Amanda Clinton

I'm grateful someone in our state government has finally stepped up and is taking a closer look at the massive aluminum smelter project planned for the Inola area. It was announced over a year ago, but sadly, that predated my time in the legislature. However, I expressed my serious concerns to my elected officials at the time and still have them today. Those reasonable concerns that affect all Oklahomans were, and continue to be:

🚨 Why are Oklahoma taxpayers spending hundreds of millions of dollars to subsidize the fourth-richest country in the world (the UAE) to build this plant here, when we can't even adequately fund schools and basic social services for Oklahomans?
🚨 PSO has disclosed that the aluminum plant has requested 1,000 MW of power (1 GW), which is enough to power around 1 MILLION homes. However, PSO has not provided a satisfactory explanation for how regular ratepayers like you and I will be protected.
🚨 These plants use massive amounts of water, so what is the environmental impact on our water quantity AND quality, along with pollutants and other environmental concerns?
🚨 Which leads me to one of my last major concerns: What are the health impacts for the workers and people living nearby? There is a reason an aluminum plant has not been built in the United States for 40 or 50 years -- it's very dirty work, and the pollutants from these operations increase the risk of cancer and other diseases.

I understand the need to bring manufacturing jobs back to the United States as a national security issue, but it's imperative that we weigh the strain on our natural resources and the impact on the safety, health, well-being and quality of life for regular Oklahomans. I'm eager to see where this goes from here, and I appreciate Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond for shining a brighter light on these very reasonable and important concerns.

Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond announces legal action to stop the development of what would be the largest aluminum smelter on American soil planned for Inola in Rogers County.

"Oklahoma Primary Aluminum is backed by two private ventures," Drummond said. "Including one owned by the government of an Islamic foreign monarchy, the Emirates Global Aluminum which is a state owned enterprise of the United Arab Emirates which holds a 60% controlling interest in the project."

Drummond said, "That means the controlling hand behind the largest smelter ever proposed on American soil does not belong to Oklahomans or Americans but to a foreign sovereign 7,000 miles away." Drummond added, "Aluminum smelting is extremely hazardous. It consumes significant amounts of electricity, as much as many cities in Oklahoma consume as well as water. And it is one of the most polluting heavy industrial activities that exists. The process also wreaked havoc on cattle, threatening Oklahoma’s single largest agriculture sector."

You can WATCH his full news conference here. It's less than 10 minutes long. We will also have coverage on FOX23 News at 5 & 6: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l33rICAINVY

I've been a big supporter of Pet Adoption League - Waiting Dogs & Cats since I adopted my little buddy Rowdy there eight years ago. They're a no-kill rescue that searches for fosters and adopters as an alternative to kill shelters. I sometimes check in on the animals up for adoption, and this particular pup, Puka, has been up for adoption for at least SIX YEARS!! 😭 How is it possible that this pup hasn't found her forever home in SIX YEARS?! If we want to support no-kill rescues and shelters, they need our help. 😢 Does anyone out there have a place in their heart and home for little Puka?

Great volunteer opportunity in House District 71! 😄 See you this Saturday for the Youth At Heart 50th birthday celebration!

Youth At Heart YAHlympics SignUp.com makes it easy to coordinate school events & classroom activities, fundraisers, snack schedules, potlucks & more!

Get to know your gubernatorial and state superintendent candidates next week at The University of Tulsa!

🗓️ Join us June 2 & 4 for Candidate Conversations! We’re partnering with the Tulsa Press Club & TU to host free public forums with candidates running in this year's local elections.

📍 Lorton Performance Center, TU
⏱️ 5 PM: Meet candidates | 6-7:30 PM: Forum

Lineup:
• June 2 (Gov): Gentner Drummond, Leisa Mitchell Haynes, Chip Keating, Charles A. McCall, Cyndi Munson
• June 4 (Supt): Robert Franklin, Jennettie Marshall, Adam Pugh

Free & open to everyone. No tickets required.

https://ow.ly/e8cm50Z5AXc

As an owner of two small businesses, a lawmaker and an Oklahoman who cares deeply about my community, I proudly support State Question 832 and here’s why I hope all of you will join me in voting YES to on June 16th! 

