House Dems release 2020 legislative session agenda

Oklahoma House Democratic Caucus Announces 2020 Agenda 

OKLAHOMA CITY -- The Oklahoma House Democratic Caucus will once again advocate for its Brand New State agenda that was released before the 2019 session, but 2020’s version will contain more specifics on how Oklahoma can generate better outcomes in areas of health care, criminal justice, education, and the economy. The agenda was announced at a press conference Monday morning.

“Last year, we proposed an aggressive agenda that focused on trying things in a different way in order to get different results,” said Minority Leader Emily Virgin (D-Norman). “For the last decade, Oklahomans have had a government focused on limiting services while wealthy Oklahomans and corporations have benefited from record tax cuts and credits. It is time to try something new. By investing in Oklahomans, we can unlock potential in our citizens that today is far from being realized. The Brand New State isn’t just about marketing our state. It is about actually changing outcomes and the lives of Oklahomans for the better.”

The Brand New State agenda is divided into four areas of policy: criminal justice reform, education, the economy, and health care. Each area has specific actions the legislature can take to improve the lives of Oklahomans involved in those areas.

“Each month during the 2020 session, we are going to focus on one of these areas of government,” said House Democratic Caucus Chair Rep. Cyndi Munson (D-OKC). “It doesn’t take much research into our state to realize that the outcomes we are seeing in these areas are not good enough. Our agenda is designed to change that through bold initiatives that put empathy and equality ahead of politics.”

The Brand New State agenda is the most aggressive legislative package introduced for rural Oklahoma in modern history.

“This agenda keeps rural hospitals open, keeps rural schools competitive, and makes rural communities safer,” said House Minority Floor Leader David Perryman (D-Chickasha). “Rural Oklahoma has been hemorrhaging services for a decade. A Brand New State would be the largest economic stimulus for rural Oklahoma in my lifetime.”

Anyone wanting to read more about the Brand New State package is encouraged to visit www.brandnewstateok.com.