Oklahoma Energy Secretary Jeff Starling announced his candidacy a few months ago for State Attorney General.
He wants to succeed Attorney General Gentner Drummond who is making a full-force run to become Governor. Drummond, a Republican, has been an outspoken critic of green energy plans that were emphasized by the Biden administration. He took on the Biden EPA more than once.
In a recent Journal Record article, Starling outlined his plan as Attorney General.
As AG, I’ll Make Oklahoma the Nation’s Best State for Business
By: Jeff Starling
I built my career in Oklahoma’s private sector. I’ve managed large teams, created high-paying jobs, and positioned companies for greater success. I understand the challenges of building a business from the ground up.
Under Governor Stitt’s leadership, Oklahoma has made great strides toward becoming a top destination for business. Our state is already attractive thanks to our abundant natural resources, low cost of living, and competitive corporate tax rates.
But there’s still more to do.
Thanks to President Donald Trump’s America-First policies, our country is increasingly reshoring manufacturing jobs. Oklahoma must seize this opportunity, and I believe the Attorney General’s office can play a key role in helping Oklahoma become the premier state to launch and grow a business.
As Attorney General, I won’t just defend the law, I’ll use the office to reshape Oklahoma’s legal and regulatory climate. I’ll start by modernizing our legal system, dismantling the regulatory bureaucracy, and partnering with communities to clean up our streets and address homelessness.
Modernize our legal system
Business owners already juggle enough: financing, hiring, building a brand, and competition. The last thing they need is an outdated legal system getting in their way.
That’s why I fought to bring business courts to Oklahoma, to streamline our legal infrastructure and attract more companies to invest and grow in our state. As Attorney General, I’ll continue to modernize our legal system by advocating for pro-growth policies. We need faster resolution, lower costs, and a justice system that serves job creators, not just trial lawyers.
Dismantle the regulatory bureaucracy
Oklahoma ranks 17th in the nation for regulatory burden, with over 142,000 regulations on the books. If we want a dynamic state economy, we must eliminate needless regulations that stifle innovation and growth.
As Secretary of Energy and Environment, I’ve seen firsthand how inefficient mandates hamstring one of Oklahoma’s most important industries. I’ve worked to cut that red tape, and I’ll bring that experience to the Attorney General’s office.
We’ll eliminate and overhaul the regulatory bureaucracy. I’ll work with our state’s lawmakers to target regulatory overreach and deliver a pro-business regulatory environment.
Clean up our streets, restore public safety
No business can thrive in a neighborhood overrun by crime, drugs, or homeless encampments. In Tulsa and Oklahoma City, rising homelessness and lawlessness are already driving away investment.
If we want economic growth, we must restore order. That starts by enforcing the law.
As Attorney General, I’ll hold local officials accountable when they turn a blind eye to illegal activity. When officials like Tulsa Mayor Monroe Nichols defy federal immigration enforcement and allow criminal illegal migrants to operate with impunity, I will stand ready to enforce the law.
At the same time, through partnerships with Oklahoma’s Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives and others, we will work with and empower non-profits, faith-based groups, and local governments to address rising addiction rates and deliver solutions to the homelessness crisis.
Oklahoma has the talent, resources, and leadership to become the best state in America for business, but we won’t get there without bold, pro-growth reforms. I’m ready to lead that charge as your next Attorney General.
