Articles
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Budget & Tax
Oklahoma budget shortfall looms
The total decline for the 2021 state budget could approach $600 million. And that doesn’t appear to account for new spending mandated by Medicaid expansion, which could cost up to $374 million annually.Ray Carter | March 20, 2020
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Education
State could suspend student testing, school grades
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Joy Hofmeister has announced that the state will seek a federal waiver to suspend both state testing for the 2019-20 school year and school report cards, two major transparency measures that have allowed officials to track the trajectory of public education in Oklahoma.Ray Carter | March 19, 2020
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Health Care
Many to be exempted from Medicaid-expansion cost-sharing provisions
A top official at the Oklahoma Health Care Authority says Gov. Kevin Stitt’s Medicaid-expansion plan will include substantial exemptions from the cost-sharing and work-requirement provisions that have been touted as the plan’s major selling point.Ray Carter | March 19, 2020
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Health Care, Law & Principles
Coronavirus response undermines case for many regulations
Gov. Kevin Stitt has signed an executive order that waives various regulations in Oklahoma, including mandates restricting the provision of telemedicine, to help address issues associated with coronavirus.Ray Carter | March 18, 2020
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Education
Oklahoma closes public schools—including online schools
To reduce the likelihood of coronavirus exposure among children and school staff, the Oklahoma State Board of Education voted this week to close all public schools from March 17 to April 6—including virtual charter schools.Ray Carter | March 17, 2020
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Culture & the Family, Good Government
Legislature to restrict public access to Capitol
To deal with public-health concerns created by the coronavirus, the Legislature will dramatically restrict access to the Oklahoma Capitol in the coming weeks, legislative leaders have announced.Ray Carter | March 17, 2020
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Higher Education
Lankford targets Confucius Institute at OU, other colleges
At a time when Chinese government officials appear to be spreading conspiracy theories blaming the United States for the coronavirus, U.S. Sen. James Lankford is taking a hard look at Chinese efforts to exert inappropriate influence on American university campuses.Ray Carter | March 16, 2020
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Law & Principles
Lawsuit reform narrowly survives in Senate vote
Legislation that would allow Oklahoma voters to reinstate a longstanding lawsuit reform narrowly survived a Senate vote.Ray Carter | March 13, 2020
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Health Care
Restrictions on ‘surprise’ medical bills advance despite apparent hospital lobbying
Legislation that would protect Oklahomans from inflated “surprise” medical bills has advanced from the state Senate despite apparent lobbying in opposition by hospital officials.Ray Carter | March 13, 2020
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Health Care, Law & Principles
Republicans endorse ‘implicit bias’ training
The Republican-controlled Oklahoma House of Representatives voted this week to encourage medical professionals serving pregnant women to undergo “implicit bias” training.Ray Carter | March 12, 2020