Kevin Stitt in 2018 OK Governor's race
On Budget & Economy:
Cut waste, rather than new taxes, for growth
Democrat Drew Edmondson promoted his plan to increase the state's gross production tax to 7%, do away with the capital gains tax deduction and increase the cigarette tax by 50 cents, raising an additional $300 million."His solution is always more
taxes on hardworking Oklahomans," Stitt responded. Stitt said finding more money for state agencies will require cutting waste, stronger leadership and wisely spending
$1 billion in new revenue coming to the state this year. "Our economy is starting to boom but our state has not captured that growth like it should," Stitt said.
"Mr. Stitt is doing what any good salesman would do, he is trying to tell you what
you want to hear," said Edmondson, who added increasing taxes was the only way to truly invest in the state.
"There he goes again," Stitt responded. "It's always about new revenue, new taxes."
Source: The Oklahoman on 2018 Oklahoma gubernatorial debate
Oct 25, 2018
On Families & Children:
Vaccination should be between a parent & their pediatrician
Much of the debated focused on how the candidates would manage the executive branch, oversee the budgeting process and approach specific policy issues. But it also waded into social issues, including abortion, parental rights and gun control.
Neither candidate, however, seemed to want to press these issues as campaign focal points.Stitt refused to say whether he would apply a litmus test for any state Supreme Court pick to ensure they would support laws that rein in abortions.
Responding to a question on media coverage suggesting he opposed immunizations for children, Stitt said he and his wife had all their children vaccinated and that he doesn't intend to overhaul any state
laws. "All I've said is that vaccination should be between a parent and their pediatrician," he said. "I don't support changing any law whatsoever and I have the same opinion as my opponent."
Source: KGOU (NPR) on 2018 Oklahoma gubernatorial debate
Sep 25, 2018
On Budget & Economy:
Create a level playing field for competition
Cornett discussed the importance of moving away from the oil and gas industry to provide revenue for the state. Stitt noted he would strive to create a level playing field for competition.
Cornett is expected to gain support from the independent oil industry, while Stitt would be backed by Chamber of Commerce members and the largest oil producers.
Source: Ballotpedia.org on 2018 Oklahoma gubernatorial race
Aug 28, 2018
On Immigration:
Supports border protection; opposes sanctuary cities
Stitt said, "First off, I support President Trump. We've got to have strong borders in our state. Like the mayor said, we've got to know who's coming into our country. "But I do not believe in sanctuary cities. We have to be a state of laws.
And as governor I will enforce laws. I will enforce the immigration laws. We will not have sanctuary cities. We'll have to tell our law enforcement that they're going to have to enforce the laws."
Source: The Oklahoman on 2018 Oklahoma Gubernatorial race
Jul 21, 2018
On Abortion:
Ban abortions except rape, incest or to save life of mother
Stitt said he would sign legislation banning or restricting abortion, even if it would violate abortion rights granted by the US Supreme Court in two major decisions. Stitt says he would sign every piece of anti-abortion legislation that came to him.
Stitt responded at the forum, "No I wouldn't sign that. I believe that life begins at conception and I am going to protect life every single day that I'm governor." Asked last week what he meant by his response, Stitt said he may have misunderstood
the question. "From the very beginning, I've said that I'm pro-life and I am going to sign legislation that hits my desk to protect life," Stitt said in an interview. "So I will continue to say that."
At an earlier forum, Stitt said that he would only
appoint justices to the Oklahoma Supreme Court that shared his views on abortion. "So as governor, I will make sure we get pro-life justices on the Oklahoma Supreme Court and then I'll sign every piece of pro-life legislation that hits my desk," he said.
Source: Press-Reader on 2018 Oklahoma gubernatorial race
Jul 15, 2018
On Education:
Schools are bloated with administration & too many districts
Stitt signed the Oklahoma Taxpayer Platform which includes a plank on "Structural Reform": We want structural reform to transform and eliminate governmental dysfunction, duplication and corruption. 500+ school districts are too many.
Schools are bloated with administration. 500+ Agencies, Authorities, Boards, Trusts and Commissions are too much. Too many unelected officials are making decisions that affect taxpayers.
Education and health would be better served by a dramatic downsizing of state bureaucracies, with more decisions made locally.
We want fair legislative operating rules that do not abridge the right and responsibility of legislators to represent their constituents. Needed government services should be efficient and user-friendly.
