Quotes of the Day

“Fallin has offered lawmakers a chance to fix two critical problems that have faced the state for years — inadequate permanent revenue to fund the state’s core services and critically inadequate funding of public schools. We urge Oklahoma lawmakers to take this opportunity to recognize the mistakes of the past and start the state down a better path. Nothing less than the state’s future is at risk.”

– The Tulsa World Editorial Board, urging lawmakers to address structural issues during the upcoming special legislative session (Source)

“Our constituents did not send us to the Capitol to simply make across the board cuts and walk away claiming ‘we tried’. The people of Oklahoma expect more from us than a short-term, Band-Aid budget fix which fills the immediate budget hole, but does nothing to address the budget problems we are facing next year.”

– Senate Minority Leader John Sparks (D-Norman) on the importance of addressing the structural budget deficit in the upcoming special legislative session (Source)

“Most don’t consider hunger to be an obstacle. It’s hard to unless you’ve been there. If it weren’t for SNAP, I’d probably be homeless. That’s not easy to say, I’m a proud man. Unless you’ve been there, you wouldn’t understand. All you can do is focus on when you might eat again or how you are going to come up with $40 to stay in a cheap motel one more night. This is why SNAP is important to me and people who need it.”

– Tulsan Bryan Parker, testifying before a Congressional committee on the importance of SNAP (food stamps). Parker, a veteran, is now part of the Lobek Taylor Culinary Trade Program offered at the Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma (Source)

“We’re not here to take anything from anyone, we’re here to be part of the community. We’re not here to hurt anyone; we’re here to take care of each other.”

– Oklahoma high school student Briseyda Amador, speaking at an Oklahoma City community forum to address  proposed federal action to end deportation protections for undocumented individuals brought to the US as children. Amador is one of about 7,500 Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients living in Oklahoma (Source)

“If we can add a little bit more onto our taxes and build up our streets, it just makes the whole community and the whole city better.”

– Freda Meacham, 78, after voting for Oklahoma City bond and sales tax measures on Tuesday (Source)

“The substance abuse [program], CareerTech training, the GED — all these things that these guys need to be able to overcome poverty when they get out and reduce … the need to reoffend to support themselves. Because this is where true corrections comes in. Prisons are warehouses.”

– Enid Community Corrections Center Director Steve Kiss, explaining the need for more services in Oklahoma prisons in order to prevent recidivism (Source)

“I think if there ever was time for statesmen, now is the time. I think the citizens of this state want us to fix the problem. I think they are tired of partisanship and political bickering and really want to see us do the necessary hard work. None of this is going to be easy.”

– Oklahoma Finance Secretary Preston Doerflinger on the upcoming special session (Source)

“The plaque on the Statue of Liberty does not say bring me your lawyers, doctors, and scientists. Rather, it says bring me your tired and hungry. We have had several people who have come with nothing to the United States and they have improved our country.”

– U.S. Rep. Steve Russell (R-Oklahoma City), in an interview with Spanish-language station Telemundo (Source)

“The longer this goes on without a solution, the bigger the cuts would have to be because you have fewer months to spread it out. That’s why, with the clock ticking, it’s incredibly important we have solution sooner rather than later.”

– Oklahoma State Regent Jeff Hickman on possible cuts to higher ed depending on the outcome of special session (Source)

“As the daughter of a Mexican immigrant who came to this country for the American dream, I stand with countless governors, mayors, state legislators, local elected officials, businesses, law enforcement professionals, school leaders and faith-based and civic leaders to support DACA recipients, recognizing their incredible contributions to our schools, workplaces and communities. Ending DACA protections will be a devastating blow to our many students and staff members who came to this country as children.”

– Oklahoma City Public Schools Superintendent Aurora Lora, reacting to the Trump administration’s announcement that it plans to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program in six months (Source)