Articles
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Law & Principles
Slave-owning past remains problem for Choctaws
The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma is now opposing federal efforts to require that descendants of the tribe’s former slaves be given promised rights before the tribe can receive federal housing funds.Ray Carter | August 19, 2020
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Education
Oklahomans say per-student funding should follow the student
By a two-to-one margin, Oklahomans say that if schools don’t open in the fall, parents should be able to take their tax dollars and go to another school.Brandon Dutcher | August 19, 2020
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Higher Education
OU institute declared Chinese propaganda entity
The U.S. Department of State has declared that the Confucius Institute U.S. Center, which has long operated an institute at the University of Oklahoma, is a foreign mission of the People’s Republic of China.Ray Carter | August 17, 2020
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Good Government
Governor’s new hires bring history of policy success
Two new members of Gov. Kevin Stitt’s staff have either a history of advancing successful conservative policy reforms in Oklahoma or are winning strong praise from those active in such debates.Ray Carter | August 17, 2020
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Higher Education
Require budget transparency in Oklahoma higher ed
Too often, colleges and universities around the country don’t provide transparent budgets. They aren’t accountable to policymakers and taxpayers.David Randall, Ph.D. | August 14, 2020
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Law & Principles
Oklahoma’s election-security laws within international norms
This year the Oklahoma Legislature approved, and the governor signed into law, legislation requiring that absentee votes cast during a pandemic include a copy of the voter’s photo ID, and reinstated a requirement for notarization of absentee voting in future elections. The bill was advanced after similar election safeguards were struck down by the Oklahoma Supreme Court based on a technicality.Ray Carter | August 13, 2020
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Health Care
Medicaid expansion costs soaring
The estimated cost of a Medicaid-expansion proposal narrowly approved by Oklahoma voters in June is soaring and threatens to force cuts to other parts of government, according to the state Senate’s chief budget writer.Ray Carter | August 13, 2020
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Economy
Oklahoma ranks high in economic report, but with caveats
Oklahoma ranks in the top 10 states in “economic outlook,” according to the 2020 “Rich States, Poor States” report issued by the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC). But there’s reason to think that may not last.Ray Carter | August 13, 2020
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Culture & the Family
Illegal firing, free-speech violation alleged in tribal suit
Shane Jett, a Republican former state lawmaker, has sued the chairman of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation in tribal court, alleging the chairman illegally fired Jett from his position as CEO of the Citizen Potawatomi Community Development Corporation.Ray Carter | August 13, 2020
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Budget & Tax
Appropriation-estimate process to face scrutiny
A state board that establishes how much money lawmakers can appropriate each year will be an initial target of investigation for the Legislative Office of Fiscal Transparency (LOFT).Ray Carter | August 13, 2020