Quotes of the Day

“Her seat is put together with duct tape and one of her teachers has three jobs. I want her in school, but I want her in a fully-funded school.”

– Theresa Olds, parent of an Oklahoma City public school student, who has been at the capitol advocating for increased education funding (Source) 

“Well, actually, Mary, we do want a better car. The one you have us currently driving was given to us in 1980. It’s never had the oil changed, tires rotated, filters changed, or engine checked. We’ve patiently waited for a tune-up, car wash, or even just a little air freshener to dangle from our mirror. Since we got the ‘new car’ 38 years ago, it’s been driven without regular maintenance. We’ve essentially been given the message to drive it ‘til the wheels fall off.”

– Pam Cook, a 5th grade teacher at Verdigris Elementary School, responding to recent comments by Governor Mary Fallin likening teachers to a “teenage kid that want a better car” [Source]

“We’ve proven that we will not watch as our state’s education system degrades on a perpetual downfall. They will fear us hashtag-wielding teenagers more than they do oil and gas companies.”

– Ravi Patel, a student at Southmoore High School, speaking to the crowds rallying at the state Capitol during a teacher walkout [Source]

– Susan Franklin, a fourth-grade teacher at Jenks East Elementary School, who was among the thousands of demonstrators advocating for more funding for education and other services at the Capitol on Tuesday (Source)

“It’s almost like the oil and gas people have more say than the people that actually voted (lawmakers) in. Because it shouldn’t be a struggle to fund education. Every time they cut the Gross Production Tax, it’s almost like they’re saying oil is more important than our kids.”

– Alberto Morejon, a Stillwater teacher that started an Oklahoma teacher walkout Facebook page that created momentum for the Capitol demonstration that started yesterday (Source)

“Politicians should be ashamed of themselves (when they) go around saying, ‘Yes, we need better education, yes we need better health care, yes we need other things in our state, we need better mental health, we need to invest.’ But they don’t want to pay for it. (They will) cut your taxes, because that’s popular to do. But we need to be telling the people the truth. … A business doesn’t have a future if it doesn’t invest in itself. A state doesn’t have a future if it doesn’t invest in itself,”

– David Boren, President of The University of Oklahoma (Source)

“My thought has always been if you want to try to reform Medicaid, then you really truly have to help people break the cycle of poverty. Instead of throwing people off the program because you can no longer afford them, how about you help them through education, job training and job opportunity so they no longer qualify? That’s the best Medicaid reform.”

-Nico Gomez, president and CEO of Care Providers Oklahoma, speaking about lawmakers’ attempts to reduce eligibility for Medicaid [Source].

“I think the main thing is all members of the Legislature pay attention to what’s going on in their districts. I think that more than anything is what broke the logjam.”

– Mickey Thompson, leader of an initiative petition to raise oil and gas production taxes, giving credit to constituent activism for motivating House members to approve tax increases to fund a teacher pay raise on Monday (Source)

“I stand here tonight, and I am ready to invest in the future and invest in the great state of Oklahoma. Join me tonight, vote yes, and let’s all invest in this great state we call home.”

– Rep. Earl Sears (R-Bartlesville), debating for HB 1010XX, a bill that raises $447 million in new revenue to fund teacher pay raises and other priorities. Its passage by a 79-19 vote marks the first time that the House has reached a three-fourths majority for a tax measure since that requirement was added to the Oklahoma Constitution in 1992 (Source)

“When we announced the possibility of closing schools earlier this month, we intentionally left out a specific plan because we thought the Legislature knew where to find money to properly fund our schools. While we appreciate the efforts to find some answers, they have fallen woefully short.”

David DuVall, Executive Director of the Oklahoma Education Association, at a press conference announcing the organization’s plan to fund raises for teachers and state workers and increase support for state services (Source)