Oklahoma House Democrats push back against Gov. Stitt's policy criticism

Oklahoma House Democratic Leader Cyndi Munson (D-Oklahoma City) responded to Governor Stitt's recent criticism of policies authored by House Democrats in a statement released on Wednesday. Munson calls the Governor's remarks "disappointing" and a sign of poor leadership.

The Governor took to social media earlier this week to express his disappointment with certain legislative policies championed by House Democrats, labeling them as "disappointing."

In her response, Munson defended the Democratic Caucus and emphasized their ongoing commitment to addressing critical issues for Oklahomans, which include lowering living costs, improving access to quality public education, and making healthcare more affordable.

"We are doing exactly what Oklahomans want: working together to solve problems for the challenges they face. We took heed of the Governor's advice: disagree better. In today's world of politics, it's easy to find what we disagree on, it can be even more difficult to find common ground, but when we do? Let's celebrate, not criticize. Oklahomans are looking for leaders who put people over their partisan, political agendas."

Among the bills the Governor found disappointing, Munson highlighted several initiatives that aim to improve the lives of Oklahomans. These include efforts to increase access to affordable childcare, expand savings account protections for individuals with disabilities, ease access to nutritious food for elderly Oklahomans, and ensure fair wages for workers with disabilities.

The Democratic Caucus also pushed for strengthening the childcare workforce, improving government transparency, and enhancing oversight of the Parental Choice Tax Credit.

Munson acknowledged that while some of the bills did not make it through the legislative process, many received bipartisan support from Republican representatives in rural and urban parts of the state.

"I do commend House Republican Leadership for their support for the bills they helped move to the Senate," Munson said in her press release.

Munson stressed the importance of collaboration in the legislative process. She pointed out that the Governor's advice to "disagree better" was worth taking to heart, as political disagreements should not overshadow the goal of serving the people of Oklahoma.

In total, the House Democratic Caucus passed 29 bills during this legislative session, while House Republicans passed 409 bills. Munson's comments reflect the ongoing partisan tensions at the state Capitol, with both parties claiming to represent the interests of Oklahomans, but often disagreeing on the best path forward.