The most concerning part of Oklahoma's new budget is what was left out

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20-05-2025

I want to commend the Oklahoma Legislature for getting the budget done. That's never an easy task. I was involved in budget negotiations during my last eight years in office and know firsthand how difficult those conversations can be. I appreciate the time and effort it took to reach an agreement.
For the most part, I agree with this year's budget. In fact, my biggest concerns lie not with what was included — but with what was left out. Could we have done more? Absolutely.
Still, there were meaningful wins:
• Funding for Oklahoma State University veterinary school — We need to position OSU as the premier veterinary university in the country.
• Support for the new pediatric hospital at OU Health — Our children deserve top-tier care right here at home.
• $20 million in additional funding for the Oklahoma Department of Transportation — An investment in our roads and infrastructure is an investment in public safety and economic development.
• Additional funding for deferred maintenance — Long-overdue needs finally being addressed.
Though I'm no longer in elected office, I still care deeply about the direction of this state. My hope is that future leaders will have the courage to stand firm — not just for the politics of the moment, but for the people of Oklahoma. That means listening, being transparent and acting. The easy choice is to stay silent.
This session won't just be remembered for what was passed — but for what was sidelined, ignored or vetoed.
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One of the most disappointing moments was the veto of a bipartisan bill championed by Rep. Melissa Provenzano to support women battling breast cancer. This wasn't about politics — it was about people. It had broad support across the aisle, yet was still shut down. If we can't come together on something that personal and human, it's not just disappointing — it's disheartening.
Then came the social studies standards. Most of us weren't asking to throw them out — just to send them back to the Oklahoma State Department of Education for a responsible review. That didn't happen. Instead, the revised standards were moved forward without further input.
Equally troubling is the continued inaction on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP). Oklahoma ranks second in the nation for MMIP cases — an unacceptable and heartbreaking reality. Native families have been crying out for years, and year after year, the state fails to act. Meanwhile, U.S. Rep. Tom Cole stood before Congress and gave powerful testimony. He showed us what leadership looks like. I agree with him completely: We cannot give predators a place to prey, especially not in Indian Country. As a member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, I stand with him and the families demanding justice.
We also missed a chance to improve transparency with House Bill 2163, which would have expanded public access to open records. That bill revealed something many of us already knew: resistance to accountability runs deep. During my final years in office, I had to issue subpoenas just to get basic information. The public deserves to know how decisions are made, and why. Transparency should never be treated as a threat.
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Then there's the ¼ percent income tax cut. It made for a strong headline, but back home in Moore, South OKC and across Western Oklahoma, the question I hear most is simple: Why? No one has clearly explained what it means for everyday people. Maybe it's a good idea — but most folks are still scratching their heads.
And to be clear — these aren't just my thoughts. These are the thoughts of people I hear from every week at coffee shops, cafes, the lumberyard, the feed store, gas stations and from business leaders across Oklahoma. They're not asking for less government — they're asking for responsible government. Better schools. Better roads. Safer communities.
We currently rank 49th in the nation in education funding, and last in our region for per-pupil investment. People remember what it was like during the billion-dollar deficit years. They know that Oklahoma is a boom-and-bust state, and they have no problem with keeping a solid savings account for the next downturn. What they do have a problem with is political distractions.
We need to stop chasing national political fights and start focusing on what Oklahomans are asking for. The answers won't come from Washington — they'll come from listening to our neighbors and acting with courage right here at home.
This session reminded me of something I learned in my early days at the Capitol: Good policy often dies quietly. Not through public debate, but through silence, neglect or veto. Some of the greatest disappointments this year weren't in what we passed — but in what we failed to do.
Mark McBride is a businessman and consultant and a former member of the House of Representatives, from 2012-2024.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: The most disappointing moments from the Oklahoma Legislature in 2025