Articles
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Budget & Tax, Good Government
LOFT may be used more by watchdogs than lawmakers
This year, lawmakers created the Legislative Office of Fiscal Transparency (LOFT), which will audit agency budgets and evaluate the effectiveness of state programs and services, issuing published reports of resulting conclusions. Supporters say the office will lead to better legislative oversight and more efficient use of taxpayer dollars. But officials in other states with similar programs say private-sector watchdogs, rather than politicians, often make better use of the resulting data.Ray Carter | May 31, 2019
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Good Government
Lawmakers cite constitutional problems with Ethics Commission regulations
Members of the Oklahoma Senate overwhelmingly rejected proposed Oklahoma Ethics Commission rules on Friday, saying the regulations violated constitutional rights.Ray Carter | May 17, 2019
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Good Government
Mazzei nomination advances after defense of tax cuts, savings
The Senate Appropriations Committee unanimously approved the nomination of former Sen. Mike Mazzei to serve as Gov. Kevin Stitt’s cabinet secretary of budget, less than a week after that appointment appeared in jeopardy.Ray Carter | May 13, 2019
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Good Government
Don’t let the state dox its citizens
The reason we need rules against doxing is obvious. People post this information for only one reason: to facilitate violence and harassment.Greg Forster, Ph.D. | April 26, 2019
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Good Government
Survey: Oklahoma voters support redirecting some tobacco money to rural health care
Money received by Oklahoma government from tobacco companies has been deposited into the state’s Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust Fund, beginning shortly after the 1998 Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement was reached. TSET then spends interest earnings on various health-related expenditures. New polling shows Oklahomans are ready to overhaul that arrangement.Ray Carter | April 9, 2019
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Good Government
Officials warn legislation could roll back workers’ comp progress
Oklahoma’s new administrative system is more focused than the old, court-based system on compensating injured workers and getting them back to work. House Bill 2367 would make a number of changes in the new system first established by the 2013 legislation.Mike Brake | April 9, 2019
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Good Government
Oklahoma’s digital transformation
Oklahoma’s Secretary of Digital Transformation and Administration, David Ostrowe, is looking to move state government into the future by focusing on transparency and integration. It’s high time state government entered the 21st century.Curtis Shelton | April 4, 2019
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Good Government
Transparency and caution
As session continues, the focus now moves from accountability to transparency.Jonathan Small | March 22, 2019
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Good Government
Pointless politics
Politics is full of good intentions and well-meaning ideas, so why does government so often stumble?Jonathan Small | March 15, 2019
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Good Government
OCPA statement on Gov. Stitt signing agency accountability bills
Jonathan Small | March 13, 2019