Latest news with #KevinStitt
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
The "Stitt Show" in the Legislature is over, but the governor mostly got his way
The curtain fell on the 'Stitt Show' last week. Because if there's one thing that defined Oklahoma's 2025 annual legislative session, Gov. Kevin Stitt finally played a starring role after six years in a row of lackluster performance. The Republican adroitly exercised his power to relegate even lawmakers from his own party to supporting roles in their own production. For better or worse, pretty much every major policy passed during the 60th legislative session had his fingerprints all over it. Income tax cuts. Creation of business courts. Four new appointees to the State Board of Education. Stopping the education department's effort to collect information on students' citizenship. Extending the school year by a day. Banning cellphones in schools. Largely ending virtual school days. Flat agency budgets. Check. Check. And more checks. These victories represent an amazing turn of events for the governor, who year after year, has seen some of his major policy priorities — like calls to cut taxes — stymied by fellow Republicans. In prior years he employed one of the few tools a governor has in the Legislature: forcing lawmakers to return to the Capitol to reconsider his top agenda items during special sessions. But his efforts were futile, and those useless special sessions wasted taxpayer dollars with little to show. In fact, Stitt was so pleased with this session's outcomes, he said last week he doesn't see a reason to call a special session. Lawmakers, meanwhile, sat mutely for days as Stitt vetoed their bills or insulted their priorities. As of Thursday morning – the second-to-last day of session – the governor had vetoed nearly 70 bills, the majority of which were authored by Republicans. He also let an astounding number of bills — over 300 at last count — passively take effect without his signature. When asked about his decision to not sign bills, Stitt said those are the measures that he doesn't 'think are going to move the needle.' He also said the people think it's 'super weird' that there are over 500 new laws proposed each year. This is the same governor who vetoed measures that increase women's access to breast cancer screening or that aim to improve Oklahomans' access to the public records. But later Thursday, lawmakers suddenly emerged from their self-imposed supporting role and spent the final full day of session criticizing the governor's decisions. Against Stitt's wishes, they took the rare step of firing his commissioner of mental health after the agency's finances fell into disarray. Allie Friesen's removal marked one of their final actions and sent a clear sign that the honeymoon is apparently over and it might be a rocky interim. They also overrode nearly four dozen of Stitt's vetoes, including the breast cancer and public transparency measures. But it was too little too late. Stitt astutely took advantage of the legislative power vacuum that existed for most of the session to flex his muscles. Republican lawmakers seemingly wandered into session with no large-scale priorities of their own, and even the House speaker acknowledged early Friday that Stitt had emerged from session with what he wanted. Stitt's clear goals must have been a much needed beacon for a rudderless Republican legislative caucus led by new leadership trying to gain their footing and rein in state Superintendent Ryan Walters. Walters, by the way, was the session's biggest loser amid a meteoric fall from grace and the end of his storied bromance with Stitt. The two men found themselves exchanging escalating verbal jabs over the path forward for public schools. Stitt fired the three education board members that backed Walters, and after closed door budget negotiations, lawmakers revealed that they'd rejected most of Walters' budget requests, including spending $3 million on Bibles. Lawmakers also dealt Walters' citizenship collection rule the coup de grace. But whether the 2025 'Stitt Show' will go down in infamy or herald a renaissance remains to be seen. One thing is for sure, this session will certainly be the one that defines Stitt's legacy in years to come. Only time will tell if he's remembered as the ultimate champ or biggest chump. Janelle Stecklein is editor of Oklahoma Voice. An award-winning journalist, Stecklein has been covering Oklahoma government and politics since moving to the state in 2014 This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: No special session needed. Governor got what he wanted | Opinion
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Oklahoma's legislative session went Gov. Kevin Stitt's way, even with minor revolts at the end
Gov. Kevin Stitt jokingly shakes Rep. Trey Caldwell's hand on Wednesday after learning that he hadn't yet vetoed any of Caldwell's bills during session. (Photo by Janelle Stecklein/Oklahoma Voice) The curtain fell on the 'Stitt Show' last week. Because if there's one thing that defined Oklahoma's 2025 annual legislative session, Gov. Kevin Stitt finally played a starring role after six years in a row of lackluster performance. The Republican adroitly exercised his power to relegate even lawmakers from his own party to supporting roles in their own production. For better or worse, pretty much every major policy passed during the 60th legislative session had his fingerprints all over it. Income tax cuts. Creation of business courts. Four new appointees to the State Board of Education. Stopping the education department's effort to collect information on students' citizenship. Extending the school year by a day. Banning