DENNIS L. BAKER FOR U.S. SENATE

My name is Dennis Baker, and I am asking Democrats and Independents in the state of Oklahoma for your support. I’m running for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate to beat Republican Senator James Lankford. The 33 years I spent in law enforcement left me with a very strong understanding of the responsibility that we collectively have to those who have served our country.

Oklahoma has more veterans per capita than any other state and we are rightfully proud of our military tradition. Those who choose to go into the armed services give up a great deal for the sake of their country.

Republicans in the Senate plan to target Medicare and Social Security for cuts if they win the Senate in November. Over 50% of our veterans use Medicare in addition to their VA insurance and cutting it would put an additional burden on people who’ve already given enough. Sending Democrats like me to the Senate is the only way to prevent this from happening.

I will push for more support to be given to the VA to address increasing needs as more service members retire from active duty. I will push for faster and better access to high quality mental health care to help prevent veteran suicides. The number of men and women we lose to suicide is tragically high.

Our veterans served our country; we cannot abandon them when they need us most. Lankford does not offer that same commitment.

Just last week Lankford voted against the Honoring our Pact Act that will expand health coverage to more veterans who were injured by toxins from Agent Orange back in Vietnam to the burn pits in Iraq and Afghanistan. Senator Lankford justified his no vote by saying “those affected will be disadvantaged by an increase in claims and longer wait times.” Anyone who is a veteran or who cares for a veteran should be disturbed by this vote.

I believe that if we can’t take care of all the people who fought to take care of us that we should expand the system, not just leave people out on their own.

I honor those who have defended us in the armed services and am ready to go to work in Washington, D.C. to defend them. I would appreciate the honor of your vote.

Learn more about my campaign at www.DennisLBaker.com and follow me on Facebook and Twitter.