Latest news with #OklahomaVoice
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Oklahoma governor apologizes for disparaging remarks, celebrates session victories
Gov. Kevin Stitt speaks at a media briefing March 5 at the state Capitol in Oklahoma City. (Photo by Nuria Martinez-Keel/Oklahoma Voice) OKLAHOMA CITY — Gov. Kevin Stitt said Wednesday he had apologized to a state senator after making disparaging remarks about him and his wife last week. Stitt also defended his choice for interim commissioner of the state mental health department, despite his lack of experience in mental health. Stitt drew the ire of lawmakers Thursday as they worked late into the night and into the early hours of Friday morning to overturn over 40 of his vetoes. He posted a video Thursday afternoon calling on voters to closely watch how lawmakers vote on veto overrides and said the bills he had vetoed were bad for Oklahoma. Later in the evening as lawmakers prepared a measure to fire mental health Commissioner Allie Friesen, the governor, who had appointed and ardently supported Friesen throughout the agency's financial disarray, put out a statement that drew a senator's wife into the mix. Sen. Paul Rosino, R-Oklahoma City, and Rep. Josh West, R-Grove, were the authors of the measure to fire Friesen. It said the Legislature had 'lost confidence' in her ability to lead the state agency. Stitt called Friesen's firing a 'politically motivated witch hunt' and questioned if Rosino and West had something to gain by firing her. 'Josh West and Paul Rosino need to first answer what they stand to gain from Allie Friesen being removed,' he said in his Thursday statement. 'What are they trying to keep covered up? What conflicts of interest are they trying to hide? Is Senator Rosino trying to help his wife avoid responsibility for her role in the finance department there? Oklahomans deserve answers.' Rosino, who chairs the Senate Health and Human Services Committee and co-chairs a select committee investigating the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services' finances, said Thursday his wife works as a 'low level, part-time' employee at the agency. Stitt's statement, compounded with his video calling on Oklahomans to vote out lawmakers who voted to overturn his vetoes, led to dozens of lawmakers publicly calling Stitt out Thursday night. House Speaker Kyle Hilbert, R-Bristow, said Friday morning the video Stitt had posted frustrated lawmakers and disrupted 'good faith' negotiations between the Legislature and the Governor's Office. He also said it was 'beneath the dignity of his office' to attack a senator's wife. Senate President Pro Tem Lonnie Paxton, R-Tuttle, said Friday he was disappointed by the governor's comments. 'You know, we all say things sometimes that we wish we could take back. But this wasn't something that was said out of context,' Paxton said Friday. 'It was something written down and approved that was put out. And in my nine years here, I've seen lots of things where there's lots of criticism of members. I've never seen something like that on a member's spouse.' When discussing the measure to fire Friesen in the Senate, senators were unified in speaking against Stitt's comments – all but one of the senators who rose to debate the measure spoke against the statement. The Senate voted 43-1 to fire Friesen and the House voted 81-5. But Wednesday afternoon, Stitt apologized and said 'it was my fault' for letting emotions run high. 'I do regret that. I called and apologized to him and his wife,' Stitt said. 'I let the emotions get the better of me and I should not have done that. … I'm just trying to point out any kind of conflict. We have to make sure that, you know, if you're in the pharmaceutical business, you shouldn't be running pharmaceutical bills. If you're in this industry, you shouldn't be running this bill.' Rosino could not be reached for comment, but a Senate spokesperson confirmed he and his wife had accepted Stitt's apology. The Republican governor also defended Rear Admiral Gregory Slavonic as his choice to temporarily fill Friesen's position as head of the mental health department. Slavonic has a long history working in government and previously ran the Oklahoma Department of Veteran Affairs, but has no experience in mental health. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX 'He's not a mental health expert, he's more of a business person,' Stitt said Wednesday. 'He's somebody that I think can do the job.' The agency needed supplemental funding from the Legislature for this budget year and has been embroiled in investigations and audits following reports of financial disarray, including being unable to make payroll. Stitt took a victory lap as he celebrated successes from the legislative session. He said Oklahoma is now on the path to eliminating the income tax after the Legislature passed a .25% income tax cut, with further cuts when revenue reaches specified levels. Stitt also applauded legislation he said eliminated various fines, fees and court costs for people recently released from incarceration, a priority he mentioned during his State of the State address at the beginning of session. Expanding apprenticeship and internship programs in Oklahoma was another victory Stitt brought up Wednesday. 'This was an amazing session,' he said. 'I thought it was one of my best sessions we've ever had in seven years.' Reporter Ylleana Berryhill contributed to this report. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
13 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Fate of Oklahoma-Texas Heartland Flyer uncertain
The Heartland Flyer pulls into the Norman Station, Sunday, Aug. 6, 2023. (Photo by Kyle Phillips/For Oklahoma Voice) OKLAHOMA CITY – The fate of passenger rail service between Oklahoma City and Fort Worth is on shaky ground after the Texas Legislature declined to fund that state's portion. 'The state of Oklahoma cannot fund that operation of our own accord,' Tim Gatz, Oklahoma Department of Transportation executive director, told his governing board Monday. Gatz previously said the rail line would close as early as this month if Texas failed to fund it. He was not available for comment Tuesday and Wednesday. Gov. Kevin Stitt said he was disappointed Texas did not provide the funds. 'We're not going to pick up their end of that,' Stitt said Wednesday. 