Articles
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Education
Anti-bullying measure advances, but aid for victims remains sidelined
Legislation requiring public schools to take more seriously reports of bullying has gained easy passage in the Oklahoma Senate. But even as lawmakers decry the growing problem of school bullying, efforts to increase the options available to victims of bullying remain sidelined at the Capitol.Ray Carter | March 11, 2020
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Budget & Tax, Education
Senate votes to use marijuana tax for school buildings
The Oklahoma Senate has narrowly approved legislation that would use marijuana taxes to fund building repair and construction in school districts with very little local property tax funding.Ray Carter | March 10, 2020
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Budget & Tax, Education
Unfunded retirement bill wins House approval
Legislation that increases state payments to retired government workers, but does not include a direct funding source, has passed the Oklahoma House of Representatives without opposition on a 99-0 vote. The measure is expected to boost the state’s unfunded liability by $800 million to $900 million.Ray Carter | March 10, 2020
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Good Government
Like a good neighbor: Stitt seeks sensible collaborations for the public good
The “BeANeighbor” initiative—with its Tocquevillian understanding of the importance of civil society—could be Gov. Kevin Stitt’s most long-lasting legacy.Patrick B. McGuigan | March 10, 2020
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Health Care
Stitt seeks to grow government, expand Medicaid
Governor Kevin Stitt is seeking to expand Medicaid eligibility to hundreds of thousands of able-bodied adults under his “SoonerCare 2.0” plan.Kaitlyn Finley | March 10, 2020
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Budget & Tax
OKPLAC opposes aid for teachers, school security, adoption
In an email sent to Oklahoma lawmakers this month and later posted online, the Oklahoma Parent Legislative Action Committee (OKPLAC) has urged legislators to kill numerous tax-break measures, including bills that would reduce teachers’ out-of-pocket health insurance costs, improve school security, and support adoption.Ray Carter | March 10, 2020
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Judicial Reform, Law & Principles
Senators support judicial nominating transparency
A measure to bring Oklahoma’s judicial nominating process in line with the transparency requirements of many other states has won strong approval in the Oklahoma Senate.Ray Carter | March 10, 2020
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Law & Principles
Opioid case prompts cap on attorney fees
Oklahoma lawmakers have voted to cap the amount state agencies can pay to contract lawyers after attorneys involved with the state’s opioid lawsuit were promised millions in return for their services.Ray Carter | March 10, 2020
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Education, Agriculture
Politicized teaching feared with ‘climate change’ standards
The inclusion of “climate change” material in Oklahoma’s new science standards for public schools, beginning as early as middle school, has business leaders concerned classrooms could become politicized and schools weaponized against economically foundational industries.Ray Carter | March 6, 2020
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Health Care
Democrat praises GOP’s embrace of Obamacare
GOP Gov. Kevin Stitt’s embrace of Obamacare Medicaid expansion and Republican legislative leaders’ efforts to assist in that effort has reaped backhanded praise from an unexpected source: legislative Democrats who have long championed the federal Affordable Care Act (ACA) and its Medicaid expansion.Ray Carter | March 6, 2020