cellphones in schools. Largely ending virtual school days. Flat agency budgets. Check. Check. And more checks. These victories represent an amazing turn of events for the governor, who year after year, has seen some of his major policy priorities — like calls to cut taxes — stymied by fellow Republicans. In prior years he employed one of the few tools a governor has in the Legislature: forcing lawmakers to return to the Capitol to reconsider his top agenda items during special sessions. But his efforts were futile, and those useless special sessions wasted taxpayer dollars with little to show. In fact, Stitt was so pleased with this session's outcomes, he said last week he doesn't see a reason to call a special session. Lawmakers, meanwhile, sat mutely for days as Stitt vetoed their bills or insulted their priorities. As of Thursday morning – the second-to-last day of session – the governor had vetoed nearly 70 bills, the majority of which were authored by Republicans. He also let an astounding number of bills — over 300 at last count — passively take effect without his signature. When asked about his decision to not sign bills, Stitt said those are the measures that he doesn't 'think are going to move the needle.' He also said the people think it's 'super weird' that there are over 500 new laws proposed each year. This is the same governor who vetoed measures that increase women's access to breast cancer screening or that aim to improve Oklahomans' access to the public records. But later Thursday, lawmakers suddenly emerged from their self-imposed supporting role and spent the final full day of session criticizing the governor's decisions. Against Stitt's wishes, they took the rare step of firing his commissioner of mental health after the agency's finances fell into disarray. Allie Friesen's removal marked one of their final actions and sent a clear sign that the honeymoon is apparently over and it might be a rocky interim. They also overrode nearly four dozen of Stitt's vetoes, including the breast cancer and public transparency measures. But it was too little too late. Stitt astutely took advantage of the legislative power vacuum that existed for most of the session to flex his muscles. Republican lawmakers seemingly wandered into session with no large-scale priorities of their own, and even the House speaker acknowledged early Friday that Stitt had emerged from session with what he wanted. Stitt's clear goals must have been a much needed beacon for a rudderless Republican legislative caucus led by new leadership trying to gain their footing and rein in state Superintendent Ryan Walters. Walters, by the way, was the session's biggest loser amid a meteoric fall from grace and the end of his storied bromance with Stitt. The two men found themselves exchanging escalating verbal jabs over the path forward for public schools. Stitt fired the three education board members that backed Walters, and after closed door budget negotiations, lawmakers revealed that they'd rejected most of Walters' budget requests, including spending $3 million on Bibles. Lawmakers also dealt Walters' citizenship collection rule the coup de grace. But whether the 2025 'Stitt Show' will go down in infamy or herald a renaissance remains to be seen. One thing is for sure, this session will certainly be the one that defines Stitt's legacy in years to come. Only time will tell if he's remembered as the ultimate champ or biggest chump. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Readers on Trump's 'big beautiful bill,' LGBTQ+, homeowners insurance
We are very disappointed in all five Republican members of Oklahoma's congressional delegation who voted "yes" for a federal spendthrift budget bill that adds $3.8 trillion to the national debt while threatening the health and welfare of the poorest Oklahomans. They are not representing the people who elected them by voting to slash funding for Medicaid and the SNAP food stamp programs in favor of tax shelters for the wealthiest Americans. Oklahoma is a poor state. If our tax dollars go to billionaires rather than helping the poorest citizens, the federal government has already indicated states, including Oklahoma, will be asked to contribute more in state taxes to fund safety net programs that we already paid for. These demands will come at a bad time. Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt signed the Republican-led Oklahoma Legislature's new bill that will trigger a .25% tax cut beginning in budget year 2026 if revenue exceeds the fiscal year 2023 baseline by $300 million. This cut in available state funds is expected to lower available revenue by $108.2 million, according to Senate staff and the Oklahoma Tax Commission. Oklahomans voted to expand Medicaid to 200,000 Oklahomans through the petition process after state legislators ignored the Affordable Care Act provisions to expand health care for 10 years. This vote tells us that health care is a priority for the people in our state. The spendthrift bill our congressional delegation supported is an obvious transfer of wealth from Oklahoma and America's poor and middle class into the already well-stuffed pockets of the nation's richest 1%. We see it for what it is. ― Jody Harlan & Tim Wagner, Yukon When I was young but old enough to understand the significance of the ceremony, I was baptized into my church and given a leather covered King James Bible with my name embossed in gold. I tried to read it through but after great effort, gave up. It was hard to read through, and I found killings, family abandonment, rapes and even a beheading. I decided to let my parents and my minister pick the passages I should read and live by. Since then, I have been