Gov. Kevin Stitt of Oklahoma, a Republican and the chairman of the National Governors Association, on Thursday criticized the deployment of Texas National Guard troops to Illinois as a violation of his beliefs in federalism and "states' rights."
Mr. Stitt on Thursday said, "We believe in the federalist system — that's states' rights," adding, "Oklahomans would lose their mind if Pritzker in Illinois sent troops down to Oklahoma during the Biden administration."
Mr. Stitt stressed that he supported President Trump's efforts to protect Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents and ensure "law and order" in cities like Chicago and Portland, Ore. But he worried about the precedent that was being set by the guard deployment and how it could be used by a president from another party. Instead, Mr. Stitt said, Mr. Trump should have moved to federalize the troops in Illinois first.
Mr. Stitt pointed to his opposition during the pandemic to federal mandates around vaccinations and directions on masking under then-President Joseph R. Biden Jr., an opposition shared by Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas, a fellow Republican.
"I was surprised that Governor Abbott sent troops from Texas to Illinois," Mr. Stitt said. "Abbott and I sued the Biden administration when the shoe was on the other foot and the Biden administration was trying to force us to vaccinate all of our soldiers and force masks across the country." https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/09/us/politics/oklahoma-governor-national-guard.html
Quote from: patric on October 09, 2025, 02:22:53 PMGov. Kevin Stitt of Oklahoma, a Republican and the chairman of the National Governors Association, on Thursday criticized the deployment of Texas National Guard troops to Illinois as a violation of his beliefs in federalism and "states' rights."
Mr. Stitt on Thursday said, "We believe in the federalist system — that's states' rights," adding, "Oklahomans would lose their mind if Pritzker in Illinois sent troops down to Oklahoma during the Biden administration."
Well, I almost thought water was freezing in hell. But, then back to normal.