Oklahoma lawmakers gathered for the first official day of the legislative session Monday to hear Governor Mary Fallin’s annual State of the State address.
As the Oklahoma Public Media Exchange’s Kate Carlton Greer reports, the Democratic Party praised the governor for finding focus in her initiatives.
Democratic Minority Leader Scott Inman described his party as being cautiously optimistic following the Fallin’s call to concentrate on education, healthcare and criminal justice reform this legislative session.
But the majority and minority parties differ, Inman said, on how best to carry out those reforms.
“She's right on the three core priorities of the state of Oklahoma. She's just wrong in how we implement the policies for real change, and we hope the governor will listen to us and work hand in hand with us over the next coming months to solve real issues with real solutions.”
Inman said funding initiatives like healthcare and corrections reform could create tension between the parties in the coming months.
Governor Fallin mentioned in her address tapping into state agencies’ revolving funds to help with budget restraints, something Attorney General Scott Pruitt found unconstitutional in November.
