Upon implementing these EDGE recommendations, Oklahoma will rapidly become known as one of the most progressive states in the country. Our state will be positioned to produce more and better paying jobs and to offer a higher quality of life to its citizens. However, implementing these recommendations will require very significant resources and investments. The proposed tobacco tax will pay the cost of the health care initiatives but will not generate sufficient revenue to finance other EDGE proposals. Over time, the anticipated economic growth should provide more wealth to Oklahoma citizens, businesses and state government, but the initial investments must be made before these benefits can be realized.
The EDGE recommendations represent a new frontier for Oklahoma only because they are cumulatively so large and because they offer the opportunity to act on several related issues at the same time. Throughout Oklahoma's history are many examples of Oklahomans taking decisive actions to make public investments that have changed the fate of their communities. The MAPS initiative in Oklahoma City and VISION 2025 in Tulsa are large examples, but countless other smaller communities have also taken such actions where there are clear objectives tied to specific actions.
State political leaders of both parties have the ultimate expertise and responsibility to identify the appropriate mechanisms to fund the entire agenda. Throughout the EDGE process, thousands of Oklahomans urged that their state leaders take action. These same citizens recommended hundreds of novel and innovative actions. They will expect the leadership of the state to be equally creative as it identifies the needed money to implement the EDGE recommendations.
Oklahoma has an exciting and colorful history, made largely by leaders who acted to advance the state under the circumstances of the time. EDGE represents one of those key moments in the story of Oklahoma, and an exciting new chapter lies before us.