'And so we're not sure exactly what's going to happen with that connection.' The Heartland Flyer, an Amtrak route between Oklahoma City and Fort Worth, is a jointly funded partnership between Texas and Oklahoma City. Oklahoma's portion for 2025 was $4.5 million. The Texas Department of Transportation's budget for fiscal year 2025 included $2.81 million for the Heartland Flyer, said Laura Butterbrodt, a spokeswoman. She referred additional questions to Texas lawmakers. Oklahoma lawmakers last month passed Senate Concurrent Resolution 10 urging Texas legislators to continue funding the service. The service was reestablished in 1999 after ending in 1979. 'The Oklahoma State Legislature acknowledges the importance of the continued existence of passenger rail in Oklahoma, and understands that once removed, it would be extraordinarily challenging to restore this service and continue to provide an additional option for Oklahomans,' the SRJ said. Nearly 82,000 rode it last year. Officials were considering expanding it into Kansas allowing travelers to connect to other major routes. 'Kansas recently provided dedicated funding and authority for KDOT (Kansas Department of Transportation) to support passenger rail for the Heartland Flyer extension,' said Philip Harris, a spokesman. 'If the project were to stall in the study phase, evaluating the future use of those funds could be needed.' If the project continues, its targeted operational date is 2029, he said. Amtrak did not respond to a request for comment. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Voters to select three new Oklahoma representatives
Voters cast their ballots on Nov. 5 at an polling location in Edmond. (Photo by Janelle Stecklein/Oklahoma Voice) Three open seats in the Oklahoma House will be decided June 10 by voters in a special election. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m on the day of the election. In Tulsa County, voters will choose between Republican Beverly Atteberry and Democrat Amanda Clinton. The seat opened up when Rep. Amanda Swope, D-Tulsa, stepped down in December for a position in the City of Tulsa's government. Atteberry, 57, previously said she's lived in the district since 1993 and knows the community well since she's seen all of its 'ups and downs.' As an attorney and business owner, she said her knowledge of the law and inner-workings of the state Capitol will let her 'hit the ground running.' Atteberry's law firm serves Tulsa area clients and focuses on wills, probate, and criminal law. Improving Oklahoma's roads, public education and government spending to help bring more businesses to the state are among her priorities if elected, Atteberry told Oklahoma Voice. Clinton, 46, is a small business owner, an adjunct professor at Oklahoma State University and a former journalist. She worked for Tulsa Mayor Monroe Nichols' campaign and on boards for Planned Parenthood and the OSU Foundation Board of Governors. She previously said she's an advocate for reproductive health freedom, access to medical care, clean water and minimizing 'state Superintendent Ryan Walters' impact on public schools.' Her priorities also include lowering the cost of living and ending homelessness, according to her website. Clinton has said her experience with the Cherokee Nation has been an example to her of a government serving its people. Democrat Amy Hossain will face off against Republican Kevin Wayne Norwood in the race for House District 74. The district in Tulsa and Rogers Counties includes Owasso and part of Tulsa. Rep. Mark Vancuren, R-Owasso, resigned in December for a job in the Tulsa County government. Hossain, 50, works as the chief human resources officer for Domestic Violence Intervention Services in Tulsa and is the president of Khan Ohana, a nonprofit working to 'break the cycle of poverty among college students.' She previously said she's running because as a voter, she's been frustrated by the lack of options on her ballot in the past and wanted to give voters the choice to elect someone from her party. If elected, her priorities include raising the minimum wage, better funding for public schools, access to affordable and accessible health care and housing, according to her website. Norwood, 58, is a pastor who said he's been involved in his community, helping to build businesses and mentoring youth, for three decades. His work with community initiatives like Keep Owasso Beautiful and Owasso Cares have led to recognition and awards, according to his website. Building a 'vibrant' economy, tax relief for Oklahomans, safer communities, strong infrastructure and supporting community and family initiatives are among his priorities. He also intends to 'revitalize main streets' and stop the 'green energy grift,' according to his website. Norwood will 'champion' his community and 'reflect conservative Oklahoma values,' according to his campaign website. Finally, two Democrats, JeKia Harrison and Aletia Haynes Timmons, will vie for the open House District 91 seat, representing parts of Oklahoma City and Midwest City. Rep. Jason Lowe, D-Oklahoma City, stepped down in April to serve as an Oklahoma County commissioner. Harrison, 35, works as a legislative assistant for Rep. Meloyde Blancett, D-Tulsa, and previously worked as a child welfare specialist for the state Department of Human Services. She also owns Pen 2 Paper Consulting, a political campaign consulting and management firm, and has been involved in leadership for organizations like Young Democrats of Oklahoma and the Oklahoma chapter of Moms Demand Action, which advocates for stronger gun laws. Increased funding for Oklahoma public schools, more affordable housing, reforms to criminal justice and raising the minimum wage are some of Harrison's priorities, according to her campaign website. Timmons, 64, is a recently retired Oklahoma County District judge and she previously worked in civil rights and employment law, as well as in the Oklahoma County District Attorney's Office. Her priorities include criminal justice reforms, greater accountability in government, strengthening the economy and 'finding common ground and working for real solutions,' according to her campaign website. Timmons has received several awards and recognitions for her 'dedication to justice, community service, and diversity,' according to her website. She's a founder of a program in Northeast Oklahoma City addressing food insecurity and has worked as an instructor on Langston University's Oklahoma City campus. Early voting is set for Thursday and Friday at select locations between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. Voters can check their registration status and polling location on the Oklahoma Election Board's website. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
3 days 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
6 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
