Articles
-
Budget & Tax
Ex-lawmaker Mike Jackson selected for spending oversight position
An oversight committee voted Friday to hire a former legislator-turned-lobbyist to head a newly created agency tasked with auditing and reviewing state spending.Ray Carter | May 8, 2020
-
Economy, Culture & the Family
AG Hunter to Norman mayor: ‘Religious services can go on as scheduled’
Attorney General Mike Hunter has questioned why Norman Mayor Breea Clark is allowing gyms, tattoo parlors, and pet groomers to reopen on May 1 but has forbidden houses of worship from doing the same until mid-month. At the same time, Mayor Clark has found herself embroiled in a federal lawsuit involving her decree that local hair salons could not reopen until mid-month as well.Mike Brake | May 8, 2020
-
Budget & Tax, Economy
Don’t hit businesses on UI experience rating
As Oklahoma begins the slow process of reopening, policy solutions for consumers and businesses will be needed to jumpstart the economy. With Oklahoma unemployment reaching record numbers, lawmakers must focus on making hiring easier for businesses. One way would be to suspend any increases to experience rating for businesses paying unemployment insurance (UI) taxes.Curtis Shelton | May 8, 2020
-
Law & Principles
Measure requiring absentee voter ID sent to governor
Touting the need to protect election integrity, members of the Oklahoma Senate voted Thursday to require some form of verification from absentee voters.Ray Carter | May 7, 2020
-
Budget & Tax
House budget debate pits tax increases against spending restraint, savings
House lawmakers voted Thursday to send legislation to Gov. Kevin Stitt that relies on modest spending reductions and use of savings rather than tax increases to cover a $1.3 billion shortfall.Ray Carter | May 7, 2020
-
Law & Principles
Should Oklahoma elections go postal?
Nancy Pelosi wants to use federal legislation to push states to expand voting by mail. Her allies in Oklahoma are pushing the same agenda.Trent England | May 7, 2020
-
Law & Principles
Election security measure gains strong House approval
After the Oklahoma Supreme Court ruled that state law allows citizens to vote absentee by simply signing an affidavit, members of the Oklahoma House of Representatives voted Wednesday to revise the law and address associated concerns about election fraud.Ray Carter | May 6, 2020
-
Health Care, Law & Principles
Health worker protection advances over Democratic objections
Legislation to protect health care providers from COVID-19 lawsuits gained Senate approval Wednesday, despite Democratic efforts to block a final vote on the bill.Ray Carter | May 6, 2020
-
Budget & Tax
Market downturn could wallop Oklahoma pension funds; COLA would make things worse
A new analysis from Pew Charitable Trusts provides numbers to show just how severe the impact of COVID-19 on public pensions in Oklahoma could be.Curtis Shelton | May 6, 2020
-
Budget & Tax
Senate approves funding bill as Democrats hint tax increases needed
The Oklahoma Senate approved Tuesday the “general appropriation” bill to fund state government for the next year but did so over the objections of Democrats who hinted tax increases should be pursued instead of modest spending reductions.Ray Carter | May 6, 2020