Working Across Oklahoma tour wraps up in Tulsa

We got started in Norman yesterday, which was the last day of the opening round of the Working Across Oklahoma tour.

I started off giving a speech at a health care providers’ conference. I talked about how the Obama/Pelosi health care bill is not the answer to meaningful reform. We need to introduce free-market reforms, transparency and competition into the system to lower costs, improve outcomes and increase access to affordable and quality health care.

There were health care professionals there who expressed to me concerns about the negative effects of “ObamaCare.” I told them when I’m governor I will lead the charge in overturning this jobs-killing, reckless-spending bill.

After speaking at the conference, we headed to Tulsa where I participated in a GOP gubernatorial candidate forum. There was a great crowd on hand and they received our campaign well. They also really responded to my message that as governor I will focus on creating a pro-business environment in Oklahoma that would lead to more and better jobs and greater economic prosperity for our families.

Then, I moved on to Oral Roberts University where I had the pleasure of speaking with members of the student government association. It’s always great to see young people who are motivated to serve their fellow students through service in student government.

Next, it was on to BlueCross BlueShield where I worked as a health care administrator. I sat in on meetings where the topic of conversation was how to “bend the cost curve” for the insurance carrier in order to reduce medical costs for its customers.

Finally, I ended the day by speaking to the Republican Assembly in Tulsa during one of their regular meetings at a Furr’s in the Farm Shopping Center. Again, our conservative message was well received and I had a good time visiting with folks there.

The 15-day tour is over and I'm headed back to Washington. It was a grueling schedule (I logged 14-hour days most days) but it’s been worth it to get out and talk one-on-one with Oklahomans while working alongside them in their offices, in their fields and on their factory floors.

While there are a number of important issues on the minds of Oklahomans right now, like health care and stopping out-of-control government spending, the issue I kept hearing over and over was that people want our next governor to focus on boosting our economy and creating an environment where more and better jobs are created.

When I kicked-off this tour, I promised my administration would do just that. After 15-days on the road, I promise you my resolve to fight on this issue has only grown stronger.

Today’s job gone to the dogs – Working Across Oklahoma tour

I’ve had a lot of interesting jobs on the Working Across Oklahoma tour. I drove a bus in Lawton. I made sandwiches at a Love’s in Webbers Falls and I drove a feed truck on a cattle ranch in Guymon.

However, I’m sure today’s work stop tops them all in terms of uniqueness. I worked as a vets’ assistant with Rick Reid at his animal clinic in Nowata. Normally, I would be a little nervous when a vet tells me I’m helping him clean the teeth of a dog. However, today I was actually relived to hear that. Originally, I’d been scheduled to help Rick spay a cat but that procedure got canceled! Nevertheless, it was interesting to watch the vet at work on the little dog.

Afterward, Rick and I talked about education. He’s also the president of the local school board and is dedicated to ensuring his students receive the best education possible. As governor, I’ll work to improve the quality of our educational institutions across the board: from grade school to vocational schools to our universities.

Earlier, our day started in Bartlesville in the usual way. We dropped in on several businesses in downtown before heading over to the library for a meet and greet reception with local GOP activists. It was good crowd of conservative activists. The Bartlesville Rotary Club had me as the guest speaker today and we had a good crowd for that meeting as well.

Also, I wanted to tell you about my day on Saturday. We traveled to Newcastle and Pauls Valley for the Working Across Oklahoma tour.

In Newcastle, we had 50-60 people show up for a meet and greet at Kairos Gun and Archery. There were a lot of NRA members in the house and they told me they appreciated my strong support of Second Amendment! The great folks at Kairos provided us all with some delicious barbecue.

In Pauls Valley, I worked the register at Reavis Drug. It was good to visit with the customers shopping at Reavis – which is a huge store with a lot more products than what you’d expect to find in a drug store. They were concerned about the recently passed federal health care bill and what effects it would have on them. I told them about the millions of dollars of unfunded mandates passed on to Oklahoma and about the Medicare program cuts contained in the bill. I also told them of how as governor, I will lead the fight to make sure this job-killing, reckless-spending bill is overturned.

Tomorrow, I’ll be in Tulsa where I’ll work again in the health care industry. It’s my last stop on this leg of the Working Across Oklahoma tour but we’re considering adding more work stops in the weeks ahead as the campaign continues.

Honoring our seniors – Working Across Oklahoma tour update

Today, the schedule was light compared to what we’ve been doing the rest of the time on our Working Across Oklahoma tour.

