Kevin Stitt in 2022 Governor's State of the State speeches
On Crime:
Oklahoma is a proud law and order state, we back the police
I've directed our law enforcement to crack down hard on the black market. Agents have been in the field making arrests. Let me be clear: drug cartels, organized crime and foreign bad actors have no place in Oklahoma. We will find them, and we will bring
them to justice! Oklahoma is a proud law and order state. As other states and cities are still defunding their police, we have a chance to stand apart. Brave men and women who put their lives on the line deserve leaders who will have their back.
Source: 2022 State of the State Address to the Oklahoma legislature
Feb 7, 2022
On Drugs:
Voters for medical marijuana were sold a bill of goods
When Oklahomans voted for Medical Marijuana, they were sold a bill of goods. The state question was misleading, and it has tied our hands as we regulate the industry. Because of that state question, Oklahoma charges just $2500 for a commercial license.
As a result, we have 7 times the growers than California with just 10% of the people. Next door in Arkansas, they have 8 growers. We have 8,300. You know as well as I do that not all of that product is being sold legally.
Source: 2022 State of the State Address to the Oklahoma legislature
Feb 7, 2022
On Families & Children:
We know God gave kids to parents--not the government!
In Oklahoma, we listen to parents, because we know God gave kids to parents--not the government! We expanded the equal opportunity scholarship to provide more choices for low and middle income families. We know education is not one-size-fits-all, and
I pledge to support any legislation that gives parents more school choice, because in Oklahoma, we need to fund students, not systems!
Source: 2022 State of the State Address to the Oklahoma legislature
Feb 7, 2022
On Jobs:
Protect teachers' paychecks from union bosses
Another way to support Oklahoma educators is to protect their paychecks from union bosses. The same unions that have pushed critical race theory and school closures intimidate new teachers into handing over part of their salaries. Liberal unions want to
keep a stranglehold on their cut of teacher pay. Enough is enough! Every other profession lets you opt-in to health insurance and other benefits at work every year. Unions should be opt-in, not opt-out!
Source: 2022 State of the State Address to the Oklahoma legislature
Feb 7, 2022
On Principles & Values:
Americans are moving to states that value freedom
Across the country, huge numbers of Americans are moving to states that value freedom and trust their citizens to make choices for themselves. There has never been a bigger difference between a red state and a blue state.
Freedom-loving Americans cannot escape liberal lockdown states fast enough. Since April 2020, more than 27,000 of them have moved to Oklahoma.
Source: 2022 State of the State Address to the Oklahoma legislature
Feb 7, 2022
On Tax Reform:
We need more taxpayers; not more taxes
I'm proposing to eliminate the grocery tax. Oklahoma is one of just 13 states that taxes groceries, and ours is one of the highest. Many Oklahomans are already struggling under the weight of record inflation. Let's give them more help this year.
Because, after all, we need more taxpayers, not more taxes. States across the country are continuing to cut taxes on their citizens. My vision is to create a taxpayer protection plan that responsibly lowers income taxes according to our state revenue.
I look forward to working with the Legislature to modernize our tax code this session. Another way to do that is to get rid of the income tax on military retirement benefits.
Our military installations are so important to our state, and we want to keep our retired veterans here in Oklahoma. It's a commonsense way to support those who defend our freedoms.
Source: 2022 State of the State Address to the Oklahoma legislature
Feb 7, 2022
Page last updated: Apr 04, 2022