Articles
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Education, Culture & the Family, Good Government
After Oklahoma Republicans side with OEA, union touts transgender reading program
Two days after six Republican senators joined Democrats to defeat legislation opposed by the Oklahoma Education Association, the union is promoting a national day of school readings on transgender issues.Ray Carter | February 27, 2020
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Good Government
‘At will’ worker measure advances
All new state government workers would be made “at will” employees under legislation that has advanced from a House committee, marking movement on a reform endorsed by Gov. Kevin Stitt.Ray Carter | February 26, 2020
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Good Government
Bill advances to boost appointment power
Legislation that would increase the appointment power of the governor, House speaker, and Senate president pro tempore has gained easy approval in a Senate committee.Ray Carter | February 26, 2020
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Law & Principles, Good Government
Lawsuit-reform restoration advances
Legislation to reinstate caps on noneconomic damages in certain lawsuits has gained approval from a Senate committee.Ray Carter | February 26, 2020
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Judicial Reform, Law & Principles, Good Government
Lawmakers seek sunlight for Oklahoma judicial processes
The operations of the Oklahoma Supreme Court and the state’s Judicial Nominating Commission have long drawn criticism for excessive secrecy and lack of public transparency. Two bills that have cleared a Senate committee seek to address that problem.Ray Carter | February 25, 2020
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Education, Law & Principles, Good Government
GOP defectors side with unions
Six Republican senators joined Democrats to defeat legislation that would require routine recertification elections for education unions, providing a victory for a teachers’ union that recently gave failing grades to most of Oklahoma’s congressional delegation.Ray Carter | February 25, 2020
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Good Government
State could investigate city officials under proposed law
What if they held an election and no one abided by the results? The community of Bennington found out in recent years when voters ousted a mayor but the mayor refused to leave office, according to Rep. Justin Humphrey.Ray Carter | February 19, 2020
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Good Government
Citizen-engagement privacy is essential
If you can’t speak anonymously or join confidentially, you have no zone of privacy and the state has no limits.Amy Anderson | February 12, 2020
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Good Government
Study bolsters Stitt’s call for workforce reform
In his State of the State speech this week, Gov. Kevin Stitt said he wants to gradually make all positions in state government “at will” jobs, much like those at most private-sector companies. A new study from the State Chamber Research Foundation shows the state of Georgia has successfully handled a similar transition.Ray Carter | February 6, 2020
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Law & Principles, Good Government
Court arguments highlight redistricting plan’s potential impact
Arguments before the Oklahoma Supreme Court highlighted how an initiative-petition proposal, which would strip the Oklahoma Legislature of redistricting power and place that authority with an outside commission, could play out in practice.Ray Carter | January 22, 2020