House, Senate Democrats push statewide agenda
H o u s e a n d S e n a t e Democrats are largely an urban caucus, but they presented an agenda Tuesday that includes some issues most prevalent in rural Oklahoma.
“Expanding Medicaid will ensure that we can keep our rural hospitals and our veterans centers open,” said House Minority Leader Emily Virgin, D-Norman, referring to one her caucus' central policy proposals.
“Many rural citizens are having to drive 100 miles just to have a baby, and that is unacceptable.”
Republicans have been mostly opposed to Medicaid expansion. Gov. Kevin Stitt, a Republican, said Monday he considers it as a risky proposition because the federal government could leave the state responsible for more than $ 1 billion in Medicaid costs.
The state relies on federal funding for many other programs, Senate Minority Leader Kay Floyd said, and lawmakers could include a provision that a retreat by the feds would end the expansion program.
“We've taken federal money for ODOT and for (the Department of) Human Services for decades, and there has never been a concern that the money is not going to be here next year,” Floyd, D-Oklahoma City, said.
Democrats said Medicaid expansion would have the biggest benefit in rural communities where hospitals are struggling to remain open.
Democrats also want at least $150 million in new classroom funding, specifically citing it as a way to reduce four-day school weeks, which are more common in rural communities.
“When we take care of the classroom funding issue and the teacher pay issues, we will take care of the things that have led to the four-day school week issue,” Virgin said.
Democrats lost rural seats last year, but continued to make gains in Oklahoma City, making their caucus almost entirely urban.
On Tuesday, House and Senate Democrats presented a unified agenda that also included giving cities the freedom to raise their minimum wage and restore tax credits for working class families.
With low numbers in both chambers and no statewide seats, Democrats face an uphill battle pushing forward any measures that don't have Republican support.
Last year, despite their small numbers, Democrats found relevancy as the Legislature took up multiple tax increase bills that required threefourths support.
Enough Republicans defected to make Democrats necessary, and Democrats took advantage by opposing a business-backed tax increase proposal before throwing their support behind a tax hike that funded a teacher pay raise.
Republican leaders say a vote to raise taxes is unlikely in 2019, making most bills dependent on a simple majority.
Republicans have a 76 to 25 majority in the House and a 39 to 9 majority in the Senate, giving them plenty of cushion to lose votes among their own members and still pass legislation.
But Floyd said she expects Republicans to splinter enough on some issues.
“About 20 to 25 percent of the time we definitely are a voice to be reckoned with because ( Republicans) just don't have the votes to get there without us,” Floyd said. “We are going to continue to flex our muscles.”
"Many rural citizens are having to drive 100 miles just to have a baby and that is unacceptable." Rep. Emily Virgin, D-Norman