Articles
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Health Care
Stitt discusses details, timeline for his Medicaid reform plan
At a recent town hall meeting in Kingfisher, Gov. Kevin Stitt reiterated his opposition to a ballot initiative that would expand Oklahoma’s Medicaid program and said he plans to offer an alternative in the summer.Ray Carter | April 29, 2019
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Law & Principles
State leaders consider response to court’s ruling on lawsuit reform
This week the Oklahoma Supreme Court struck down a lawsuit-reform law that capped noneconomic (“pain and suffering”) damages at $350,000, declaring it a “special law” that unconstitutionally treated similarly situated plaintiffs differently. State political, business, and medical leaders all say there will be an effort to reinstitute the cap, which has been declared vital to keeping doctors in Oklahoma and improving the state’s attractiveness to entrepreneurs.Ray Carter | April 26, 2019
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Judicial Reform
Gov. Stitt signs judicial reform bill
Gov. Kevin Stitt signed legislation Thursday that modernizes the district lines used to select Oklahoma Supreme Court nominees so district populations are roughly equal.Ray Carter | April 26, 2019
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Health Care
Alternative Medicaid plan may be much more expensive
As Oklahoma lawmakers consider embracing the federal Affordable Care Act’s Medicaid expansion, lawmakers have suggested they may use Arkansas as a model.But experts and independent evaluations of Arkansas’ program suggest there is one major problem with that proposal.Ray Carter | April 25, 2019
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Health Care
Activists’ claims, research, at odds
Activists called for expansion of Oklahoma’s Medicaid program at a Wednesday rally. But many of the arguments they put forth are undercut by research.Ray Carter | April 24, 2019
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Health Care
McEntire discusses longstanding GOP effort to expand Medicaid
A top House Republican told activists attending a Wednesday rally that Republican leaders have been working on a plan to expand Medicaid for more than a year, a goal that has long been a top agenda item for Democrats.Ray Carter | April 24, 2019
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Law & Principles
Oklahoma Supreme Court strikes down cap on noneconomic damages
In a split decision issued Tuesday, the Oklahoma Supreme Court declared a cap on noneconomic “pain and suffering” damage awards is an unconstitutional special law. The ruling, which strikes down a key reform long sought by business leaders and doctors, drew a sharp response from Senate leadership.Ray Carter | April 23, 2019
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Health Care
Citizens question how personal information was obtained by activists
Organizers of an April 24 rally to support expansion of Oklahoma’s Medicaid program recently issued a release declaring a “broad coalition of Oklahomans” would be involved. But organizers resorted to the modern version of cold-calling strangers to drive up turnout.Ray Carter | April 23, 2019
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Education
Program called life-changing answer to prayer
Parents and school officials say a tax credit program that encourages private donations to scholarship-granting organizations has been, literally, life-saving and an answer to prayer, and urged lawmakers to expand the program.Ray Carter | April 22, 2019
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Budget & Tax
Economists differ on Oklahoma’s budget future
Despite approval of roughly $1 billion in tax increases over the last three years, a new report claims Oklahoma will face “persistent” shortfalls that reach more than $1 billion by 2030 and “draconian cuts” to state services will occur unless lawmakers approve additional large tax increases. But some economic experts say policymakers should view such claims with caution.Ray Carter | April 22, 2019