Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt, R., vetoed a bill last week that would have funded operations of the Oklahoma Educational Television Authority through 2026, accusing the station of indoctrinating young children with taxpayer dollars.
"When you think about educating kids, let's teach them to read and their numbers and counting and letters and those kind of things," Gov. Stitt said."I mean, some of the programing that we're seeing… it just doesn't need to be on public television." From a free market standpoint, Stitt believes we’re in a different world than the one that existed 67 years ago when OETA first aired in the Sooner State.
Stitt's decision has angered voices on the left. Among the critics is State Rep. Monroe Nichols, D., who said the move is part of Stitt's"continued attacks on public education and underrepresented Oklahoma communities."