Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt To Deliver 2021 'State Of The State' Address

Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt will deliver his annual State of The State address from the Oklahoma Capitol on Monday ahead of the new legislative session that begins at noon. According to Governor Stitt, in this year’s speech, he plans on putting a heavy emphasis on three main topics to reassure Oklahomans they are moving forward after an unprecedented and difficult year for everyone. The topics include focusing on a balanced budget, a better grasp on the state’s healthcare system, and getting k

Monday, February 1st 2021, 4:44 am

By: Brooke Griffin

Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt will deliver his annual State of The State address from the Oklahoma Capitol on Monday ahead of the new legislative session that begins at noon.

According to Governor Stitt, in this year’s speech, he plans on putting a heavy emphasis on three main topics to reassure Oklahomans they are moving forward after an unprecedented and difficult year for everyone.

The topics include focusing on a balanced budget, a better grasp on the state’s healthcare system, and getting kids back into school as quickly as possible.

In the 2020 State of The State, his topics were similar as he pushed for a budget that put him in arguments with lawmakers and announced a possible smoother Soonercare system. Some Oklahoma lawmakers say they are looking forward to much better budget decisions this year and want to see the state prosper moving forward.

Oklahoma House Majority Leader Jon Echols said that he expects to hear a lot about not only getting kids back in schools but hearing a major focus on education reform in general in the state since Oklahoma is very family-oriented.

“We have to make Oklahoma a wonderful place to live, do business, and raise a family,” Echols said. “I think all three of those priorities, which I hope to hear from the governor and I think I will, will go a long way to accomplish those goals.”

Governor Stitt said that he expects this year’s budget process to go much better as his relationships with lawmakers have gotten stronger over the past year. The governor said the biggest topic is the budget and he is proud to say that Oklahoma is doing very well financially.

“We are not going to have a budget shortfall this session and the reason we are not is because we fully reopened our economy in June and that is going to have huge effects now where other states are facing billions of dollars in deficits,” Stitt says.

For full coverage of Governor Stitt’s 2021 State of the State Address, you can tune in live to News On 6 at noon Monday.