Updates from Gov. Mary Fallin's State of the State Address
Capitol reporter Zeke Campfield live tweeted from Gov. Mary Fallin's State of the State Address Monday afternoon. Read updates from the speech and the governor's 2013 agenda below.
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Published: February 4, 2013
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Capitol reporter Zeke Campfield live tweeted from Gov. Mary Fallin's State of the State Address Monday afternoon. Read updates from the speech and the governor's 2013 agenda below.
@ZekeCampfield 12:39 p.m. Oklahoma lawmakers begin to gather for @GovMaryFallin address, kickoff of 2013 legislative session #okcap pic.twitter.com/LeBFG3YD
12:46 p.m. House Speaker T.W. Shannon calls meeting to order at 12.46 p.m. @GovMaryFallin about to give her third State of the State address. #OKCap
12:47 p.m. Lt. Gov. Todd Lamb at the podium; calls 2013 session to order. #OKCap
12:48 p.m. Gov. Fallin's speech to be focused on "responsible" government. #OKCap
12:54 p.m. After invocation, flag ceremony, comes Lt. Gov. Todd Lamb introductions. Fallin speech to begin after that. #OKCap
1:02 p.m. Fallin speech to focus on lower taxes, more "responsible" government and better health for Oklahomans: newsok.com/article/3751870
1:03 p.m. Speech streamed live: jwplayer.onenet.net/OETA/OETA%20%2…
1:07 p.m. House Speaker Shannon, Senate Pro Tem Pres Bingman and Democrat Minority Leader Burrage all to host press conferences after speech.
1:07 p.m. Fallin: Oklahoma has fourth highest growth rate in nation. #OKCap
1:08 p.m. Fallin: OK also has one of lowest unemployment rates in nation. And household income has risen by $4,000 since 2011, No. 1 in the country.
1:08 p.m. Fallin: $2 to $600 million -- that's how much our Rainy Day fund has increased since I took office.
1:10 p.m. Fallin: Success attributed to "laser like" reform efforts, including reducing barriers like frivolous lawsuits, expensive workers' comp
1:10 p.m. Link to Fallin speech at NewsOk: newsok.com/article/3751870
1:11 p.m. Fallin: structurally deficient highway bridges have been reduced by 20 percent since January of 2011.
1:13 p.m. Remaining 634 structurally deficient state highway bridges will be repaired or replaced by the end of the decade based on Sept plan
1:13 p.m. Fallin: Washington trampling on constitution, rights to freedom
1:13 p.m. Fallin: "Washington ways" weigh us down – that propel us towards fiscal cliffs, recessions and depressions, and give us more of the same.
1:14 p.m. Fallin: In "Oklahoma Way" taxpayer dollars in the pockets and accounts of OK families, not funding bigger government or more bureaucracy.
1:16 p.m. Fallin: See okcommerce.gov for state's economic development strategy. "It is designed to be a policy guide."
1:16 p.m. Here's a story: newsok.com/commerce-repor…
1:18 p.m. Fallin budget proposes $13.5 mil increase to education to fund recent reforms, plus $8.5 mil in supplementals for teacher health benefits
1:19 p.m. Higher Ed regents asked for almost $1.05 billion. Last year received $980 million, received $955 million.
1:20 p.m. Oklahoma colleges and universities awarded more than 1,900 degrees, in 2012; surpassing goal of 1,700 additional degrees and certificates
1:21 p.m. Fallin: Lower the top income tax bracket – which kicks in after the first $8,700 of income -- from 5.25 percent to 5.0 percent.
1:21 p.m. Cut in personal income tax from 5.5% to 5.25% in 2011 reflects $170 million in revenue
1:22 p.m. Fallin: This is not the last tax cut we will see from my administration. I will work to get us a lower ... rate that makes us competitive.
1:23 p.m. Fallin: Taxpayers deserve a responsible, efficient state government
1:24 p.m. Fallin: State pensions represent the real debt problem this state faces; and it is a problem that we must resolve.
1:25 p.m. Fallin: Responsible government means responsible budget, plan for worst, eliminate waste, better use of state assets, transparent govt
1:26 p.m. Fallin: Transition to natural gas vehicles will help make the state a "national leader" and will support jobs, revenue growth
1:27 p.m. Fallin: State on track to reduce agency energy efficiency by 20 percent, as promised last year.
