State of Oklahoma Archives: on Environment


Chris Powell: Fight EPA regulatory over-reach

Q: Do you support or oppose the statement, "Fight EPA regulatory over-reach"?

A: Support.

Source: OnTheIssues interview of 2018 Oklahoma Governor candidate May 15, 2018

Drew Edmondson: As AG, created the Environmental Protection Unit

In 1996, Edmondson created the Environmental Protection Unit to provide agencies with specialized legal advice and representation on environmental issues. Since then the unit has filed lawsuits and drafted numerous AG opinions on environmental issues, including biomedical waste, discarded tires, animal-feeding operations, groundwater use, county zoning authority, solid waste and wildlife issues.
Source: Tulsa World on 2018 Oklahoma gubernatorial race Jan 9, 2011

Frank Keating: Regulate our precious environment because we love Oklahoma

Hog and poultry industries are growing in our state, without the kind of pollution problems others have experienced, thanks to foresight and wise regulation. We enacted the strictest swine regulation bill in US history and the first of the nation's poultry regulation bills.

We understand the most precious thing we have is clear water and clear air. Our environment is exceedingly important as a quality of life issue for us, and we enacted these regulations, together, because we love Oklahoma.

Source: 2001 State of the State address to Oklahoma legislature Feb 5, 2001

James Lankford: Rural restrictions shows arrogance from city dwellers

It is essential to help negotiate trade agreements with markets around the world while protecting our farms and ranches from tariffs. Federal burdens like fuel tank storage restrictions, the endangered species act, grain storage inspections on family farms, interstate farm truck rules, dust particulate regulations and youth labor restrictions show an arrogance of power from Federal officials who spend their life on concrete should not dictate to families who live their lives on the land.

The solution to over-regulation is to return oversight to the states. Government works best when it is local and accessible. The farther decisions are made from an individual, the more you are just a number, not a neighbor. We can all agree that federal regulators moving into a neighborhood to tell our families that we cannot work together violates everything about our core American freedom and values. Continued uncertainty and central planning will stifle our economic development as a nation.

Source: 2021 Oklahoma Senate campaign website JamesLankford.com Jun 21, 2021

Joe Maldonado: Fight EPA regulatory over-reach

Q: Do you support or oppose the statement, "Fight EPA regulatory over-reach"?

A: Yes.

Source: OnTheIssues interview of 2018 Oklahoma Governor candidate May 15, 2018

Kevin Stine: Eminent domain abused when it benefits private company

Wyden's support of the LNG gas pipeline is an abuse of the eminent domain process because it advances the interests of a private company rather than creating a project that serves the general public's interests, Stine said.

The Jordan Cove LNG project would start in Coos Bay, a 235-mile-long pipeline would traverse public and private lands in Jackson County and throughout Southern Oregon. A spokesman for Wyden could not be reached for comment.

Source: Medford Mail Tribune on 2016 Oklahoma Senate race Sep 21, 2015

Mary Fallin: Oklahoma Strong: Rebuild after devastating tornadoes

There was no greater challenge or hardship than the one we experienced last May, when a series of tornadoes swept across central Oklahoma.

The loss of life--especially the loss of children--was devastating. I will never forget the unbearable grief I saw when I met with mothers and fathers who had lost a child, or the scream of a woman who had just learned her husband had been killed.

But I will also never forget the brave and compassionate actions of so many of our citizens: men and women taking complete strangers into their homes and offering them a place to sleep and a warm meal; Oklahomans, and even people from neighboring states, dropping everything to volunteer their time and resources to help the recovery effort.

Today we are rebuilding and well on our way to recovery. Main Streets across central Oklahoma struck by tornadoes are once again thriving. We owe that success to our resilient, hardworking people. They are, as we say, Oklahoma Strong.

Source: 2014 State of the State address to Oklahoma legislature Feb 3, 2014

Mick Cornett: Great value in the EPA's "brownfields" cleaning up program

Cornett said the agency's [EPA's}"brownfields" program, which helps cities, states and Indian tribes clean up abandoned sites or community eyesores to prepare for redevelopment, has "made a remarkable difference in Oklahoma City." "We used brownfields money to help close that gap. We had an environmental site along our river--which 60 years ago had been a city dump--and we were able to address the environmental needs there, and Dell Computers has built a campus with 1,500 employees," he said.
Source: The Oklahoman on 2018 Oklahoma gubernatorial race Oct 20, 2011

Mike Workman: Preserve and protect national parks

Q: Should national parks be preserved and protected by the federal government?

Mike Workman: Yes

Q: Should the government give tax credits and subsidies to the wind power industry?

Mike Workman: Yes

Q: Should the U.S. expand offshore oil drilling?

Mike Workman: No

Source: iSideWith.com voter guide on 2016 Oklahoma Senate race Aug 31, 2016

Mike Workman: Increase the number of inspectors for asbestos

Workman submitted the following statement to Ballotpedia: "Workplace safety was not improved when the incumbent dealt with asbestos problems by cutting the number of inspectors in the Asbestos Abatement/Inspection Unit. I would restore it to previous levels to protect working conditions and the safety of those using public and private buildings in Oklahoma."
Source: 2014 Ballotpedia statement for 2020 Oklahoma Senate race Sep 23, 2014

Scott Pruitt: As state AG sued to block Obama's Clean Power Plan

The EPA, under Obama's administration, had set a number of health milestones attainable by 2030--if the Clean Power Plan were implemented. Pruitt argued that Trump was "keeping a promise to the American people to roll back regulatory overreach." He noted that the Clean Power Plan was subject to a stay by the Supreme Court; he did not mention that he, as former Oklahoma attorney general, was one of several Republicans who had originally filed the lawsuit against Obama's regulations.
Source: Washington Post on 2022 Oklahoma Senate race Apr 3, 2017

T.W. Shannon: Farmers, ranchers don't need EPA to tell them what to do

Holland said WOTUS (Waters of the US) had been a disaster for farmers because everything has to be regulated by the EPA, "anytime you have to deal with the government you have to ask so many people for permission, and it slows everything down, and you may get to a point where they say you can't do it, even if it's your land, and that's not freedom. " Holland adds that no one cares more for the land than the farmers and ranchers, "and we don't need the EPA to tell us how to do it."
Source: Oklahoma Farm Report on 2022 Oklahoma Senate race Mar 21, 2022

  • The above quotations are from State of Oklahoma Politicians: Archives.
  • Click here for definitions & background information on Environment.
  • Click here for other issues (main summary page).
2024 Presidential contenders on Environment:
  Candidates for President & Vice-President:
V.P.Kamala Harris (D-CA)
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.(I-CA)
Chase Oliver(L-GA)
Dr.Jill Stein(D-MA)
Former Pres.Donald Trump(R-FL)
Sen.J.D.Vance(R-OH)
Gov.Tim Walz(D-MN)
Dr.Cornel West(I-NJ)

2024 presidential primary contenders:
Pres.Joe_Biden(D-DE)
N.D.Gov.Doug Burgum(R)
N.J.Gov.Chris_Christie(R)
Fla.Gov.Ron_DeSantis(R)
S.C.Gov.Nikki_Haley(R)
Ark.Gov.Asa_Hutchinson(R)
Former V.P.Mike Pence(R-IN)
U.S.Rep.Dean_Phillips(D-MN)
Vivek_Ramaswamy(R-OH)
S.C.Sen.Tim_Scott(R)
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Page last updated: Feb 07, 2026