In this edition of “Hot Seat,” Gov. Kevin Stitt sat down with political analyst Scott Mitchell to discuss his time in office and key issues facing the state.
The governor said he is proud as he reflects on what he has accomplished during his tenure.
“I’ve done some reflection on that and just really, really proud of our state,” he said. “If you remember… we were having budget deficits. Remember the teacher walkouts? Billion-dollar deficits, no money in savings.”
Stitt said he ran on the idea that Oklahoma could do better and needed “a fresh set of eyes.” Today, he said, the state has the largest savings it has ever had.
“I’ve cut over a billion dollars in taxes. I’ve gotten rid of the grocery tax, which was a really regressive tax,” he said.
Stitt also said he is proud of his recent pick for State Superintendent of Education. He said he believes the next governor should have the authority to appoint the State Superintendent.
“That’s the way most states operate, and I think really to move Oklahoma forward, that’s what we should do.”
Stitt highlighted Oklahoma’s oil and gas industry, saying it has been a leader for more than a century.
“The natural resources we have in Oklahoma have led to the most affordable electricity cost of like any other state,” he said. “We’re like number one in the country.”
He said electricity costs in Oklahoma are about one-third of those in California and significantly lower than in Europe.
On artificial intelligence, Stitt said he does not believe the federal government should dictate how states regulate the technology.
“We just think we need to be very careful of a one-size-fits-all from the federal government,” he said. “We believe in this federalist idea that Oklahoma’s different than Texas and different than New York.”
He said some universal standards may be necessary, but he is reluctant to support a blanket federal approach.
To hear the full interview, watch the video above.