklahoma House Democratic Caucus and outlined plans for the future.
“The focus of House Democrats this year was to help Oklahomans keep their money in their pockets, and to give them a leg up when working towards a better job and a better life. The bills we passed into law created conditions and standards for early childhood care that give our little ones the best start at life and a safe environment to grow up in. They made sure you can get to a health care provider in your town, and sought accountability when it comes to how we execute upon the will of the people–in short, show us the data.
“We delivered on these efforts. As we prepare for next year, we’ll continue to listen to our constituents, focus on solving the practical issues affecting everyday Oklahoma living.”
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