Articles
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Law & Principles
Lawmaker makes false statements about bill
State Rep. Josh West has made inaccurate and false claims about recent pension legislation approved by the Oklahoma House of Representatives, indicating he either didn’t read or didn’t understand the legislation, Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs President Jonathan Small said today.Jonathan Small | April 14, 2022
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Education, Culture & the Family
Mothers urge change to Stillwater bathroom policy
During the public-comment portion of the April 12 meeting of the Stillwater Board of Education, many parents urged the district to change its policy allowing transgender students—males who identify as female—to use the girls’ bathrooms.Ray Carter | April 13, 2022
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Law & Principles
Cap on government lawyer contracts advances
Contingency fees paid to private law firms by state government would be capped under legislation that has now won approval in the House Rules Committee.Ray Carter | April 13, 2022
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Education
Competition drives improvement in public schools
The overwhelming evidence shows that when public schools cease to be monopolies, they improve.Byron Schlomach, Ph.D. | April 13, 2022
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Budget & Tax, Law & Principles
Senate rejects House effort to pad lawmakers’ retirement
Members of the Oklahoma Senate have rejected legislation, advanced from the Oklahoma House of Representatives, that would have padded many legislators’ own retirement benefits.Ray Carter | April 11, 2022
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Budget & Tax, Law & Principles
OCPA praises Senators for rejecting retirement scheme
Members of the Senate took a strong stand against legislative self-dealing today by rejecting a House effort to quietly boost retirement benefits for state politicians, Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs President Jonathan Small said today.Staff | April 11, 2022
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Education
AG O’Connor: School transgender bathroom policy not mandated
There is no legal requirement forcing Oklahoma public schools to allow transgender individuals—biological males who identify as female—to have unfettered access to girls’ bathrooms, according to Oklahoma Attorney General John O’Connor.Ray Carter | April 11, 2022
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Education
State official criticizes Stillwater school bathroom policy
In a letter sent to the Stillwater Board of Education, Oklahoma Secretary of Education Ryan Walters said the board has adopted an “incorrect interpretation” of its requirements under federal Title IX law by declaring that students must be allowed to choose bathroom facilities based on self-identified gender identity rather than biology.Ray Carter | April 8, 2022
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Budget & Tax
Oklahoma House lawmakers vote to line their own pockets
Legislation recently passed by the Oklahoma House of Representatives boosts the taxpayer-funded retirement benefits of the same lawmakers who voted for the bill.Staff | April 8, 2022
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Education
Hofmeister: School transgender bathroom policies mandatory
A spokesperson for State Superintendent of Public Instruction Joy Hofmeister says Oklahoma public schools must allow students to use the bathroom of their choice, based on the student’s self-professed gender identity, and cannot restrict bathroom access based on biological gender.Ray Carter | April 7, 2022