Congresswoman Mary Fallin has continuously repeated she represents Oklahomans and their values. Regardless of what Rep. Fallin says in her bid for governor, she is no friend to Oklahoma farmers and ranchers. She has consistently voted against legislation that would provide support to the farming and ranching industry.

This is another example of Fallin failing to recognize what matters to Oklahomans. The farming and ranching industry is a key part of Oklahoma’s culture and tradition and a $16 billion industry. Oklahoma’s farmers and ranchers are integral to what Oklahoma stands for, and these hard workers are responsible for maintaining the state and the nation’s food supply. To vote against funding and call it “wasteful government spending,” isn’t just irresponsible, it is a blatant disconnection between “D.C. Mary” and Oklahoma.

The 2007 Farm Bill and the 2007 and 2010 agricultural appropriations bills, that passed through Congress, all received “no” votes from Rep. Fallin. These “no” votes are votes against funding for a myriad of essential services that promote and protect Oklahoma’s agricultural base. If it was up to Congresswoman Fallin, Oklahoma would have no agricultural programs including no support for farmers and ranchers through farm payments, no money to help address environmental problems through conservation programs, no funding to repair flood control dams through the watershed program, no funding for rural development including broadband, rural electricity or economic development among others.

Todd Goodman, Chairman of the Oklahoma Democratic Party, said this is another example of how Fallin may say she represents Oklahomans, but her votes prove otherwise.

“In a state so rooted in farming and ranching, it is alarming to see Fallin’s votes across the board against this bread and butter of Oklahoma industry,” Goodman said. “These votes are unreasonable and in no way represent Oklahoma values as her ads would have you believe. Oklahoma’s rural communities need a champion in the Governor’s office, not an ideologue who considers providing infrastructure for one of our crucial industries ‘wasteful spending.’ Jari Askins has consistently stood up for Oklahoma farmer and ranchers in her numerous positions of public service. She is the right choice for governor because she doesn’t just say she stands up for Oklahomans, she does.”