1:28 p.m. Fallin: We need some "good, ol' fashioned bureaucracy busting." Calls for elimination of redundant, outdated state agencies, programs.
1:29 p.m. Fallin cites Ronald Reagan: No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size.
1:29 p.m. Fallin: Example of smaller govt in health dept, which identified 40 advisory boards that can be consolidated at a savings of $350k
1:30 p.m. Fallin: Consolidation at IT departments has saved $84 million. OK "can’t continue to operate like an 8-track player in an iPod world."
1:31 p.m. Fallin: We will add 30 more agencies to consolidation list with potential savings of $239 million over seven years.
1:32 p.m. Fallin asks Speaker Shannon for to help in sell of underperforming state assets and redirect them to other important state needs.
1:32 p.m. Fallin: Oklahoma owns almost 7,000 buildings and leases another thousand.
1:32 p.m. Fallin on Capitol: Not right for visitors to be greeted at this building by construction cones, crumbling facades and a faulty sewer system.
1:33 p.m. Fallin to ask for $10 million for repair needs at Capitol
1:35 p.m. Fallin on govt transparency: ok.gov/okstatestat/ will share data on state outcomes and provide access to information.
1:36 p.m. Fallin: Responsible govt is compassionate govt - DHS has hired 100 new child welfare workers, now placing all children >2 foster families.
1:37 p.m. Fallin asking for $46 million funding increase to DHS to support "forward progress" at DHS
1:37 p.m. Fallin: Addressing state's health care issues a "life or death" situation
1:38 p.m. Fallin said fed health care is "sick care" program, not "health care." Wants to encourage healthy lifestyles.
1:39 p.m. Fallin: Medicaid expansion would result in $689 million in state costs between 2013-22.
1:40 p.m. Fallin calls for $40 million increase in funding for Health Care Authority to cover rising costs of medical treatment
1:40 p.m. Fallin: President’s Medicaid expansion offers no real reform to a flawed and inefficient system.
1:41 p.m. Fallin: ‘Oklahoma Plan’ focuses on improving the health, lowering frequency of preventable illnesses, improving access to care.
1:41 p.m. Fallin: Use of tobacco costs state more than $2 billion in health care costs and lost workforce productivity annually.
1:42 p.m. Fallin: Both my parents died to smoking-related illnesses.
1:42 p.m. Fallin supporting proposal to restore local control to cities and towns regarding tobacco use in public places
1:43 p.m. Fallin: State will also support incentive programs for schools, communities and businesses that adopt health conscious policies, practices
1:43 p.m. Fallin: Improving infant mortality rates also a top priority
1:44 p.m. Fallin challenges lawmakers, Capitol employees to "lead by example" by using new wellness center in basement. Center replaced smoking room.
1:45 p.m. Fallin: Mental health important too. Says Sandy Hook tragedy "unwelcome reminder" of what happens when mental health concerns ignored.
1:46 p.m. Fallin calls for $16 million increase for dept of mental health - getting to children at early age will help them live healthy, happy lives
1:47 p.m. Fallin: For first time every, I'm proposing we allocate state dollars for suicide prevention.
1:48 p.m. Fallin: OK has one of highest rates of suicide. "We're going to get them the help they need."
1:48 p.m. Fallin: "We need to get serious about addressing prescription drug abuse." Cause of 81 percent of drug-related deaths in OK
1:49 p.m. Fallin: Eight percent of Oklahomans are abusing prescription painkillers. "That's twice the national average, and we're better than that."
1:49 p.m. Fallin acknowledges presence of family of OU Linebacker Austin Box, who died of prescrip drug abuse in 2011.
1:50 p.m. Fallin: As a state, it is time to offer the resources that prevent drug abuse from occurring in the first place.
1:51 p.m. We're coming to the conclusion.
1:52 p.m. Fallin: We have so much to be proud of. Improved economy, closed budget gaps with reduced taxes, have healthy savings account, less waste.
1:52 p.m. Fallin: But we can do more. Calls for vision to be met, asks for cooperation in more "prosperous and successful" state.
1:53 p.m. Universal applause in House chambers as Fallin speech draws to a close.
1:53 p.m. Check back later for more updates. Going to go check on lawmaker responses. Now. Any questions we might ask? Tweet us!
1:55 p.m. Again, for a copy of Fallin's speech today, visit newsok.com/article/3751870
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