Articles
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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
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Education
Stillwater transgender-bathroom policy in place ‘for years’
Amidst pushback from parents about Stillwater Public Schools’ policy of allowing students to choose the bathroom facility that aligns with their self-proclaimed gender identity and not biology, the school’s superintendent recently announced that policy has been in place “for many years.”Ray Carter | April 7, 2022
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Education
Grand jury investigation sought for Shawnee schools
State Sen. Shane Jett has asked Oklahoma Attorney General John O’Connor to conduct a multi-county grand jury investigation into the Shawnee Public Schools district following citizen reports of a “systemic pattern” of school officials ignoring and covering up alleged student abuse by former coach Ron Arthur.Ray Carter | April 7, 2022
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Education
Let parents, not the state, decide on pre-K
It’s time to empower parents through school choice programs—including for pre-K—to make the right decision for their own children.Greg Forster, Ph.D. | April 5, 2022
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Education
Oklahoma schools ignoring long-term staff abuse of students
In 2007, Delinda Curtis notified the Shawnee Public Schools superintendent, athletic director, and at least one school board member that her son had reported being sexually groomed and mistreated by basketball coach Ron Arthur. Among other things, Arthur had fondled the boy’s testicles, encouraged him to visit porn sites, and made sexual comments.Ray Carter | April 4, 2022
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Law & Principles
Oklahoma election-integrity measures are justified
Voter confidence is crucial to democratic stability. That’s why it is appropriate for Oklahoma state lawmakers to advance election-security measures even though Oklahoma has not suffered the election irregularities that have plagued other states.Jonathan Small | April 4, 2022
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Budget & Tax
Pension-reform rollback puts taxpayers at risk
HB 2486, which is co-authored by state Sen. Dewayne Pemberton (R-Muskogee), a retired public-school educator, places future generations of Oklahomans in financial jeopardy.Curtis Shelton | April 1, 2022
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Law & Principles
Justice delayed, denied due to McGirt
In July 2020, Crystal Marie Haworth walked into the Pittsburg County Sheriff’s Office covered in blood and admitted that she tried to cut off Leonard Brokeshoulder’s head, according to law enforcement officials.Ray Carter | March 31, 2022
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Education
Children’s best advocates like school choice
Studies show that the people who know children the best and who generally have the very best interests of children at heart—parents—are overwhelmingly satisfied that they are improving their children’s education with school choice.Byron Schlomach, Ph.D. | March 31, 2022