Catherine Sweeney Profile picture
Aug 8, 2018 30 tweets 5 min read Twitter logo Read on Twitter
The debate is starting. You can tune in now. Kelly Ogle of OKC @NEWS9 and Terry Hood of Tulsa @NewsOn6 are hosting.
First question, Ogle: Do you believe Oklahoma is headed in the right direction?
Cornett: “The citizens of Oklahoma should be very upset.” Points to several economic and political failures and contrasts them with achievements in Oklahoma City. “i want to bring the same sort of success to all corners of Oklahoma.”
Stitt: “Folks, the state is broken.” We can’t fix the state with more of the same. We need an outsider. We also need more accountability. “The agency heads are running amok.” Points to OSDH scandal.
Hood: The Legislature has a 70 percent unfavorable rating. Who is to blame?
Stitt: We need accountability. I’ve called all lawmakers myself, and we’ve talked about working together. “I can’t do this job by myself.”
Cornett: In my 14 years as OKC mayor, I’ve never insulted my predecessor. “I don’t intend to start as governor.” There are all these unnecessary divisions, urban-rural, GOP vs. dems. “They’re fed up with it.”
Audience question: What will you do go diversify the economy?
Cornett: We’ve relied heavily on the oil and gas industry, but we can’t keep creating jobs there. We need to expand.
Stitt: There’s now a move to bring manufacturing back to the US. “I’m so excited about that.”
Ogle: Is raising taxes the best way to pay for teacher pay increases?
Stitt: “We have to be competitive in how we pay our teachers.” BUT the economy is rebounding. We don’t need tax hikes.
Cornett: “The budget process at the capitol has clearly been broken.” OKC’s isn’t.
Hood: What do you think State Question 801, which would allow districts to spend building funds on operations?
Cornett: I support it, but “It probably will not out more dollars ... into education.”
Stitt: “It’s going to ... give them flexibility. It’s what other stages are doing”
Stitt: Districts lose a dollar for each one they raise in property taxes. “We have to change the funding formula.” We need to let them compete.
Cornett: “We still have a lot of issues to fix that broken relationship between the state and teachers.” #oklaed
Hood: Do we need to amend any part of #SQ788
Cornett: I opposed the SQ.“It just seemed like it didn’t have the level of accountability that we needed.” But it passed. We better get ready.
Stitt: “I actually went to a pain management clinic.” They said it cut opioid use.
Hood: What are your thoughts on recreational marijuana?
Stitt: “Totally opposed to that... until it’s done nationally, we can’t put our state through that.”
Cornett: against it, and re tax revenue: “I’m skeptical it would be a lot of money coming our way.”
Audience question: What plans do you have to fund services for the seniors and the elderly?
Cornett: I’m concerned we’re not going to meet the expectations of the boomer generation. I’m encouraged about the trump admin looking at short term health insurance.
Stitt: We need to audit our Medicaid roles.
Lankford video question: Your positions are similar. Tell us how you’ll make decisions personally, based on your values? “What well do you draw from?”
Stitt:“I believe in the First Amendment. I believe in the Second Amendment. I believe in the 10th Amendment... in a higher power”
Cornett: Certainly my faith. Also my experience as mayor. I faced several social issues, and I learned that the best way to help those struggling is to get them jobs.
Ogle: What do you think of the Trump admin so far?
Cornett: “He’s been very good to me.” He brought me out to talk about cities, infrastructure.
Stitt: “I donated to the Trump campaign ... he’s not a career politician.” “I love his tax cut.”
Audience question on criminal justice reform: Would you do anything to help released felons work?
Stitt: Were going to be tough on crime, but our incarceration rate is too high. “We’re No. 1 in something we should be No. 50 at.”
Cornett: Our ranking is embarrassing. We’re spending $100 million on prisoners’ health care. We could spend that elsewhere. But there’s bipartisan support. “That’s the green light to start making something happen.”
Ogle: What do you think about the death penality and the pitch to use nitrogen gas for injections?
Cornett re: botched executions: “I was a little bit taken aback when we couldn’t perform well.” “We have to execute the law.” It needs to be humane.
Stitt on botched executions: “It’s just baffling how we couldn’t get that right in our stays.” But death penalty overall? “For the most heinous of crimes, absolutely.”
Both candidates said they support “constitutional carry,” which allows residents to carry guns without permitting or training. A bill like this passed at the end of session, but Gov. Fallin vetoed it.
Missed some questions. There are no commercial breaks, and I’m only human.
Hood: Cornett, as OKC mayor, what do you have to say about tulsa?
Cornett: The Gathering Place is going to be great! “I think you’re going to see tourism from across the world.” It’s great at drawing well educated 20 somethings.
Ogle: Stitt, What do you have to say to OKC?
Stitt: I’m from Norman, and I’ve been traveling all over the state. “I’m going to be the governor for all 4 million Oklahomans.”
Hosts ask what they will do in their first 90 Days. They discussed their platforms essentially. Cornett said we need to work on our credit ratings. Stitt said we need to fire agency heads and get more accountability in.
Hood: Stitt, What was the defining moment that made you decide to run?
Stitt: “I feel like the lord laid it on my heart about two and a half years ago.” Look at our education system. I have six kids. We’re at 45th in outcomes.
Hood: @readfrontier sent out a questionaire about tribal compacts, and Cornett was the only candidate that didn’t reply. What do you think?
Cornett: To my knowledge, I didn’t get that. The tribes are doing good things. But “The state needs a better deal in the negotiations.”
Ogle: One accusation against you is that your business was banned in Georgia.
Stitt: That’s not true. That’s typical politics.
Closing remarks. Random topics.