Source: OKTaxpayersUnite press release: 2018 Oklahoma Governor race
Jul 4, 2018
On Jobs:
Reduce barriers on occupations; increase worker freedom
Stitt signed the Oklahoma Taxpayer Platform which includes the following planks:- Free-Market Environment: Preserve the gains made in Oklahoma in the past 20 years toward greater worker freedom and a less-adversarial legal climate.
Remove unnecessary barriers set up by state and local government for many occupations. Encourage stronger market forces in health care, education, and other sectors, with less picking of winners and losers by government.
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State Sovereignty: Provide a barrier between Oklahomans and Federal overreach that limits our Constitutional liberties.
We cannot continue to let the Federal government impose restrictions, mandates and costs that infringe on our rights.
Source: OKTaxpayersUnite press release: 2018 Oklahoma Governor race
Jul 4, 2018
On Tax Reform:
Signed Oklahoma Taxpayer Platform
Kevin Stitt announced that he signed the "Oklahoma Taxpayer Platform" pledge, a 7-point platform announced by Senator Tom Coburn. "I appreciate Tom Coburn's leadership for putting this important platform together that holds candidates accountable to
conservative principles," said Stitt. "The priorities listed by Sen. Coburn resonate with the concerns I have heard from Oklahomans across all 77 counties."- Fiscal Responsibility: State agencies must be subjected to regular audits.
- Limited
Government: Focus on public safety, infrastructure, education, and a safety net for the most vulnerable.
- Structural Reform: eliminate governmental dysfunction, duplication and corruption.
- Fair Taxation: Tax people in the least-burdensome way.
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Free-Market Environment: Less picking of winners & losers by government.
- Criminal Justice System Reform: Keep citizens safe but don't lock people up unnecessarily.
- State Sovereignty: Provide a barrier between Oklahomans and Federal overreach.
Source: OKTaxpayersUnite press release: 2018 Oklahoma Governor race
Jul 4, 2018
On Tax Reform:
Shift Oklahoma's tax structure to focus on consumption
Stitt signed the Oklahoma Taxpayer Platform which includes a plank on "Fair Taxation:" Tax people in the least-burdensome way. Income taxes impose a discouraging penalty on work, productivity, personal responsibility,
savings, investment, capital formation and entrepreneurial risk-taking. No income taxes of any kind should be levied by Oklahoma's state and local government. Shift Oklahoma's tax structure to focus on consumption.
This will help Oklahoma become a magnet for private-sector both large and small job creators and productive individuals of all incomes.
The key is to attract more taxpayers, spreading the cost of state and local services among more people and allowing for a lower tax burden on everyone.
Source: OKTaxpayersUnite press release: 2018 Oklahoma Governor race
Jul 4, 2018
On Crime:
Keep violent offenders behind bars, with fair sentencing
During a forum last week in Oklahoma City, the candidates were asked what steps they would take as governor to reduce the number of people incarcerated in Oklahoma. That total, which has been growing for decades, stands at roughly
27,000. On a per capita basis, the state's incarceration rate ranks No. 2 nationally; we lead the country in female incarceration rate. All the candidates mentioned the need to find innovative ways to deal with nonviolent offenders, who
make up the majority of those behind bars."We are sticking out like a sore thumb," said Tulsa businessman Kevin Stitt. Stitt said prosecutors must be provided "the sticks they need" to keep violent offenders behind bars, but that
Oklahoma should "look at what the market is. Market to me is what the states around us are doing, and come up with those types of fair sentencing (practices) across all counties ."
Source: The Oklahoman on 2018 Oklahoma gubernatorial race
May 3, 2018
On Government Reform:
Step Up Oklahoma: Fix broken government; level playing field
I support some of the Step Up Oklahoma's governance ideas, such as budget-line itemizing and a budget stabilization fund. I also endorse total tax reform once we have addressed our broken government. Any effort to modernize our tax code
must be for the purpose of spurring a free market and leveling the playing field so that we are no longer incentivizing certain industries over others at a cost to Oklahoma.
Source: The Oklahoman Kevin Stitt OpEd: 2018 Oklahoma Governor race
Feb 7, 2018
On Drugs:
Supports legalizing medical marijuana if strictly medicinal
Republican gubernatorial candidates mostly avoided taking a clear stance on whether they will support a question legalizing medical marijuana. In an interview, Kevin Stitt, running for the GOP nomination, said, "If a doctor's going to prescribe it
for legitimate purposes, I'd be supportive of that. What I'm concerned about with the bill - and I've talked to some of the physician groups - the way it's written it looks a little broad, and it looks a little too much like recreational use to me.
Source: The Oklahoman on 2018 Oklahoma Gubernatorial race
Jan 8, 2018
Page last updated: Dec 01, 2021