Articles
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Health Care
Funding Medicaid expansion through hospital fees draws opposition
The Supplemental Hospital Offset Payment Program (SHOPP), a state fee assessed on hospitals’ net patient revenue that operates much like a traditional income tax, has been touted as a way to fund Oklahoma’s state share of Medicaid-expansion costs.Ray Carter | February 10, 2020
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Education
How much money does a government school monopoly need?
In Oklahoma as elsewhere, there is no upper limit to demands for more money from a government school system that has consistently squandered regular spending increases. However much we spend, it’s never enough; however big the spending increase is, it’s still so small that expecting to see any results from it is unreasonable.Greg Forster, Ph.D. | February 10, 2020
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Education
Seemingly harmless choice regulations compromise families’ privacy
In another state, the government school monopoly has provided Oklahoma with an object lesson. It handed over private, personal data on families in one of its choice programs to a lobbying group that opposes choice.Greg Forster, Ph.D. | February 7, 2020
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Law & Principles
Voters may get chance to pass lawsuit reform
To address problems created by an Oklahoma Supreme Court ruling issued last year, state voters could be given the opportunity to amend the Oklahoma Constitution to cap noneconomic damages under legislation awaiting a vote this session.Ray Carter | February 7, 2020
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Good Government
Study bolsters Stitt’s call for workforce reform
In his State of the State speech this week, Gov. Kevin Stitt said he wants to gradually make all positions in state government “at will” jobs, much like those at most private-sector companies. A new study from the State Chamber Research Foundation shows the state of Georgia has successfully handled a similar transition.Ray Carter | February 6, 2020
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Education
Trump, Stitt both support tax-credit scholarships
President Donald Trump urged Congress to advance a federal tax-credit scholarship program during his State of the Union address Tuesday evening, just one day after Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt urged state lawmakers to expand Oklahoma’s version of the same program.Ray Carter | February 5, 2020
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Education
Will 2020 see union reform?
Proposed legislation would give teachers the right to negotiate independently with a school district employer. Another proposed bill would allow teachers to vote periodically whether to keep their union, look for a new union, or do without union representation altogether.Ray Carter | February 5, 2020
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Budget & Tax
Stitt emphasizes government restraint—with one big exception
In his second State of the State address, Gov. Kevin Stitt mostly urged fiscal restraint, calling for increased state savings and agency consolidation, but he also promoted a tax/fee increase to fund a major expansion of welfare through Medicaid.Ray Carter | February 4, 2020
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Education
Stitt gives strong support to tax-credit scholarship program
Crossover Preparatory Academy's hard work and achievements were highlighted by Gov. Kevin Stitt at his State of the State address. Stitt urged lawmakers to raise the cap on the Oklahoma Equal Opportunity Education Scholarship Act that allowed the boys to attend private school.Ray Carter | February 3, 2020
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Higher Education
University of Central Oklahoma touts pronoun option ‘to affirm gender identity’
A recent email from the office of the president at the University of Central Oklahoma announced that faculty and staff will be able to include their pronouns on university business cards and name badges, but stressed those pronouns are not an indication of gender.Ray Carter | January 31, 2020