Articles
-
Budget & Tax
McGirt decision creating millions in new expenses for state
While the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in McGirt v. Oklahoma may have stripped the state of the power to prosecute countless crimes involving a mix of Indians and non-Indians in eastern Oklahoma, it has not reduced state law-enforcement expenses, officials told lawmakers at a recent budget hearing.Ray Carter | January 17, 2022
-
Law & Principles
Three conservative policies for 2022
With a new year comes new year’s resolutions. While the average citizen may focus on diet and exercise, state policymakers should emphasize growth—growing our economy and increasing opportunity.Jonathan Small | January 17, 2022
-
Education
Lankford pressures Biden administration on parents-as-terrorists letter
U.S. Sen. James Lankford, R-Oklahoma City, is among 24 senators calling on U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona to explain what role he or any staff at the U.S. Department of Education played in the production of a letter that labeled parents the equivalent of terrorists.Ray Carter | January 14, 2022
-
Law & Principles
Court rules against Biden vaccine mandate
The Biden administration’s effort to make COVID-19 vaccines a condition of employment throughout the private sector has been rejected by the U.S. Supreme Court, although the court separately ruled that the Biden administration does have the authority to impose a vaccine mandate on health-care workers at facilities receiving Medicaid or Medicare funding.Ray Carter | January 14, 2022
-
Education
Oklahoma parents left in lurch by school closings
More than $2 billion in federal COVID-bailout funds have been provided to Oklahoma school districts since 2020 to cover the costs to safely open amidst the pandemic. But despite that lavish infusion of cash, numerous schools are now closing again amidst the rise of the Omicron variant.Ray Carter | January 13, 2022
-
Higher Education
In free-speech report, OU pretends lawsuit doesn’t exist
When Oklahoma legislators approved a 2019 law protecting college students’ free-speech rights, they included a requirement for state colleges to publicly post an annual report that includes “a description of any barriers to or incidents of disruption of free expression occurring on campus.”Ray Carter | January 11, 2022
-
Law & Principles
U.S. Supreme Court allows McGirt limit to stand
The U.S. Supreme Court has denied a petition for certiorari, leaving in place an Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals’ decision declaring the high court’s McGirt ruling will not be applied retroactively.Ray Carter | January 11, 2022
-
Budget & Tax, Education
Public schools carry over more than $1 billion
Oklahoma public schools carried over more than $1 billion at the end of the 2021 state budget year, marking an increase of more than 50 percent in school savings over the past five years.Ray Carter | January 10, 2022
-
Law & Principles
Biden administration argues it can mandate numerous vaccines
Defending its effort to make COVID-19 vaccination, or routine testing, a condition of private-sector employment, the Biden administration told the U.S. Supreme Court that federal law allows the executive branch to unilaterally mandate vaccinations through the Occupational Safety and Health Administration—and said the administration has the authority to require additional vaccinations as well.Ray Carter | January 7, 2022
-
Higher Education
Despite vaccines, OSU brings back masks
Even with COVID-19 vaccines readily available, Oklahoma State University intends to require masking in classrooms under certain circumstances.Maddison Farris | January 7, 2022