Articles
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Education, Culture & the Family
Leader of 2018 teacher walkout arrested
One of the chief ringleaders of the 2018 teacher walkouts in Oklahoma has been arrested for lewd proposals to a minor.Ray Carter | May 20, 2020
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Law & Principles
Stitt opposes legislators’ effort to restrict online car tag renewal
Gov. Kevin Stitt vetoed seven more bills late Tuesday, including one measure that would have prevented Oklahomans from renewing auto tags online through the Oklahoma Tax Commission.Ray Carter | May 20, 2020
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Budget & Tax
Citing wasteful spending, Stitt vetoes bills
Continuing his emphasis on fiscal conservatism, Gov. Kevin Stitt vetoed four measures on Monday and called on lawmakers to instead eliminate wasteful spending.Ray Carter | May 18, 2020
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Budget & Tax
Lawmakers vote to raid pension assets for benefit increase
Lawmakers voted Friday to approve an unfunded increase in state workers’ retirement benefits.Ray Carter | May 15, 2020
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Health Care
Lawmakers vote to alter catastrophic health law
Lawmakers narrowly approved changes to the law that allows the governor to declare a “catastrophic health emergency” during Wednesday’s floor votes, despite objections from critics who said the bill was too restrictive of local officials’ response in future pandemics.Ray Carter | May 14, 2020
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Budget & Tax
Stitt: The Legislature ‘owns’ future budget problems
A day after having his vetoes of budget bills quickly overridden by state lawmakers, Gov. Kevin Stitt said he has no regrets.Ray Carter | May 14, 2020
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Economy
Stitt: Oklahoma can be national leader on COVID
Twenty days into the state’s reopening, Gov. Kevin Stitt said Oklahoma is on pace to enter the final phase of that process by June 1 and could be a national leader.Ray Carter | May 14, 2020
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Budget & Tax, Education
Federal cash, reduced costs, boost K-12 funds
This year’s budget legislation technically reduces state appropriations to the K-12 school system by 2.55 percent, or $78.2 million. But during floor activity on related legislation, lawmakers have repeatedly noted Oklahoma’s school system will nonetheless see an increase in total funding due to a flood of federal COVID-19 money.Ray Carter | May 14, 2020
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Budget & Tax
Stitt vetoes budget; Legislature overrides
Gov. Kevin Stitt vetoed the state’s “general appropriation” bill and several associated measures on Wednesday, but lawmakers voted to override those vetoes within hours.Ray Carter | May 14, 2020
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Budget & Tax, Health Care
Tax/fee on health care, state savings, to fund Medicaid expansion
Facing a July 1 expansion of Medicaid, members of the Oklahoma Senate voted Wednesday to fund the expansion of the welfare program with a de facto tax on health care and by drawing down an undetermined and open-ended amount of state savings.Ray Carter | May 14, 2020