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More from @CathJSweeney

Sep 24, 2018
I'm watching @NewsOK's gubernatorial debate and will tweet highlights.
@NewsOK Stitt on the teacher walkout: "We would have never been in that situation had I been governor."
@NewsOK Chris Casteel: Why did you oppose HB1010? You've said before we need to be competitive with other states. The increased rates are still lower than many. Stitt: "It was just going to put a bandaid on this problem."
Read 27 tweets
Aug 22, 2018
I'm at the joint legislative working group on #SQ788. In addition to two doctors, more than 15 residents have signed up to speak. They are allotted 5 minutes each.
Dr. Mike Mullins will testify first. He said he's representing no one but himself. He graduated from both pharmacy and medical school.
Mullins: "We have a very limited role. It is a role that is very short. It's not anything we have experienced before as physicians with our patients." We might never see the patients again. "It probably is more along the lines of a consumer-physician relationship."
Read 29 tweets
Aug 21, 2018
Thread: I hear constantly that Oklahoma's prison system is corrupt because of private prisons. Let's talk about why that is one tiny piece of the huge problem that is Oklahoma's criminal justice system. Not a lawyer, policy wonk, etc. This is some 101 stuff.
Oklahoma's PUBLIC state-owned and operated prisons have nearly 20k people in them. That is 113% of capacity. Where are those 13 percent? Glad you asked. Usually one of two places: county jails or temporary beds.
In county jails, there are no services. No mental health, no substance abuse, no job training. No counseling at all. Just meals. Temporary beds are shoved into common spaces. Sometimes it's the spaces where these classes are supposed to be held, so those classes disappear.
Read 15 tweets
Aug 15, 2018
I'm at the joint working group on #SQ788. We'l be hearing from law enforcement today.
Rusty Rhoades, head of the Department of Public Safety. He is talking about whether employees should be allowed to use MMJ. He said troopers obviously can't. He said rules in his department will have to be black and white. "There's not a lot of grey area in law enforcement."
Sen. Paxton: Walk me through a traffic stop. No one is concerned about MMJ at home. But what about on the road? Rhoades: “Training has been in place for a number of years ... now, that’s expensive training.” “That’s where the lines get pretty blurry.”
Read 47 tweets
Jul 13, 2018
Thread: I'll be tweeting some details from the #SQ788 lawsuit filed in Cleveland County today. Here's the link. If you want to read the complaint, find the PDF under petition. I'll upload a PDF in a but. oscn.net/dockets/GetCas…
Plaintiffs include residents who would be medical marijuana licensees or parents of minors who would qualify. Conditions include seizure disorders, chronic pain, anxiety, migraines and insomnia.
"(Plaintiffs) have been denied proper access to medical care and treatment by the arbitrary and capricious rules adopted by the DOH which exceed their rule making authority and which impair Plaintiffs rights under Oklahoma State law."
Read 10 tweets
Jul 10, 2018
Thread: The Oklahoma State Board of Health is considering final draft rules. Julie Ezell, general counsel is presenting. #SQ788
She is explaining several provisions. I'll tweet some highlights while retweeting other reporters.
Ezell: The rules ban outdoor marijuana cultivation. It's not only for the safety, security of the marijuana. "It's also related to pesticides, water runoff and stuff like that."
Read 14 tweets

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