given many Bibles, from the Gideons, the Red Cross in Korea and other churches as I've moved around. It's even free on the internet.I read "The Glass Castle" some time ago, found it excellent and recommended it to my wife and she to our daughter and to her ladies' book club in our church. It was one of the great books the Oklahoma State Department of Education tried to ban. For the life of me I cannot remember an unseemly passage in it. The Bible would be banned if the same people were reading it for the first time.I don't understand the need to put Bibles in our public schools. A child should be guided by his minister and parents as he reads the Bible, not by a busy schoolteacher. Other religions such as (Satanists) would then be able to put their material in our schools. We will get more Sean Sellers who led a (Satanism) club at Putnam City North High School until he was caught murdering three people and executed at age 17. Also, it is against the law. The founders wrote that the government shall separate itself from any religion. Public schools are run and owned by our government. To violate the Constitution and spend $3 million of our tax dollars for expensive Bibles that most every family already has several copies of is foolish and wrong. Ryan Walters must have an ulterior motive.― Dr. David Brinker, Oklahoma City More: Christian nationalism is being forced into OK schools. It's a war on reality. | Opinion How sad to read the vicious comments of Dillon Awes about gay people, Jews and others, cloaked of course, in religion. As I have grown old, I have watched the 'Family Values' shouters: Billy James Hargis, Jimmy Swaggart, Ralph Shorty, Paul Pressler, Jared Woodfill (I could fill the page). Look up these 'family values' stalwarts. When I attended OBU and Moody Bible Institute before volunteering for Vietnam, the Jesus I studied wouldn't have run with Dillon Awes. Jesus came to rail against the chest beaters, the pious hypocrites that prayed loudly so that others might see them, those who used religion to be cruel, to control, to hurt others. Jesus came to remind us that the sins of the flesh are not nearly as egregious as the way we treat our fellow human beings. Jesus lived and died saying that, 'I accept responsibility for humankind's failings and my love, God's love, extends to everyone.' His entire message was to ask us to treat others with love, compassion and understanding. I cannot tell you that my two tours in Vietnam with the 4th Infantry Division, K Company 75th Airborne Rangers accomplished anything good, but I can tell you that the men I served with, 100% volunteers, believed they were fighting and dying so that ALL Americans might have equal rights, equal opportunities. ALL AMERICANS, not just those that Dillon Awes thinks have a right to live. I teared up as I wrote this. What have we become? ― Jack Werner, Oklahoma City Oklahoma City church leader Dillon Awes' position that LGBTQ+ people should be executed is profoundly ignorant of longstanding recognition by relevant national associations. Sexual orientation and gender identity have for some 40 years been deemed normal human characteristics ― neither sickness nor sin ― by the American Psychiatric Association, Psychological Association, Medical Association, and National Association of Social Workers. Awes' judgments, his obsolete, incorrect and detestable stereotypical beliefs about LGBTQ+ people are unworthy of any otherwise normally functioning person who can read and write. ― Nathaniel Batchelder, Oklahoma City More: Is hail really to blame for Oklahoma's high insurance rates? Why weather experts say no Lately, there's been growing concern — and even criticism — about rising homeowners' insurance rates in Oklahoma. I understand the frustration. Some have asked whether the Oklahoma Insurance Department, and I personally, are doing enough. So let me set the record straight. First, let me tell you what the Oklahoma Insurance Department (OID) does regarding rates. Contrary to what some believe, we don't set them. We don't approve them. Oklahoma, like 37 other states, uses a 'file-and-use' or 'use-and-file' system. Our job is to ensure that those filings are lawful, non-discriminatory and transparent. We monitor the market closely, enforce consumer protections and act when companies break the law. Now I want to talk about why rates are high, because they affect all of us. It's not only because of hail! Oklahoma is one of the most disaster-prone states in the country. We face tornadoes, hail, wind, wildfires and floods — many times, all in the same year. These natural disasters have caused significant damage and massive payouts by insurance companies. In 2023, insurers in Oklahoma paid out $129 in claims for every $100 they collected in premiums. That kind of imbalance simply isn't sustainable. Even after some improvement in 2024, payouts are still at $97 per $100 in premiums. When companies consistently lose money, they raise rates — some even stop writing new policies and leave the state. Luckily, we are not seeing an exodus of companies. Oklahoma consumers have choices because of the way our state works. Over 100 licensed companies write homeowners insurance in Oklahoma, and more than 50 are actively doing so. Competition in the market helps keep prices in check. OID is also pushing forward and working on long-term solutions. One example is the Strengthen Oklahoma Homes grant program, which helps homeowners fortify their homes against severe weather. Stronger homes mean fewer claims and lower premiums. I do hear your concerns, and I share them. Nobody wants to see costs go up. But I want you to know this: Our team is fighting every day to ensure Oklahoma's insurance market remains fair, competitive and focused on protecting you. That's our mission. That's our commitment. — Glen Mulready, Oklahoma insurance commissioner This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OK insurance commissioner speaks up about homeowners' rates | Letters
