Oklahoma governor, elected leaders sworn into office

OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt and other statewide elected officials took their oaths of office on Monday ahead of a legislative session in which lawmakers are expected to consider cutting taxes amid record revenue collections. During a 20-minute speech after his swearing in, the governor touted his accomplishments over the last four years, including opening the state for business soon after the coronavirus pandemic and working to reduce the state’s prison population, which was among the highest per capita in the nation when he took office four years ago. Stitt said the Legislature’s decision to give the governor more authority over state agencies was particularly helpful in improving operations within the Department of Corrections, where Stitt was able to appoint a new executive director. Most of the time, government is the problem.” New House Democratic leader Rep. Cyndi Munson said that while she shares Stitt’s enthusiasm for improving the lives of Oklahomans, she said the governor did little to move the state forward during his first term in office.