Gov. Fallin Criticized For Lack Of Diversity On Health Care Task Force

<p>Governor Mary Fallin is coming under fire for appointing a task force to target minority issues, without having any people of color on the team. &nbsp;</p>

Wednesday, December 7th 2016, 5:29 pm



Governor Mary Fallin is coming under fire for appointing a task force to target minority issues, without having any people of color on the team. 

The National Governors Association is helping two states, Rhode Island and Oklahoma, identify ways to use Medicaid to draw medical professionals to underserved communities.

The governor has set up a task force but State Representative George Young (D) Oklahoma City says there are no people of color on the team. 

“If you're going to pull together a group of folks who are going to try and impact that situation in a positive way why wouldn't you add some people of color who know the community, who work in the community, who live in that community, who have a heart for that community and can make something happen that can be positive,” Young said.

Back in September, the governor appointed a criminal justice reform task force, but not a single member of the 14-member task force was a person of color.

Now the governor has appointed another task force to deal with healthcare in underserved communities. And that task force also lacks diversity. 

Young said the people most directly impacted don’t have a seat at the table.

"When you look at those issues you ought to attack the places where it seems to be the most serious.” Young said, “And those places are people of color, Native Americans, Hispanics. Those are the areas."

Young said the decision not only hurts people of color, it hurts the whole state. 

"The last two years, make your two years meaningful and make them meaningful.” Young said, “Not only to the people you like but the whole state of Oklahoma."

logo

Get The Daily Update!

Be among the first to get breaking news, weather, and general news updates from News 9 delivered right to your inbox!

More Like This

December 7th, 2016

March 22nd, 2024

March 14th, 2024

February 9th, 2024

Top Headlines

March 29th, 2024

March 29th, 2024

March 29th, 2024

March 29th, 2024