By Senate Democratic Leader Julia Kirt
We’ve just finished the first week of the 2025 legislative session at the state Capitol. On the first day members of the Senate and House met together to hear the governor deliver his annual State of the State address, outlining his priorities for the session. As we listened to his remarks, I was struck most by what he wasn’t talking about.
He focused on big business, but not a word about small businesses, or the well-being of workers. When he talked about education, the only thing he focused on was more money for private schools – I didn’t hear anything about how we’re going to support and improve our public schools, or how to make sure the Oklahoma Department of Education is doing its job. He said nothing about health care. We have Oklahomans who are still struggling to afford care and medications. And depending on where folks live, even those with insurance and other means often don’t have access to the kinds of specialists they need to stay healthy. These are things people from across the state have told us they are concerned about.
We also have serious concerns about his budget proposals, which focus on blanket cuts across state agencies with no consideration for needs in different parts of the state. He didn’t prioritize public safety or even needed areas like child welfare. Oklahoma has been working to improve the foster care system, but cuts could erode those efforts. The list goes on. Instead, we need to take a practical approach to the budget to focus on improving Oklahomans’ quality of life.
On top of that, he’s renewed his push for huge tax cuts, but the biggest beneficiaries for his plan would be the wealthiest Oklahomans. His proposal would only save people making under $25,000 about $15, while people making more than $650,000 would save almost $6,000. In contrast, we need targeted tax relief that will put money back in the pockets of those who need it most. I have introduced legislation that would increase the $40 per person sales tax relief credit to $110 per person, a tax reform that would help working Oklahoman in all 77 counties. Senate Democrats are advocating for tax relief that does more to benefit middle and low-income earners than anything the governor has proposed.
For the rest of the week, we turned our attention to a series of budget presentations in the Senate Appropriations Committee. I applaud Senate leadership, including Appropriations Chair Chuck Hall, for continuing to prioritize transparency, which allows the public greater insight into how decisions impacting the budget are made. These were bipartisan hearings that gave us a better look at the needs of Oklahomans and how the state leaders hope to improve many areas of our state, from health and education to criminal investigations – needs that cannot be addressed by the governor’s proposals.
While we may find flaws with the governor’s priorities, we keep working across the aisle to bring more opportunities and freedom for all Oklahomans. Senate Democrats are committed to addressing the challenges facing our state, with an agenda that provides real solutions. We believe every child should get a great education, and everyone should have a good-paying job, and all families should have the resources they need to take care of their health. I’ll continue to update you on those efforts and other activities at the Capitol throughout the 2025 session. You can also watch my podcast at facebook.com/oksenatedems.