Representative Cyndi Munson

Hi, I’m Cyndi Munson and I represent the people of Oklahoma’s 85th District.


representative

Leadership

Minority Leader

59th Legislature

Minority Caucus Chair

58th Legislature

News & Announcements


Oct 17, 2023
Recent Posts

Study Assesses Capital Needs of Regional Colleges, Universities

OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma House of Representatives Speaker Pro Tempore Kyle Hilbert, R-Bristow, and Minority Leader Cyndi Munson, D-Oklahoma City, today held an interim study assessing the capital needs of the Regional University System of Oklahoma (RUSO) as well as for rural colleges and universities. IS23-077 was held before the House Higher Education & CareerTech Committee. "Our network of regional and rural colleges and universities serves thousands of students each year, preparing them for a diverse array of careers," the lawmakers said in a joint statement. "Having access to these schools benefits these individuals in innumerable ways. This also benefits the communities where these students live and work. When we have a more educated workforce, we attract more businesses and more jobs, which in turn strengthens local economies and our entire state. This study helped us better assess how the Legislature can support these schools in their missions, knowing that an investment in education is an investment in a stronger, better Oklahoma." Mark Tygret, vice chancellor of budget and finance at the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, presented a history of legislative investment in capital needs and deferred maintenance for rural and urban two- and four-year colleges. He explained the master lease program as an example of helping schools take care of their building and maintenance projects. The program is a huge asset in making campus more functional and more efficient and making for a better experience for all who enter – from students to staff. Tygret suggested a structure similar to what has worked to improve transportation in the state could benefit regional and rural higher education institutions as well. He also mentioned the Legislature's new Legacy Capital Fund, which makes use of available state capital to meet agency needs instead of requiring them to secure bonds at market interest rates. Former Lt. Gov. Todd Lamb, now president of the University of Central Oklahoma, spoke about RUSO's commitment to affordability and accessibility. RUSO colleges and universities are spread all over Oklahoma, he said, and they are committed to meeting students where they are. He specifically mentioned the number of returning adult learners the system serves. More than 45,000 students are enrolled in RUSO, he said, with 57% coming from rural Oklahoma. A large number of students come from families with lower-than average income. Munson said she was one of these students who came from a single-parent household without money for college. She's a proud RUSO graduate. She thanked the presenters for giving students like her an opportunity to graduate college. She said it's her hope the Legislature can find better ways to support the schools so they don't have to be quite so innovative with their finances. Lamb said 92% of RUSO graduates are employed within one year. Nearly half graduate without college debt, and the others graduated with $11,000 less in debt than the national average. The return on investment for Oklahoma from these graduates is $9.55 for every $1 of state funding. The schools also meet many critical workforce needs, he said. Against that backdrop, Lamb then shared various current capital needs of RUSO's campuses. Other presenters before the committee were: Dr. Kyle Stafford, president of Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College; John McArthur, president of Cameron University; and Julie Dinger, president of Oklahoma Panhandle State University. Each shared about their schools' student populations and their building and maintenance needs and asked the Legislature's help in investing in facilities and upgrades. Stafford said school leaders must be creative and innovative to update facilities, many that were built decades ago. Dinger said her school seeks every external grant it can as well as partnerships with other entities to share costs. Both leaders asked the Legislature to consider matching funds to help the schools hold onto assets already in place. "We've got to be price sensitive when it relates to our students," Stafford said. Raising the price of tuition and fees is not the optimal way to fund building and maintenance projects, he said. McArthur said his emphasis is on renovating and refreshing, not building new. This can be done for pennies on the dollar verses the cost of new construction, but it does require hiring people who can work on older buildings as well as on older plumbing and electrical systems. One project on which he's asking the Legislature's help is to update a 1929 building's fire suppression system. At the time the building was constructed, that was a bucket of water, her joked. The facility now needs a better system. Dinger said some critical infrastructure pieces must be replaced as they can no longer be repaired because of their age. She also explained jumps in costs such as property insurance as well as for energy usage. A 657% jump in gas costs happened this year, for example, as the school's provider recalibrated meters for the first time in years. She's looking at energy efficiencies to offset this unintended expense, she said. Americans with Disabilities requirements were part of the presentations as well as security and technology upgrade needs. "We are passionate about what we do, and we are so thankful you are willing to hear from us what our capital needs are," Dinger said. Hilbert noted millions of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds went to regional and rural colleges and universities and asked several school presidents who were not on the list of presenters to give on-the-spot updates on how these funds helped with their needs. Wendell Godwin, president of East Central University said it was cheaper to build a new facility for the school's growing nursing program versus renovating an older facility. The ARPA funds will help in this, he said. The school also is partnering with the Chickasaw Nation on the project, he said. Northeastern State University spent ARPA funds on upgrading HVAC systems to improve air quality in older buildings. Additional funds are being spent on an optometry school on campus.  SWOSU spent ARPA money on a new pharmacy school and a rural health center. This will give nursing students adequate space for study and will allow the school to continue growing it's Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) programs. 