Our stop today was especially meaningful to me. I worked at Sunset Estates nursing home during the summers while I went to Oklahoma State. And later, my mother was a resident in that same nursing home and I spent a great deal of time visiting her there. It was such a relief to me to know I could trust the staff to care for my mother and that the staff genuinely cared about her well-being.

Today, I visited the Tuscany Village Nursing Home in the Oklahoma City area and was able to speak with the staff and some residents. Tuscany Village is spectacular and I can tell the staff really works to attend to the physical needs of their residents as well as their emotional needs. In fact, the Tuscany Village staff sits down and eats every meal with their residents.

With an increasingly aging population, it’s important we take care of our seniors and treat them with the respect and dignity they deserve. We also must ensure we provide them with the health care they need. As governor, I will support programs that protect our seniors and enrich their lives.

But it’s disappointing to consider that the recently passed federal health care bill devastating cuts to the Medicare program, which many Oklahoma seniors depend on for their health care. I voted against this bill and as governor of Oklahoma I will lead the charge to see its repeal.

Tomorrow, I’ll be in the Oklahoma City area again for three work stops! I’ll be working at a non-profit organization, at an accountant’s office and as a UPS delivery person.

On the Air in Western OK – Working Across Oklahoma tour update

Today, we took the Working Across Oklahoma tour to Western Oklahoma for stops in Weatherford, Cordell, Clinton and Arapaho. As we rolled along Interstate 40, I noticed the trip odometer passed 2,500 miles! We’ve traveled a lot of miles and burned a lot of gasoline on this tour, but it’s been terrific to get out there and work with Oklahomans and talk about what they’d like the next governor to focus on.

In Weatherford, I worked as an on-air DJ for KWEY radio! Vanessa, the morning host, showed me the reins and helped make sure I made all my commercial breaks. One of the songs I spun was “American Honey” by Lady Antebellum. While the songs were playing, Vanessa and I had the chance to talk and she told me about how she worked to balance her job with her parenting responsibilities. Even more tough for Vanessa is that her day starts at 5 a.m.! I certainly appreciate her and all the hard-working parents out there who provide for their families and perform well at their jobs. As governor, I will support policies that strengthen Oklahoma families and ensure they have the opportunity to pursue greater prosperity.

Next, it was on to Cordell where I got the chance to speak to a joint meeting of the Kiwanis, Rotary and Lions clubs. I speak to a lot of civic clubs and it’s always encouraging to see so many people dedicated to helping improve their own community. The willingness to serve others and help a friend in need is one of the great attributes of our people.

In Clinton, I toured the Bar-S Foods facilities and talked with employees during the afternoon shift change. The factory produces hot links, hot dogs and processes chickens and other meat products. After visiting with workers, I had the opportunity to talk with the management there and they told me they wanted to continue expanding their operations in Oklahoma. However, two things may keep them – and a lot of other Oklahoma companies – from doing so: our workers’ compensation system and the Obama/Pelosi health care system.

As governor, I’ll work with the Legislature to reform our workers’ comp system so that we can lower costs for businesses but still provide a way to compensate injured workers. I’ll also continue to fight the type of job-killing, excessive-spending programs like “ObamaCare” that keep coming from Washington.

Finally, we ended the day with a campaign reception at the barn of the Day family of Arapaho. My good friend Congressman Frank Lucas was the special guest and he gave me a very gracious introduction before I spoke to the crowd! We had a great time and it was good to see so many friends and supporters in western Oklahoma.

Tomorrow, I’m off to southern Oklahoma where I’ll work on an oil field pumper crew for Mack Energy in Duncan!

Working Across Oklahoma - Working with green in Green Country!

Hello again! Today, I traveled to eastern Oklahoma for the Working Across Oklahoma tour. I always enjoy trips into Green Country and the area is earning its nickname now that we’re into spring!

For the first work stop of the day, I worked as a sales clerk and at the sandwich counter in the Love’s Country Store along Interstate 40 in Webbers Falls. The staff was great and welcomed me into their crew! While we rang up gasoline purchases and made sandwiches for the hungry travelers, I got the chance to talk with my co-workers about what kinds of issues concerned them.

Like many Oklahomans, they were concerned with the state of our economy as well as balancing work with family obligations. My main focus as governor will be to focus on creating a pro-business environment so that we can have more and better jobs in Oklahoma.

Another part of making our state business friendly, and friendly to families, will be to work toward lowering the tax burden on Oklahoma families so they can keep more of their hard-earned money.

