Quotes of the Day

“I won’t be back then (May 1). I’m 67 with a stent and on blood pressure meds. I wouldn’t feel safe. Look how they gear up to swab a throat. I’ll listen to doctors, nurses and scientists, not politicians, evangelical preachers and CEOs.” 

-Danny Bean, barber at Casady Style Shop, speaking about Gov. Stitt’s plan to reopen Oklahoma businesses  [The Oklahoman]

“Rationing human life is not only illegal and immoral, it is simply unacceptable. While we recognize that our health care system is under unprecedented pressure, no one should face discrimination in accessing life-saving treatment and care.”

-Melissa Sublett, executive director of Oklahoma Disability Law Center, speaking about a federal civil rights complaint alleging the state’s medical treatment plan discriminates against those with disabilities [The Frontier]

“So far, the job loss in Oklahoma has been less than the rest of the nation. And we expect a smaller total job downturn, but we are also going to see a slower bounce back given the weakness in the oil and gas sector.”

-Oklahoma Tax Commission Executive Director Jay Doyle [Tulsa World] 

“This pandemic on top of it just shines a light on how so many households, not just in Oklahoma but around the country, live paycheck to paycheck. When a household becomes economically insecure, they almost immediately become food-insecure.”

-Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma spokeswoman Cathy Nestlen [AP News / HuffPost]

“There’s a lot of nasty stuff going on. It’s not as easy to lock people out when they’re staying home with the pandemic. But God forbid you leave, you may come back and find out the door is locked. They can also switch the utilities from the tenant to the complex and then shut them off.”

-Michael Figgins, director of Legal Aid, discussing evictions during the pandemic [The Oklahoman]

“No one should have to choose between their safety and their right to vote, therefore, Governor Stitt, the Oklahoma Legislature and The State Election Board should take immediate action to ensure that Oklahomans can freely and safely exercise their right to vote in June.”

-Amber England, Yes on 802 campaign manager, about Gov. Stitt setting a June 30 election date for SQ 802 [Yes on 802]

“My son received commutation in December 2019 is still sitting in prison with the virus knocking on the door.”

-Comment gathered during an online petition asking for commutations in order to slow COVID-19 spread in prisons [Tulsa World]

“It’s unfair to voters to wait until the last second for them to see if they’re going to have to vote, or if they’ll have to request absentee ballots or locate a notary to comply with the safer at home order. Really this problem has been going on before the pandemic and (Gov. Stitt’s) opposition to the state question has led him to drag his feet.”

-Rep. Emily Virgin, D-Norman, speaking about Gov. Stitt setting an SQ 802 election date [The Frontier] 

“The two things that we needed to look at as worst-case scenarios was if the coronavirus spread beyond China … or if there became a price war with oil and gas. Unfortunately for the state, both of those things have now happened.”

-Jay Doyle, Oklahoma Tax Commission director, speaking about state revenues [The Oklahoman]

“The (COVID-19) infection rate is 50% higher in prisons, and this isn’t the regular flu. I mean, this is killing people.”

-Pardon and Parole Board member Kelly Doyle speaking about the need to have inmates with medical risk considered for any faster commutation process [Public Radio Tulsa]