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.