House Dems Respond to State of the State Address

OKLAHOMA CITY — House Minority Leader Emily Virgin, D-Norman, released the following statement in response to Gov. Kevin Stitt’s State of the State Address:

“We heard a rosy picture painted by the Governor today, but the reality is that his actions, or more often, his failure to act, have cost Oklahomans financially, emotionally, and physically.

“At times during the past year, instead of focusing on our state’s pandemic response and at times our surging COVID case numbers and hospitalizations, Gov. Stitt has been distracted by national politics and political patronage.

“Today’s State of the State speech was no different. It was far from the call for unity Oklahomans desire. I’ve listened in the House Chamber to 11 different State of the State Addresses. Today’s speech was by far the most divisive. Unfortunately, the governor, today, chose to bring DC politics to Oklahoma, delivering more of a campaign speech than the united message that we need as a state and as a nation.

“The version of the last year that the governor sold to Oklahomans today was nothing more than revisionist history.

“Let me be clear, as COVID-19 rages in Oklahoma – January was our worst month, yet – no state wishes they would have responded to this pandemic as Oklahoma has.

“From his own lack of personal responsibility to the lack of public health policies enacted, Governor’s Stitt’s response to this pandemic has been an example of failed leadership.”