Stitt Challenges Biden Executive Orders with One of His Own

Governor Kevin Stitt on Monday signed an executive order which challenges President Joe Biden’s recent executive orders dealing with fossil fuel production. Biden has stopped the permit for the northern leg of the Keystone Pipeline XL, put a moratorium on federal land leases and has signaled the U.S. will re-enter the Paris Climate Agreement without further negotiations.

Stitt is using the 10^th Amendment as an argument that Oklahoma has the right to develop it’s natural resources in the way it sees fit, not at the direction of the federal government. In his executive order, Stitt directs state agencies to use “all civil methods and lawful powers to protect its 10^th Amendment powers and challenge any actions by the federal government that would seek to diminish or destroy Oklahoma’s ability to encourage job growth and the responsible development of our natural resources within the energy industry.”

In a statement after signing the executive order Stitt said, “Energy production is the backbone of Oklahoma’s economy. My executive order sends a clear message to the Biden Administration that threatening to destroy Oklahoma jobs and our constitutional ability to develop our oil and gas is unacceptable. We will not be passive in responding to systematic attacks on Oklahoma values.”

Stitt’s order has the support of some in the Oklahoma Legislature as well as the industry.

Senator Zack Taylor is the Oklahoma Senate Energy Committee Vice Chairman.

“Despite calls for unity and bipartisanship, President Biden’s first actions in office have shown to be anything but that. He’s simply rehashing the same, tired anti-oil and anti-gas rhetoric peddled by progressive liberals for years. Oklahoma and its energy industry has been a leader in helping achieve American energy independence. We need to protect the men and women of the energy industry who have worked so hard to help our country achieve those gains. In Oklahoma, the oil and gas industry in particular provides hundreds of thousands of good-paying jobs and greatly adds to the local and state economy. President Biden’s actions threaten those jobs and our local and state economies. I appreciate Governor Stitt’s action to stand up for Oklahoma and I am proud to work with him to protect our energy industry,” said Taylor.

“As America transitions into a new energy future, Oklahoma’s long history and expertise in energy production will remain a key part of the national economy and our way of life. Governor Stitt’s “all of the above” strategy has fortified Oklahoma as a leader in many methods of energy development. It would be unwise and improper to take specific and drastic actions against the oil and natural gas industry and destroy the jobs of so many hardworking Oklahomans, and we thank Gov. Stitt for defending our people. The skills and expertise of Oklahoma’s energy industry will be critical as more technologies join the mix powering our nation,” said State Chamber President and CEO Chad Warmington.

You can read Governor Stitt’s executive order here.