Al McAffrey
Oklahoma State House
Issues
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Economy | Health Care | Veterans | Education
Energy & Environment | Children | Equality
_______________________________Al McAffrey is a “competence-in-government Democrat.” Al will work to ensure that Oklahoma taxpayers are getting their money's worth from the state government. Oklahomans know that in today’s world, you get what you pay for. Al believes that government’s basic functions like law enforcement, disaster relief and recovery, infrastructure, education and health care for the poor and for seniors must be well funded and efficiently managed. As a small business owner, Al understands the important role these businesses play in the Oklahoma economy and he supports tax incentives that would spur small business growth. He strongly opposes tax breaks for corporations that move jobs overseas and believes we should use those tax breaks for employers who expand here in Oklahoma. For instance, alternative energy production is a tremendous opportunity for new businesses to form all across Oklahoma.
The current health care issue is an expanding crisis. Many hard working families in Oklahoma can't afford quality health insurance and thousands more are denied the care they need even though they are insured. The system is broken and Al McAffrey understands the burden this has placed on the people of his district . He has pledged to fight for affordable health care for all Oklahomans. Al believes that we need to bring everyone, including the business community, insurance companies, health care providers and patient advocates, to the table to find a common-sense solution to ensure that basic health care is affordable to every Oklahoma worker and their dependent children.
As a veteran of the United States Navy, Al is deeply committed to fighting for the protection of our veterans. During the 2008 session of the Oklahoma Legislature a bill was introduced to create the Oklahoma Veterans Health Insurance Program. This program would have ensured that all veterans had access to quality health care when they returned home to Oklahoma. Unfortunately Al's republican colleagues in the House of Representatives chose to derail the popular proposal. Al believes we should spare no expense when it comes to caring for the men and women who have so bravely fought for our freedom and security.
Beginning with early childhood education, Al McAffrey knows that for Oklahoma to remain competitive in the American marketplace, our education system must remain focused on providing a classroom environment that stimulates learning and rewards achievement. After losing many excellent teachers to surrounding states because of pay incentives, Al believes it's time to properly fund Oklahoma's education system - and that means raising teacher pay. Al supported Governor Brad Henry's teacher pay raise initiatives and has worked with other state leaders to improve Oklahoma's high school graduation rate. Specifically, Al is committed to to provide funding for placing graduation coaches in every Oklahoma school. However, Al understands that we must also make a commitment to invest in our students. That's why he supports expanding the Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program so that more young Oklahomans can attend and graduate from college or career techs. Al knows that investing in higher education is one of the most critical ways we can encourage business development and economic growth in Oklahoma. Al also believes that forms of higher education other than four-year universities also need to be more affordable. He will work to enhance funding for Career Techs and Trade Schools which offer working Oklahomans opportunities to learn marketable skills, increase their incomes, and prepare for a changing economic landscape that will soon need more people trained for jobs in the emerging new energy economy.
Al McAffrey believes that Oklahoma should become a leader in alternative energy. He believes we should shift tax incentives from the single-fuel economy that leaves us depended on foreign oil and toward the development of alternative fuels that can be produced right here in Oklahoma. Oklahoma has an abundant supply of natural resources like wind, natural gas, and switchgrass. Al understands that with these natural resources Oklahoma could easily become a leader in the shift toward a new, clean energy economy. Al knows we should move forward with investments into renewable energy sources that can create thousands of jobs in Oklahoma while reducing our dependence on foreign oil and becoming a leader on addressing global climate change.
Al McAffrey knows that investing in our children is an investment in our future. During his tenure in the Oklahoma State House, Al has fought diligently to improve the life, education, and health care of all Oklahoma children. Specifically he supported legislation to mandate health care coverage for children with autism, giving them an increased opportunity for a productive adulthood. As a member of the Human Services committee, Al has fought to overhaul the Department of Human Services with an eye toward making sure our children are safe in foster homes and easing adoption regulations so good parents can be more quickly matched with deserving kids.
Since entering the legislature in 2006, Al McAffrey has been dedicated to ensuring that all Oklahomans - no matter their race, religion, gender or sexual orientation - enjoy and exercise their right of unconditional equality. Al has introduced and fought to pass hate crimes legislation, strongly advocated for a fair wage increase for State employees and has been a steadfast supporter of women's rights. Al firmly believes that all Oklahomans deserve their right of equality and will continue to be a relentless advocate on behalf of those whose equality is questioned.