Aug 29, 2023
Recent Posts

House Democrats Call on Speaker of the House to Form Special Bipartisan Committee to Investigate State Superintendent

OKLAHOMA CITY – Today, House Democrats called on the Speaker of the House to form a special bipartisan committee to investigate possible impeachment charges for State Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters amid recent bomb threats at Tulsa area elementary schools believed to be linked to Walters' rhetoric about Tulsa Public Schools. “Oklahomans deserve a public school system where parents, students and teachers feel safe to go to school and the needs of our students are prioritized over dangerous political rhetoric,” said House Democratic Caucus Chair Trish Ranson, D-Stillwater. House Democratic Leader Cyndi Munson, D-Oklahoma City said the special bipartisan committee would investigate the current state superintendent to determine if his actions rise to the level of impeachment. “Allocating funds for public education should be free of corruption or political gain. There is already evidence of Walters’ corruption through misspent federal dollars along with discrepancies in his campaign finances. Paired with his toxic rhetoric that is impacting the safety of our schools, we believe it is more than enough to, at the very least, investigate him,” Leader Munson said. Rep. Provenzano mentioned that the rhetoric from the state superintendent has been harmful and potentially compromised the safety of school children. She also believes he is willfully neglecting his duty of office. “The rhetoric from the state superintendent has, up until now, been designed to distract and ?sow chaos. But now, elementary schools in the Tulsa area have received bomb threats as a ?result of disinformation shared by him. Our children deserve to be safe. The willful neglect of ?that duty, even in the highest offices in our state, cannot and will not be ?overlooked. Enough is enough,” Rep. Provenzano added. Leader Munson said, "We share in the growing frustration of Oklahomans across our state who want action to address their deep concerns for the future of public education. It is now time for action." -END-



Aug 1, 2023
Recent Posts

STATEMENT: House Democrats Respond to Gov. Stitt’s "Women's Bill of Rights" Executive Order

OKLAHOMA CITY – House Democratic Leader Cyndi Munson, D-Oklahoma City and Assistant House Democratic Leader Melissa Provenzano, D-Tulsa released the following comments regarding Governor Stitt’s "Women's Bill of Rights" Executive Order:  “It is not the government’s job to define the identity of the citizens of Oklahoma. Once again, the Republican supermajority continues their government overreach by infringing on the rights of citizens. This executive order is just another attempt to distract from the real problems everyday Oklahoman’s face by using partisan, polarizing politics to divide the people of Oklahoma,” Leader Munson said.  “Governor Stitt should focus on how to improve the lives of women in Oklahoma like addressing domestic violence. Oklahoma ranks third in the nation for women killed by men. Forty percent of Oklahoma women have experienced intimate partner violence, rape or stalking in their lifetimes. And Oklahoma continues to have one of the worst maternal mortality rates in the nation, while continuing to eliminate access to basic healthcare like abortion care. Oklahoma women still do not get equal pay for equal work. Women in our state, on average, are paid just 75 cents to every dollar men are paid. We have much work to do in Oklahoma around the status of women and this executive order does nothing to address those issues,” Leader Munson said. “It’s pretty rich that a man would feel it’s appropriate for him to define what makes me a woman. Even more so, for the government to do it. This bill couldn’t make it across the line and into law during session because it was fraught with conflict and all but guaranteed (yet another) lawsuit filed against the state for overstepping their bounds and inserting ourselves into the rights and private lives of Oklahomans,” Rep. Provenzano said.  “Instead of a symbolic Executive Order, don’t we have better things to do with our time? Like solving the actual problems that have earned us our ranking of the worst in the nation when it comes to women? Things like equal pay, access to preventative health care, the maternal mortality rate, abortion care and the atrociously high rate of domestic violence women are subjected to in Oklahoma, which has led us to have one of the highest homicide rates in the nation for women. This Executive Order is lip service. Let’s move on to something that will actually make an impact,” Rep. Provenzano said. -END-