In Oklahoma, we know that government kills opportunity

The Biden administration recently admitted that it will fail to meet its own energy development goals without significant congressional reform to the permitting process. It’s no surprise — the federal government has grown so big that it has become its own worst enemy.

America was built on a foundation of hard work, innovation and the belief that anyone, regardless of background, can achieve success through determination. But over the decades, our government has become more intrusive, and regulation has quietly added hurdle after hurdle for hard-working Americans.

Americans do not wait around for permission to chase our dreams. We are not the type to miss an opportunity because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work. 

But Washington’s answer to every problem is another piece of legislation. And what’s a bill without a hefty price tag? Then you need a layer of bureaucracy to enforce the provisions of the bill, cementing a spending commitment for generations to come.

There seems to be a notion that more rules equal more progress. But in reality, each brick we throw on the pile just buries the American Dream.

The federal permitting process plainly illustrates this counterproductive cycle. What started as a commitment to protecting our natural resources and people working in often dangerous environments turned into a weapon for activists. Now the U.S. is one of the slowest nations in the developed world at greenlighting new energy projects.

Endless litigious delays and overreaching environmental rules choke businesses. As a result, it can take years to get approval just to break ground. By the time you navigate all the hoops, the opportunity has passed. So instead of investing in America, businesses are forced to invest overseas, where they don’t face the same level of government delay and interference. That is not progress — it is a recipe for stagnation.

In Oklahoma, we are showing there is a better way. It starts by forcing government to move at the speed of business. We streamlined our permitting processes, repealed outdated rules and set clear deadlines for state agencies so that businesses are not stuck in limbo waiting for approval. If one of our state agencies fails to comply with their own set processing times, it is required to refund the application fee in full. Time is money, and we are not interested in wasting either.

However, we have to do more than just cut regulations — we must cut through the illusion that the government knows best. Americans do not need their government telling them how to run a business. Whether you are starting a company, hiring more employees or investing in your family’s future, you should have the freedom to do so without the government breathing down your neck.

As the businessman governor, I have seen what happens when government gets out of the way. It gives businesses a tailwind. Oklahoma has chosen not to try picking winners and losers, because we know that cream rises to the top. The businesses that are doing the best work and providing the best services for their customers are the ones that will succeed. When we get out of the way, doors open, communities grow stronger and people take control of their own lives. 

Government leaders must intentionally choose freedom over control, opportunity over bureaucracy and innovation over stagnation. We need to trust our people and businesses to lead us, because no bureaucrat or spending bill will fix our problems.

We cannot legislate or spend our country into prosperity. Opportunity has always been, and will always be, the force that drives America forward.

J. Kevin Stitt is the 28th governor of Oklahoma.