Budget

While money is not everything individually, the budget is the single most imporant part of future planning for our state.  Education, Healthcare, Infrastructure, job creation, City and State management are all created and executed based on available funds.  Oklahoma is currently experiencing close to a $900 million budget shortfall (as of the publishing of tis writting).  This is unacceptable.  When you add an opioid epidemic that seems to be in a tailspin, for example, and the lack of available state funding for programs to give our residents an avenue for healing along with lawmakers who are fighting over 780/781, state questions VOTED IN FAVOR by the people of Oklaohma yet disregarded by our lawmakers, we do our state and residence a disservice.  These are examples of areas in which we need to fix, sooner not later.  Given my experience working up at the capital, background in political consulting and successful track record in Oklahoma business, I am the right person to achieve the progress that we need. 

EDUCATION

Our education system is progressively decaying. We are currently ranked 49/50 in terms of teacher pay in the country. In order to preserve the future of the state we need to invest our children so that they have the best possible shot at success in this world. Business will not come to this state if we do not have an educated, skilled workforce.  Our teachers are looking at second jobs so that they can cover their living expenses.  Worse, they are leaving Oklaohma for more competitive pay in competitng states.  Is this the state we want to be?  No. Teachers should not be worried about whether they can afford to live on a teacher's salary. They need to be able to focus on educating our children.  Great teachers who leave Oklaohma or ind a second and third jobs robs time from a teacher's ability to plan lessons, and assist children who may need extra help.  I will push for competitive pay for teachers with the opportunity for multiple raises throughout their career. I will push for more funding to go to schools so that children can be properly educated. Our education system will appeal to businesses and create more jobs. With more jobs, our economy will grow and allow for further development in other areas as well.

HEALTHCARE

We are in the middle of an epidemic due to opiate addiction. On top of that, we do not have the money to provide the assistance for our citizens suffering from addiction.  Instead it seems they are led down a road where we turn to punishment instead of support and healing hands. Our smaller towns are looking at closing their hospitals due to not getting the funding they need.  In a situation like this, we need to find a way to keep places open and provide more to allow people to properly heal.  I am particularly passionate about finding a solution to the healthcare crisis we are facing.  If we cut hospitals then we overcrowd others.  Doctors are overworked and overlook safty regulations.  Together, lets work to solve this problem before more people have to suffer.