Articles
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Health Care
To combat coronavirus, leaders cut healthcare red tape
To combat the coronavirus, President Trump and state officials have rolled back burdensome regulations on healthcare workers.Kaitlyn Finley | March 17, 2020
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Culture & the Family, Good Government
Legislature to restrict public access to Capitol
To deal with public-health concerns created by the coronavirus, the Legislature will dramatically restrict access to the Oklahoma Capitol in the coming weeks, legislative leaders have announced.Ray Carter | March 17, 2020
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Higher Education
Lankford targets Confucius Institute at OU, other colleges
At a time when Chinese government officials appear to be spreading conspiracy theories blaming the United States for the coronavirus, U.S. Sen. James Lankford is taking a hard look at Chinese efforts to exert inappropriate influence on American university campuses.Ray Carter | March 16, 2020
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Law & Principles
Lawsuit reform narrowly survives in Senate vote
Legislation that would allow Oklahoma voters to reinstate a longstanding lawsuit reform narrowly survived a Senate vote.Ray Carter | March 13, 2020
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Health Care
Restrictions on ‘surprise’ medical bills advance despite apparent hospital lobbying
Legislation that would protect Oklahomans from inflated “surprise” medical bills has advanced from the state Senate despite apparent lobbying in opposition by hospital officials.Ray Carter | March 13, 2020
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Health Care, Law & Principles
Republicans endorse ‘implicit bias’ training
The Republican-controlled Oklahoma House of Representatives voted this week to encourage medical professionals serving pregnant women to undergo “implicit bias” training.Ray Carter | March 12, 2020
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Health Care
Medicaid expansion may consume tobacco funds
Gov. Kevin Stitt’s decision to unilaterally expand Oklahoma’s Medicaid program to include able-bodied adults has left lawmakers scrambling to fund the program. A measure that would redirect Oklahoma’s tobacco-settlement funds to Medicaid is one proposal that has now gained approval in the Oklahoma Senate.Ray Carter | March 12, 2020
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Good Government
Government workforce reform remains far from certain
Measures to overhaul the Oklahoma government’s human resources system quietly advanced this week without debate or question from lawmakers. But the bills’ authors indicated much work remains, suggesting the likelihood of significant reform is far from certain.Ray Carter | March 12, 2020
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Law & Principles
Debate pits occupational freedom against regulatory state
To ease the financial barriers facing people who move to Oklahoma, state senators have voted to recognize out-of-state occupational licenses.Ray Carter | March 12, 2020
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Education
Extended use of ‘emergency’ teachers approved
In 2018, Oklahoma lawmakers approved around $600 million in tax increases, in part to fund teacher pay raises officials said were needed to address a teacher shortage that had forced schools to hire emergency-certified instructors who lacked traditional credentials.Ray Carter | March 11, 2020