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Oklahoma lawmakers overrides Stitt's veto of the Missing Murder Indigenous Persons funding
OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma lawmakers overrode Gov. Kevin Stitt and passed the bill allowing state funding for the Office of Liaison for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons. Earlier this month, Stitt vetoed the bipartisan bill saying, that while he supports efforts to solve missing persons and homicide cases, he could not endorse legislation that singles out victims based solely on their race. The unit within the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation will focus exclusively on missing and murdered American Indians. Rep. Ron Stewart, D-Tulsa, who authored the bill, celebrated the veto override. 'Today, the Oklahoma Legislature demonstrated its unwavering commitment to justice and accountability by overriding the Governor's veto of House Bill 1137. I am deeply grateful to my colleagues in both chambers–Democrats and Republicans–who stood together to prioritize the safety and dignity of Indigenous communities across our state. Rep. Ron Stewart, D-Tulsa This vote is more than a legislative victory–it is a moral affirmation that missing and murdered Indigenous persons will not be forgotten or ignored in Oklahoma, he said. Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin, Jr., and the United Indian Nations of Oklahoma praised the lawmakers. 'This is a powerful and heartfelt step forward in the fight for justice,' said Margo Gray, Executive Director of United Indian Nations of Oklahoma. 'We are profoundly grateful to the legislators in both chambers who stood with Native families, survivors, and advocates across Oklahoma.' According to the National Crime Information Center (NCIC), in 2016, there were 5,712 reports of missing American Indian and Alaska Native women and girls. However, the agency reported that NamUs only logged 116 cases, a significantly lower number than the number reported by the federal agency. In Oklahoma, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation lists just 88 missing American Indians, including many Cherokee residents. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Legislative session mixed bag for Oklahoma governor who ‘got everything he wanted' until very end
Gov. Kevin Stitt speaks at his weekly media availability on May 28, 2025. (Photo by Janelle Stecklein/Oklahoma Voice) OKLAHOMA CITY – The legislative session, which ended Friday, was a mixed bag for Gov. Kevin Stitt. He got his income tax cut, business courts and ban on cellphones in schools, prompting him to say Wednesday it was probably the best session in his seven years in office. 'Look. The governor should be very happy,' House Speaker Kyle Hilbert, R-Bristow, said early Friday. 'He got everything he wanted this session.' But then came Thursday, effectively the final day of the legislative session. Lawmakers removed his embattled mental health commissioner and spent hours overriding dozens of his vetoes, including House Bill 1389, which expands insurance coverage for diagnostic mammograms. Stitt panned both the veto overrides and Friesen's firing. State Superintendent Ryan Walters didn't fare well, watching lawmakers and Stitt halt his efforts to require citizenship status checks for students and the completion of the naturalization test for teachers. They also balked at his $3 million request to purchase Bibles for public school classrooms. But lawmakers stopped short of putting the kibosh on his controversial social studies standards, dictating what must be taught in school, and which have already drawn a court challenge. The standards include language requiring students be taught about unfounded 2020 election 'discrepancies,' the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic and Bible stories. Democrats said they were largely left out of the budget process. While Stitt championed it, Senate Minority Leader Julia Kirt, D-Oklahoma City, said the .25% income tax reduction was the worst bill of the session. It cuts the top bracket from 4.75% to 4.5% and contains a pathway toward eliminating the tax entirely. 'It is going to undermine our options as a state,' Kirt said. Stitt let the general appropriations bill, outlining the state's nearly $12.6 billion budget, take effect without his signature. The budget gives most agencies a flat budget, but provides $250 million for the Oklahoma State University veterinary school and $200 million for a University of Oklahoma pediatric heart hospital. Perhaps one of the most controversial measures passed and signed into law was a bill putting more restrictions on the process voters use to get things on the ballot. Senate Bill 1027, which among other things implements restrictions on the number of people who can sign initiative petitions, is expected to draw a legal challenge. Sports betting failed to get across the finish line for yet another year. A bill that would have barred synthetic dyes and over a dozen other ingredients from food got left on the cutting room floor, as did a measure requiring a Ten Commandments display at the Capitol. A bill that would add items to Oklahoma's back-to-school sales tax holiday didn't muster the support needed for passage nor did a measure that would have made Nov. 5 President Donald J. Trump Day in Oklahoma. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