For lunch, we then drove to Stilwell for a meet and greet reception at the Charlie’s Chicken. A couple of the Adair County Commissioners joined me for the meet and greet and we had a good talk with the diners at Charlie’s.

In Tahlequah, I had a meeting with the Cherokee Nation before heading off to Hulbert to work at the Tri-B Nurseries for our second work stop. At Tri-B, I worked in “production planting” which means I helped fill and arrange several potted plants including some habanero peppers! The folks at Tri-B told me they were concerned about the penalties and taxes included in the recently passed Obama/Pelosi health care bill. Those tax increases and penalties on businesses were a couple of the many reasons I voted against “ObamaCare” as many times as I could. As governor, I will the charge in our state to fight against the big-government takeover of our health care system.

We ended the day with back-to-back receptions in Tahlequah. At the Chamber of Commerce, the folks there shared with me about the great things going on in Tahlequah. And our friends at the Cherokee County GOP were fired up about this year’s election. It definitely will be a great election year for fellow conservatives across the state and our nation!

Tomorrow, we’ll be on the opposite side of the state, working as an on-air DJ in Weatherford and visiting Clinton and Cordell for campaign stops!

Okie from Muskogee! Day Four of Working Across Oklahoma tour

I spent the whole day as an “Okie in Muskogee” for day four of our Working Across Oklahoma tour.

Our day started off at the Muskogee Regional Medical Center where I worked as a nurse’s aide. I helped administer a health check up to one of the women who worked at the hospital. Turns out, we knew each other. I had hired her to work for me in Tulsa years ago when I was district manager for a national hotel chain. What a small world!

For the second day, I got the chance to speak with a group of doctors and medical staff. Obviously the hot topic was the Obama/Pelosi health care bill and its impact on Oklahoma. The so-called “ObamaCare” will cut $523 billion from Medicare, which will affect the health and well being of our seniors, and burdens our state with millions of dollars of unfunded mandates.

From Day One, I have opposed a big-government takeover of our health care system and as governor I will continue to fight policies like “ObamaCare” that will eliminate jobs and pass along mountains of debt to future generations of Americans.

After leaving the hospital, I was able to speak to the Muskogee Rotary Club. The club meets in the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame building which is very cool! I also had the chance to drop in on a few businesses downtown and visit with folks.

Finally, I wrapped up the day working as a hostess at Mayhlon’s BBQ restaurant. In between taking orders and serving food, I got the chance to visit with a few customers and one of the main concerns on their minds right now is the economy.

It’s a concern of many Oklahomans and will have to be the main focus of our next governor. And that’s why I’m out on the road for this jobs tour: I’m gaining valuable insight into our state while getting the chance to talk one-on-one with employers, employees and everyday working Oklahomans.

As governor, my main focus will be to create a business friendly environment that will bring more and better jobs to our state and lead to greater economic prosperity for our families!

Tomorrow, I’m headed to the opposite side of the state: the Oklahoma Panhandle. I’ll be making a few stops and working as a ranch hand in Guymon!

Fallin to Democrat Gov Candidates: Where’s the Leadership?

OKLAHOMA CITY – Mary Fallin, Republican candidate for governor, today challenged Attorney General Drew Edmondson and Lieutenant Governor Jari Askins to explain to the people of Oklahoma where they stand on President Obama and Nancy Pelosi’s big government takeover of the health care industry.

“We have now had months of debate over a bill which will destroy jobs in Oklahoma, injure our economy and interfere with the basic rights and freedoms of all Americans,” said Fallin. “Now, after Drew Edmondson and Jari Askins failed to voice any opposition to the basic premise of this bill – a government takeover of the health care industry – it has been signed into law and threatens to impose hundreds of millions of dollars of unfunded mandates on the state of Oklahoma.”

“We deserve to know: do Drew Edmondson and Jari Askins stand with Oklahoma families, or do they support the leftist agenda pushed in Washington by Barack Obama and Nancy Pelosi? Playing the politics of ‘duck and cover’ while your Democrat allies in DC spend the country into bankruptcy and hurt our economy in Oklahoma is not leadership. We need a governor who is willing to take on Washington, fight for our state, and say 'no' to policies that will hurt our economy and take away our freedoms. What we don’t need is politicians unwilling to stand up to their party or who find themselves unwilling or unable to act at a critical time like this one.”

Where’s the leadership?

