Stitt defends Walters, opposes income cap on private school tax credits

Ben Felder, Oklahoman
·2 min read
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Gov. Kevin Stitt says he remains confident in Ryan Walters, his secretary of education and the elected state schools superintendent, who continues to draw scrutiny for his comments and recent refusal to meet with lawmakers.

"He’s easy to target maybe, and I think he has some social media stuff. I don't really get into all that stuff, so I know he’s easy to pick on a little bit, but I don't see what he’s doing that isn't in line with everything that I’m talking about (on education),” Stitt said at a Friday news conference. The governor also expressed support for school choice bills currently before lawmakers.

“I know Ryan’s heart — He supports teachers, he supports our public school system, he supports parents," Stitt said.

Walters, who has been accused of creating a hostile environment within the Oklahoma Department of Education, was recently criticized for posting a social media message many saw as racist and continues to claim one of the biggest problems facing Oklahoma schools is pornography in libraries.

Gov. Kevin Stitt watches as state schools Superintendent Ryan Walters leads at a pro-school choice rally Thursday on the south steps of the Oklahoma state Capitol.
Gov. Kevin Stitt watches as state schools Superintendent Ryan Walters leads at a pro-school choice rally Thursday on the south steps of the Oklahoma state Capitol.

More: Oklahoma Education Department 'toxic' under Ryan Walters, some former employees say

More: Editorial: It's time for Ryan Walters to end disparaging rhetoric or resign

Rep. Mark McBride, chairman of the House Appropriations and Budget Education subcommittee, asked Walters to attend a Thursday meeting and discuss those claims with lawmakers.

“I want this to be a friendly question-and-answer,” McBride, R-Moore, told NonDoc this week.

But Walters said he was too busy with a pro-school choice rally at the state Capitol.

“Parents are more important,” Walters said.

Stitt said private school tax credits should not include an income cap

Gov. Kevin Stitt speaks with Kazin Galberth and other students from Tulsa's Crossover Preparatory Academy on Thursday at a pro-school choice rally on the south steps of the Oklahoma state Capitol.
Gov. Kevin Stitt speaks with Kazin Galberth and other students from Tulsa's Crossover Preparatory Academy on Thursday at a pro-school choice rally on the south steps of the Oklahoma state Capitol.

Stitt appeared with Walters at Thursday's rally and spoke in favor of refundable tax credits for parents of private-school and home-school students.

The House and Senate have each passed versions of a tax credit bill, but the chambers have disagreed on the details, including whether there should be an income cap.

The Senate passed a tax credit bill Thursday for households making less than $250,000 a year. House Speaker Charles McCall, R-Atoka, said the income cap was problematic, and Stitt has said he wants the income limit removed.

More: Senate passes private school tax credits; House leader open to negotiate

“If either one of those gets to my desk, I’m going to sign it, but I would prefer not to have a salary cap,” Stitt said Friday. “I'm not going to punish some parents ...  just because together they make over that amount of money.”

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Ryan Walters in lockstep with Oklahoma vision, Gov. Kevin Stitt says