Articles
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Budget & Tax, Criminal Justice
Lawmakers told criminal justice reform requires increased spending
While many criminal justice reforms have been sold as a way to lower crime rates and taxpayer costs, lawmakers were told the reform process currently requires additional spending on treatment programs even as its unintended consequences are reducing the incentive for offenders to seek drug treatment and fueling a rise in homelessness.Ray Carter | October 14, 2019
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Education
Lawmakers’ inaction contributes to dire situation for neglected child
A child survivor of trauma (who also has autism) struggled to obtain needed services until he was able to attend a private school for children with special needs. But this year, due in part to Oklahoma lawmakers’ failure to increase the cap on the tax-credit scholarship program, the boy can no longer attend that school—and the local traditional school refuses to provide many services he needs. The case was one of many reasons parents and caretakers urged lawmakers to expand Oklahoma’s tax-credit scholarship program during a recent forum.Ray Carter | October 10, 2019
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Health Care
Lankford warns Medicaid expansion involves high costs
If Oklahoma expands its Medicaid program to cover able-bodied adults, as allowed by the federal Affordable Care Act, Oklahoma government will have to either raise taxes or divert money from other programs, U.S. Sen. James Lankford warns.Ray Carter | October 10, 2019
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Education
Foster and adoptive children receiving school choice opportunities
When the Lindsey Nicole Henry Scholarship program was opened to foster and adopted children in 2017, no one knew how popular it would be. While participation in the program has grown steadily in three years, for at least one family with five foster and adopted children, the program extension has been literally life-changing.Mike Brake | October 9, 2019
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Health Care
Expert: Lack of transparent pricing, unneeded procedures, driving up health costs
Politicians’ attempts to increase insurance coverage will do little to reduce medical costs or ensure appropriate medical care, according to a top medical expert.Ray Carter | October 7, 2019
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Education
Building funds a challenge for both charter and district schools
Because Oklahoma’s public charter schools, unlike their traditional counterparts, do not receive local property tax funding, it is very difficult to pay for quality facilities, lawmakers were told at a recent legislative study. At the same time, some traditional districts face similar problems for a different reason: Their local property valuations are too low to pay for construction and repairs.Ray Carter | October 3, 2019
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Education
Teachers’ union calls for gun control
The National Education Association is urging its members, which include a sizable share of Oklahoma teachers, to lobby Congress to pass new gun-control laws.Ray Carter | October 2, 2019
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Education
Tax-credit program benefits school serving children dealing with trauma
First Lady Sarah Stitt recently spoke at an open-house event for Hope Harbor Academy near Claremore.Ray Carter | September 30, 2019
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Economy
Oklahoma workers’ comp rates continue decline
Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner Glen Mulready has announced approval of a 5.1-percent decrease in workers’ compensation insurance loss costs for 2020, continuing a downward trend in business costs that was fueled in part by enactment of major workers’ compensation reform in 2013.Ray Carter | September 30, 2019
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Budget & Tax
Stitt cracks down on federal grants that lead to state spending hikes
One agency’s use of federal grants led to diversion of a half-million dollars in state appropriations this year to replace those funds when the agency lost the grant. To prevent history from repeating, Gov. Kevin Stitt has ordered agencies to submit federal grant applications to his office for advance review.Ray Carter | September 27, 2019