Drew Edmondson: Months after President Obama outlines his plan for health care reform … waiting on a copy of the bill … waiting on a briefing:

“"It would be handy to actually have a copy of the bill, which I don’t.” – Oklahoman, 3/23

“Edmondson’s staff is expected to brief him in the near future about whether the interests of Oklahoma are in jeopardy …” – Edmond Sun, 3/23

Jari Askins: Waiting for someone to change the subject? (We’re still waiting for her to comment)

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Fallin Calls on AG Drew Edmondson to Take Action Against “Obamacare”

Pledges to Continue the Fight Against Costly, Unconstitutional Bill


Mary Fallin, Republican candidate for Governor of Oklahoma, today challenged Attorney General Drew Edmondson to join other attorneys general in filing a lawsuit opposing the unconstitutional provisions of President Obama’s health care bill.

"I am outraged that such a blatantly unconstitutional bill could have made it this far in the legislative process, and I am calling on our attorney general to speak out now and to join other attorney generals in filing suit. Drew Edmonson owes it to the people of Oklahoma and to this country to do the right thing, stand up to his party and act now to protect this state, our country and our Constitution.”

 “Obamacare,” as the bill has been dubbed, was passed in the U.S. House of Representatives on Sunday after an unprecedented attempt to cajole and coerce members of Congress to support the unpopular measure. Fallin, however, said the fight against government run health care is far from over.

As of now, Attorneys General from Virginia, South Carolina, Nebraska, Texas, Utah, Pennsylvania, Washington, North Dakota and South Dakota have announced their intention to challenge the constitutionality of the law in court.

“Nancy Pelosi and President Obama may have succeeded in ramming this bill through Congress, but they are a long way from being able to ram it down the throats of an angry American public. In addition to the tax increases, unfunded mandates and government intrusions this bill proposes, it is fundamentally un-American and unconstitutional,” said Fallin.

Fallin said she would work with state leaders across the nation to prevent the implementation of government-run health care, and would instead pursue free market reforms to lower health care costs and increase access and affordability. She said the bill pushed by Obama and Pelosi would cost Americans jobs, increase prices and ultimately reduce the quality of the medical treatment Oklahomans receive.

“This bill is bad for our economy and bad for our health,” said Fallin. “As governor, my main focus will be to create jobs and make Oklahoma a more prosperous state. ‘Obamacare’ will do just the opposite. Frankly, I am furious that the Democratic candidates hoping to serve as Oklahoma’s next governor have been silent about a law that would have such devastating affects on our state. If more Democrats had spoken out against their party in Washington, rather than siding with President Obama and Nancy Pelosi, we might not be in the dire situation we are today.”

“Every day that goes by without our attorney general filing suit is a day that Drew Edmondson has chosen the far-left agenda of Barack Obama and Nancy Pelosi over the people of Oklahoma," Fallin said.

The Fight Against ObamaCare Isn't Over!

Dear Friend,

Last night, I voted "NO" on the Obama/Pelosi health care bill. I stand firmly opposed to this bill, which has undergone little scrutiny and represents a damaging, unconstitutional and un-American big government takeover of our health care system.

The so-called reform bill comes complete with job-killing tax increases and the kind of budget-busting spending that will continue to heap debt on our children, our grandchildren and generations after theirs. The bill also would pass along to Oklahoma $67 million in unfunded mandates each year beginning in 2014.

I realize health care costs are increasing and placing a bigger burden on the budgets of Oklahoma families. But handing over control of one-sixth of our economy through a big-government takeover of health care is not the answer. I support reforms such as enhancing Health Savings Accounts, giving small businesses the power to pool together to increase their purchasing power, and allowing Americans to buy insurance across state lines. These free-market reforms will lower costs and improve the quality of our health care system.

This weekend, I took the time to go outside the congressional office buildings and talk one-on-one with dozens of the great Americans gathered together to rally against the ObamaCare bill. They agree with me a big-government takeover of our health care system is not the answer. And they were clear they want someone to fight for them!

And that's why I'm running for governor. People ask why I would leave Washington during such a critical time. The battle to secure our freedoms from an overreaching federal government is going to be fought at the state level and I want to be leading the charge to secure our freedoms as Oklahoma's governor!

My administration will fight against the big-government liberal agenda of ObamaCare, cap and trade and out-of-control government spending. When I'm governor, I will work with the Oklahoma Legislature, our attorney general and other state officials, as well as with governors from across the country to fight back against Washington's interference into our state sovereignty.

I promise you I will be a governor who works to create the kind of business-friendly environment that will move this state forward, create greater prosperity and make Oklahoma a better place to work and raise a family.

God bless,

Mary Fallin

Mary Fallin talks with Crowds Rallying Against ObamaCare

Click here to watch a video of Mary Fallin greeting the crowd gathered outside the House office buildings in protest of the Obama/Pelosi health care bill.

