House Dems rebuke GOP legislators for "trying to overturn another state’s election"

Democrats Respond to OK Republicans Attempt to Influence AZ Election

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Oklahoma House Democratic Caucus members released the following statements in response to seventy Oklahoma Republican legislators attempting to persuade the Arizona Legislature to appoint electors to vote against the state’s official vote count winner.   

“Oklahoma Republicans continue to support a Governor who hides behind the term ‘local control’ when refusing to protect Oklahomans during this pandemic,” said House Minority Leader Emily Virgin, D-Norman. “Now, proving that ‘local control’ is just a talking point to use only when it suits them, Oklahoma Republicans are trying to overturn another state’s election - a state 1,000 miles away. Meanwhile, they remain silent on the real issues facing our state and cannot be bothered to speak up about record-high COVID cases, deaths, and hospitalizations. Oklahomans deserve better.”  

“It is hard to imagine a bigger misuse of Oklahoma taxpayer resources than attempting to overturn the will of the people,” said State Rep. Melissa Provenzano, D-Tulsa. “I don’t make that distinction lightly either. From the Governor spending $2 million on arthritis medication to combat a respiratory virus to Epic spending $500,000 to build a school in California, we have seen terrible misuses of taxpayer money this year. However, it is unconscionable that my colleagues would use Oklahoma resources to undermine another state’s democracy.”

“It is the height of arrogance for these legislators to say they represent the will of the people,” said State Rep. Andy Fugate, D-Del City. “Left to the devices of our Legislature, we would not have criminal justice reform, medical marijuana, or Medicaid expansion. We have real problems in Oklahoma that need all of our time and energy to solve. We can’t afford to waste Oklahoma resources on political pandering, which is what this is.”