Today, Oklahoma adheres to the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour. $7.25 per hour amounts to an annual salary of only $15,000. Congress last voted to raise the minimum wage in 2007, from $5.15 to $7.25 per hour.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, $7.25 in 2007 is equivalent to $14.98 in 2026. It’s only fair that Oklahomans’ buying power in 2026 be as strong as it was in 2007. 

34 other states, territories and districts have already raised their minimum wages, including most of our neighbors: 
* Arkansas - $11 per hour
* New Mexico - $12 per hour
* Missouri & Colorado - $15 per hour

More than 350,000 Oklahomans, including workers in retail, food service, health care, and child care and others, are expected to benefit from the measure, either directly or indirectly. 

Perhaps most importantly, raising the minimum wage would lift 40,000 Oklahomans, including 16,000 children, out of poverty, decreasing reliance on public assistance.

It’s important to remember that a federal minimum wage was never intended to be the “standard wage.” Minimum wage was introduced during the Great Depression to prevent worker exploitation and boost the economy. It did just that, but it has not kept up in modern times. 

So what exactly is the point of a minimum wage that KEEPS FAMILIES IN POVERTY? 

Please join me in voting YES on SQ 832 on June 16th! 



Citations 

Department of Labor minimum wage information:
https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/minimum-wage

Bureau of Labor Statistics:
https://www.bls.gov/data/inflation_calculator.htm #

Analysis by non-partisan policy think tank, Scioto Analysis:
https://www.sciotoanalysis.com/news/original-analysis-oklahoma-wage-increase-would-lift-40000-oklahomans-including-16000-children-out-of-poverty

Analysis by the non-partisan Oklahoma Policy Institute:
https://okpolicy.org/fact-sheet-sq832-increasing-oklahomas-minimum-wage/

It's way past time for tech companies to be reined in. It is laughable that Meta has the nerve to offer paid subscriptions when their entire business model is already based on scraping our data and preferences FOR FREE from our social media, internet searches, electronic purchases and other forms of electronic surveillance.

I would consider paying for these platforms when tech companies stop having free access to our information and creating consumer profiles that are then sold to advertisers as part of their business model.

Meta launches Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp subscriptions, with more to come, including AI plans | TechCrunch Meta is rolling out paid subscription plans for Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp worldwide, while also testing new AI, creator, and business-focused offerings under its broader “Meta One” subscription brand.

I happily endorse my colleague, Representative Ron Stewart for OK, in his re-election bid for House District 73 on June 16th! 😄 I was able to get two bills to the Senate for their consideration this legislative session, thanks in no small part to Rep. Stewart. His role in our caucus is to advocate for our issues and negotiate with the other side of the aisle to ensure we have a fair shot of getting our legislation heard and across the finish line.

Two bills may not seem like much, but for a freshman legislator to advance legislation with bipartisan support to keep families with young children housed and improve animal welfare was quite a feat, and I'm grateful for all of Rep. Stewart's help.

So if you live in HD 73, which covers parts of downtown, north Tulsa and southeast Osage County, let's send Rep. Stewart back to the Capitol on June 16th and keep our momentum going! Wado!

Hey Tulsa! 🗣️📣 Our community works better together when state and local governments work together, so have your voices heard at one of the next three City of Tulsa Gov Community Conversations! Check the graphic below to find one near you! 😄

I Want to Hear From You 📢

There are three more opportunities to attend an upcoming Community Conversation this spring where you can meet with our entire team and share your thoughts on anything happening in our city, as well as get any questions answered that you might have.

The next opportunity is this coming Tuesday at the The University of Tulsa.

We'll be in the Allen Chapman Student Union from 5:30 - 7 p.m.

See you there!