Your Vote Counts: Oklahoma lawmakers react to State of the State, budget shortfall, and federal spending

As the second week of Oklahoma’s legislative session begins, state leaders reflect on Gov. Kevin Stitt’s State of the State address, the state budget, and how federal spending decisions impact Oklahoma.

Leaders React to State of the State Address

Gov. Kevin Stitt’s recent State of the State address set the tone for the legislative session, but lawmakers had differing views on its effectiveness.

Senate Minority Leader Julia Kirt (D) criticized the speech for lacking focus on everyday Oklahomans.

“You know, my big thing is that we didn't hear much new. The governor really focused on the same ideas he's brought up before. And very little of it is about actually bringing more opportunity and freedom to the people of Oklahoma,” Kirt said. “I didn't hear much about supporting workers. What I heard was a lot of talk about big businesses.”

Jon Echols (R) viewed the address positively, praising the governor’s direct approach.

“I thought he did a great job in the State of the State. I think what Governor Stitt is doing is laying out a clear vision for where he wants the state to go,” Echols said. “He talked about tax cuts. He talked about business courts. He talked about criminal justice reform. I mean, there were some things in there for everybody.”

Addressing the State Budget Shortfall

With reports of a potential $100 million shortfall in Oklahoma’s $11 billion budget, lawmakers weighed in on its significance.

Echols downplayed concerns, saying, “We may be $100 million short of an $11 billion budget. That is one-tenth of one-tenth percent of the budget. So just so we don't freak out over those numbers right now.”

He emphasized the state’s history of conservative budgeting, saying, “We have been spending less than what we have, and that's why we're in good strong fiscal position. We're gonna have to exercise discipline in the budget.”

Kirt acknowledged the shortfall and stressed the importance of transparency in the budgeting process.

“I was really impressed that the Senate still committed to transparency this week,” she said. “We got to be real about those numbers. We got to remember we're serving people first. It’s not about politics. It’s about who’s being served.”

She also highlighted the need to prioritize essential services.

“I want to make sure we don’t shortchange public safety, our classrooms, our infrastructure, and all the improvements we want to make there,” Kirt added.

Federal Spending and Its Impact on Oklahoma

Shifting to national politics, the discussion turned to federal budget decisions and their effect on Oklahoma.

Echols defended efforts to scrutinize federal spending.

“The far-left media on the national stage is really losing their mind, and I think they're missing the point on Doge, what Elon Musk is doing at USAID,” he said. “There is some real ridiculous spending that's being found out.”

Kirt, however, raised concerns about how federal funding freezes could impact Oklahoma.

“My big concern about D.C. is that these rash decisions and how they impact the people,” she said. “We know those funds are important to our schools and to our healthcare. We've got to make sure that people of Oklahoma have access to Medicaid.”

Both lawmakers agreed on the need to ensure taxpayer dollars are spent wisely at both the state and federal levels.

“The citizens are asking us to take care of their taxpayer dollars. We need to do it,” Echols said.

Looking Ahead

With the session moving forward, lawmakers remain focused on addressing budget priorities, tax policies, and government accountability. As discussions continue, the impact of both state and federal decisions on Oklahomans remains at the forefront of legislative debates.