I’ve always focused on efficiency and accountability in state government, but we cannot be reckless about how cuts affect Oklahomans across the state. This week, Governor Stitt announced his first cuts in his Elon Musk-style project. Stitt’s office identified $157 million in health care funding that they want sent back to the federal government - that’s our federal tax money that we paid in, and it’s supposed to help address real problems in our state. The money was for things like reducing diabetes, stopping the spread of viruses and addressing our overdose problems. These were competitive grants that our State Department of Health applied for and won to serve people in Oklahoma. If we send that money back to Washington, D.C., it’s just going to be sent to other states. We’ve called on the governor and our Republican colleagues to consider the consequences of cuts on Oklahomans, and to not send back federal money that’s making a difference in our communities. When we look at efficiency, we are committed to putting people over politics.