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Yukon Review

Edmondson vows to fix dysfunctional government

By CHRIS EVERSOLE Democratic candidate for governor Drew Edmondon addresses the Positive Posse in
Staff Writer Mustang on Tuesday. The state needs to address its low standing in education, health
care and prison populations, he said. Photo/Chris Eversole
Drew Edmondson, the Democratic candidate for governor, said Tuesday in
Mustang that he would work to improve the state’s poor marks in education,
health care and prison populations.
“It’s not a selling point to be No. 1 or near it in these areas and in teen The Shelter Shield just got
pregnancies,” he said.
“I want to solve problems for a government that for all practical purposes
is dysfunctional.”
The state needs to raise revenue so it can fund education better, including
STRONGER
giving teachers additional raises beyond the ones the Legislature approved
this year, he said.
“We don’t want to be competing with Arkansas for teachers,” he said. “We
want to be competing with the nation.”
“I want to see the day that we’re recruiting teachers from Texas.”
The most severe cuts in education have come in funding for colleges and
universities, he said.
As a result, high education enrollment is down, although the number of
high school graduates is up.
“We’re pricing some kids out of the market,” Edmondson said.
He said he would work to reduce incarceration of people for drug posses-
sion and those who are jailed as a result of mental health problems – who Does your auto insurance policy include Roadside
make up 80 to 90 percent of the people imprisoned.
“It’s not rocket science,” he said. “It costs $3,000 to $5,000 for drug and alco- Assistance? Shelter’s does.
hol treatment, and it costs $20,000 to $30,000 a year to lock people up.”
He said he supports Medicaid expansion, which would bring federal dol- Find out more by visiting ShelterInsurance.com/
lars to the state to provide health care for working people who are just above
the poverty line. Roadside or contacting us.
“Our tax dollars are going to other states that have opted into Medicaid
expansion,” he said.
The money from Medicaid expansion could help stabilize rural hospitals
that go month-to-month without knowing if they can meet payroll, he said.
“Losing your hospital is like losing your school,” he said. “A town can dry
up and blow away.”
Edmondson also touted his experience, which includes serving for 16 years
as Oklahoma attorney general.
Agent Name
While president of the National Association of Attorneys General, he Agent Address
worked with his wife, Linda (who is a social worker), on advocating for legis- Agent Photo
Agent City, State Zip
lation to give people more choices about their end of life care. Agent Phone No.
The vast majority of people want to spend their last days at home with
adequate pain relief and with family members.
However, the overwhelming number of people receive the opposite – in a ® We’re your Shield. We’re your Shelter.
hospital, without enough pain relief and isolated, Edmondson said.
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“Why aren’t people getting what they want,” he said.

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