Articles
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Criminal Justice
A look back at criminal justice reform in Oklahoma
Although Oklahoma has enacted a significant amount of notable legislation aimed at improving Oklahoma’s criminal justice system, more reforms are necessary to continue to reduce the state’s incarceration rate.Kaitlyn Finley | September 27, 2019
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Health Care
Officials confirm: Many uninsured already receive care through Indian Health Service
After weeks of speculation, officials confirmed that one-in-10 uninsured Oklahomans today can access free health care treatment through the Indian Health Service system and various tribal facilities.Ray Carter | September 26, 2019
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Education
Oklahoma Attorney General defends tax-credit scholarship programs
Oklahoma Attorney General Mike Hunter has filed a brief with the U.S. Supreme Court to defend the participation of private religious schools in state tax-credit scholarship programs, arguing that a Montana Supreme Court decision striking down such programs unconstitutionally violated citizens’ First Amendment rights.Ray Carter | September 24, 2019
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Education
Lawmakers urged to follow Texas model on teacher hiring
Oklahoma teacher salaries have surged in the last two years, yet reports of a teacher shortage persist. Members of the House Common Education Committee recently met to consider how to address that challenge, and were encouraged to follow the Texas model, which involves heavy reliance on alternatively certified teachers.Ray Carter | September 24, 2019
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Health Care
Medicaid expansion wouldn’t cover Oklahoma children
If Oklahoma expanded Medicaid, hundreds of thousands of able-bodied, working-age adults could sign up for Medicaid. No expansion dollars would go towards needy Oklahoma children on Medicaid now.Kaitlyn Finley | September 23, 2019
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Health Care
Hospital official urges support for controversial ‘fee’
During a recent meeting of the Healthcare Working Group, hospital officials urged policymakers to preserve a “provider tax” to obtain federal Medicaid funding. But that program and others like it have been criticized by Democrats and Republicans alike as a “scam,” and one legislative leader noted federal reform may require meaningful changes to the program.Ray Carter | September 23, 2019
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Education
Tulsa parents are voting with their feet
TPS announced it faces a budget shortfall and must cut $20 million. TPS officials cite a lack of state funding as the reason for the shortfall—despite the fact the Legislature has increased education funding by more than $620 million in the last two years, the largest increase to education in state history.Curtis Shelton | September 20, 2019
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Health Care
Officials say Medicaid harms hospital finances, then seek its expansion anyway
Hospital officials urged members of the bicameral Healthcare Working Group to add up to 628,000 able-bodied adults to Oklahoma’s Medicaid program, even though they said they lose money serving Medicaid patients, the program does not guarantee patients access to treatment, and Medicaid effectively raises the cost of private insurance.Ray Carter | September 19, 2019
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Culture & the Family
Fears Fellowship welcomes first class
At a dinner event launching the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs’ first J. Rufus Fears Fellowship, attendees were told the lessons of history that Fears championed, and their relevance for today’s political issues, will be the focus in the weeks ahead.Ray Carter | September 19, 2019
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Education
Anti-bullying bill sidelined as bullying problem grows
Reports of school violence and bullying have increased in recent weeks, but legislation that would have helped children escape from dangerous and even life-threatening situations remains sidelined at the Oklahoma Capitol.Ray Carter | September 17, 2019