Articles
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Budget & Tax
OCPA offers solution for 35-percent legislative pay raise
The Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs has proposed a solution to lawmakers saying they have no choice but to accept a 35-percent pay raise after facing a $1.3 billion budget shortfall.Staff | May 21, 2020
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Budget & Tax
Stitt vetoes diversion of offender-management funds
“The state is not contractually obligated to increase private correctional facilities pay scales,” Stitt wrote.Ray Carter | May 20, 2020
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Budget & Tax, Good Government
Stitt vows transparency for CARES funding, warns cities can’t use it for shortfalls
Oklahomans will be able to view how the state spends $1.2 billion in federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act funding by going to the state’s online “checkbook,” Gov. Kevin Stitt announced Wednesday.Ray Carter | May 20, 2020
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Budget & Tax
Lawmakers exempt themselves from budget sacrifice
One thing was never aggressively pursued as a cost-saving measure: forgoing a 35 percent increase in legislative pay set to take effect in November.Ray Carter | May 20, 2020
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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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Education, Law & Principles
Oklahoma Senate has votes to pass improved Senate Bill 407
At OCPA, we’re glad to be working for all children and all schools to be eligible either for scholarships or for additional funding, and we’re glad to be working with other partners to help get Senate Bill 407 across the finish line, as lawmakers have pledged to do.Staff | 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