Articles
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Budget & Tax
Stitt: The Legislature ‘owns’ future budget problems
A day after having his vetoes of budget bills quickly overridden by state lawmakers, Gov. Kevin Stitt said he has no regrets.Ray Carter | May 14, 2020
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Economy
Stitt: Oklahoma can be national leader on COVID
Twenty days into the state’s reopening, Gov. Kevin Stitt said Oklahoma is on pace to enter the final phase of that process by June 1 and could be a national leader.Ray Carter | May 14, 2020
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Budget & Tax, Education
Federal cash, reduced costs, boost K-12 funds
This year’s budget legislation technically reduces state appropriations to the K-12 school system by 2.55 percent, or $78.2 million. But during floor activity on related legislation, lawmakers have repeatedly noted Oklahoma’s school system will nonetheless see an increase in total funding due to a flood of federal COVID-19 money.Ray Carter | May 14, 2020
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Budget & Tax
Stitt vetoes budget; Legislature overrides
Gov. Kevin Stitt vetoed the state’s “general appropriation” bill and several associated measures on Wednesday, but lawmakers voted to override those vetoes within hours.Ray Carter | May 14, 2020
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Budget & Tax, Health Care
Tax/fee on health care, state savings, to fund Medicaid expansion
Facing a July 1 expansion of Medicaid, members of the Oklahoma Senate voted Wednesday to fund the expansion of the welfare program with a de facto tax on health care and by drawing down an undetermined and open-ended amount of state savings.Ray Carter | May 14, 2020
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Education
Effort advances to prevent profiteering off charter schools
Members of the Oklahoma Senate voted Tuesday to bring Oklahoma’s charter school laws in line with national standards and prevent charter-school sponsors from using the schools as a de facto profit generator.Ray Carter | May 12, 2020
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Law & Principles, Culture & the Family
Lawmakers vote to protect businesses that aided COVID response
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, many businesses have been pressed into emergency service producing everything from hand sanitizers to personal protective equipment (PPE) for medical officials. Members of the Oklahoma Senate voted Tuesday to ensure those acts of goodwill are not met with lawsuits.Ray Carter | May 12, 2020
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Law & Principles
Privacy-protection measure heads to governor
A strong bipartisan coalition of lawmakers voted Tuesday to protect Oklahomans’ privacy when they support nonprofit charities and similar organizations.Ray Carter | May 12, 2020
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Budget & Tax, Education
Budget chair: State superintendent did not ‘help on anything—period’
The chair of the House committee that drafts the budget for Oklahoma’s K-12 school system said Tuesday that State Superintendent of Public Instruction Joy Hofmeister refused to provide meaningful assistance in this year’s budget process.Ray Carter | May 12, 2020
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Budget & Tax
Stitt says he will veto bills that redirect pension funds
Gov. Kevin Stitt announced he will veto two bills that redirect money from state pension systems to education. That will remove a substantial share of funding lawmakers used to avoid making larger cuts to state agency budgets and potentially force a redrafting of the state budget.Ray Carter | May 11, 2020