Fallin Talks About Meeting With Trump

Answering questions before touring the new Capitol restoration, Gov. Mary Fallin delved deeper Tuesday into her meeting with Donald Trump and his Chief of Staff Reince Priebus.

Fallin has jumped out as a top pick for the Secretary of the Interior. The agency in charge of overseeing national parks, environmental issues and Native American affairs.

When asked whether she thought she was qualified, she outlined the work she's done with Oklahoma departments like tourism and the recent deal struck with state tribes over water rights.

“We had a long conversation about our Indian tribes are in the state and how important they are to economic development and sovereignty issues,” she said.

Fallin’s appointment has made some environmentalists nervous, raising concerns over her stance on opening up federal lands for more oil and gas drilling. When asked, Fallin only hinted to a balance between stewardship and business, but did not answer the question outright.

She also did not give a straight answer on whether she thought climate change was real and if it was caused by human activity.

“I think we’ve gotta [sic] be good stewards of our land water and air, but things should be based on scientific information,” Fallin said. “I don't always adhere to what all the environmental groups express as what's happening on our planet.”

Joined by her husband Wade Christensen for the meeting inside Trump tower, Fallin said the conversation with the president-elect also focused on his other potential appointments and his vision for the country, namely his chief concern, jobs.

“We talked a lot about the economy and jobs and how to get our economy going again and to create jobs quickly,” she said. “He is very focused on that.”

In the end, Fallin said things are still up in the air.

“It's all speculative at this point. He has not offered me a position,” she said.