Mary Fallin speaks on the House floor against the Obama/Pelosi health care bill

Click here to watch a video of Mary Fallin's House floor speech against the Obama/Pelosi health care bill.

Mary says the bill is an unconstitutional attempt to let the federal government intrude into our lives.

New Poll on MaryFallin.org

We want to know your thoughts about the debate on government-run health care, so we have created a new poll on the home page of MaryFallin.org.

We're asking, "What concerns you most about 'Obamacare'?"

Click here to visit the home page so you can vote in our poll.

Fallin Says Pelosi Health Care Plan Misses the Mark

In Mary's latest column in the Edmond Life & Leisure paper, she says the Pelosi health care bill misses the mark. Last week, Mary voted "NO" on the Pelosi health care bill.

Here are a few excerpts from the column:

I support the kind of health care reform that will lower costs and increase accessibility to quality, affordable care. Unfortunately, what Speaker Pelosi rammed through the House [last week] does nothing to curb rising costs. Instead, her bill seizes control of the health care industry and puts it in the hands of the federal government, introduces job killing taxes on individuals and small businesses, and accelerates deficit spending and the accumulation of national debt. …

…Pelosi-care is a prescription for higher costs, higher taxes and poorer care, all in the name of supposedly “helping” people. …

… Americans have diagnosed our health care system as too expensive and too complicated. That’s why [ I support] real cost-cutting reforms like allowing Americans to buy health insurance across state lines, reforming our costly lawsuit system to cut costs associated with defensive medicine and creating low-cost insurance pools to allow small businesses and individuals — the real uninsured — to buy more affordable coverage.

"NO" on the Obama/Pelosi Health Care Bill

This weekend, I voted "NO" on the Obama/Pelosi health care bill.

The plan is nothing less than a government takeover of the health care industry, complete with job-killing tax increases and the kind of budget-busting spending that will continue to heap debt onto generations of Americans to come. It is my sincere hope that continued activism by the American people and conservative, grass roots leaders will force the Democrat majorities in Washington to abandon their plan and start over.

I am not opposed to all reform. In fact, should I have the honor of serving as your next governor, I am determined to pursue free market reforms that will reduce medical costs and improve access to quality, affordable care. However, a government-run health care system is not the answer. Speaker Pelosi and President Obama want to heap more bureaucracy onto the system, but the way to control costs and reduce price inflation is to peel back the layers of burdensome regulation and administrative overhead, not add more.

What has been perhaps the most disturbing aspect of this health care debate is how out of touch it has revealed some of our political leaders to be. Oklahomans, and Americans everywhere, want the government to focus on job creation, growing our economy, and addressing the skyrocketing deficits that threaten this country's financial stability. Instead, Speaker Pelosi and President Obama have produced a 2000 page bureaucratic nightmare that will increase taxes, spend more, and do nothing to alleviate the high cost of health care that is threatening family budgets and hurting small businesses.

If the Speaker of the House and the President of the United States can't understand what Oklahomans want, we could sure use a governor that does. If I'm elected in 2010, we'll have that and more - because I will be the kind of leader who fights for our state, who fights for the cause of liberty and who pursues the kind of reforms that grow our economy, create more and better jobs and moves us towards a better, brighter future.

Fallin column: Less Taxes and More Freedom

Oklahomans are concerned about the rising costs of health care, but they certainly don't want the government to take over the health care industry.

Read more in Mary's latest column on health care in the Edmond Life & Leisure.

Mary Fallin on McCarville Report Online

Thanks to the McCarville Report Online for posting comments by Mary Fallin on attempts by President Obama and liberal House Democrats to force a job-killing tax hike on small businesses to finance their plan for a government-run health care system.

This time, the president and House liberals are calling for a $800 billion in tax increases on small businesses during the worst economic recession in a generation.

Read Mary's comments about the plan here.

Share Your Input on Health Care

While President Obama may be ignoring our opposition to a government takeover of health care in Washington, we have the opportunity in Oklahoma to share our thoughts and opinions on the issue with our state leaders.

The Oklahoman writes today that the state Health Department is seeking input from Oklahomans on the agency's comprehensive Oklahoma Health Improvement Plan (OHIP).

The health improvement plan addresses children’s health, tobacco use and obesity. It aims to use public health resources more effectively and emphasizes prevention of disease and injury.

Read the OHIP plan here and be sure to visit the "Comments Forum" so you can share your ideas and opinions with the Health Department.