Senate Democrats say FY 2026 budget comes up short

OKLAHOMA CITY – Senate Democrats issued the following statements Thursday addressing their opposition to the fiscal year 2026 budget.

“Oklahoma Senate Democrats will always work the aisle to address real problems facing our state, ensuring all kids get a great education, access to health and mental health care, and great-paying jobs. But instead, we got a budget that prioritizes tax cuts that mostly benefit the very rich, more money for private school vouchers, and does nothing to address the everyday issues Oklahomans face. You deserve better.”– Senate Democratic Leader Julia Kirt, D-Oklahoma City.  

“A thriving economy depends on a well-educated workforce, but once again, our public schools have been left behind while unaccountable voucher programs grow unchecked. When it comes to the budget, public education should be our highest priority. At a time when our schools continue to face a crisis in teacher shortages, we’ve not included so much as a cost-of-living increase while hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars continue to fund private schools. This budget fails our schools, our students, and our communities.” – Sen. Carri Hicks, D-Oklahoma City. 

“Forty-four percent of Oklahoma’s workforce hubs that include 1,000 or more employees are represented solely by Democrats in the Legislature, but we were shut out of the budget negotiations. Sidelining Democrats from the budget process dismisses the voices of the very communities driving this state forward. This isn’t just about fairness – it’s about function. Excluding Democrats from the budget process leads to lopsided policies that fail to address the full scope of our state’s economic and social challenges.” – Sen. Mary Boren, D-Norman.

“A college degree is one of the best ways to dramatically increase an individual’s earning potential and our state’s per capita income. It can break cycles of generational poverty. Seventy percent of the students at Langston University are first-generation college students – this is a tremendous investment in the lives of the students, their families, and growing Oklahoma’s economy. Yet over the past three decades, Langston has been shortchanged by more than $400 million dollars. This budget doesn’t come close to righting that wrong, and fails to recognize the importance of Langston in creating more college graduates in our state. This land-grant institution and historical Black university is deserving of our fair share of tax dollars.” – Sen. Regina Goodwin, D-Tulsa.

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For more information, contact: 
Sen. Julia Kirt at 405-521-5636 or Julia.Kirt@oksenate.gov
Sen. Carri Hicks at 405-521-5543 or Carri.Hicks@oksenate.gov
Sen. Mary Boren at 405-521-5553 or Mary.Boren@oksenate.gov
Sen. Regina Goodwin at 405-521-5598 or Regina.Goodwin@oksenate.gov