Articles
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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
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Education
Oklahoma parents want the money to follow the child
Yet another scientific survey of Oklahoma voters has found strong support for parental choice in education.Brandon Dutcher | September 17, 2019
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Education
Studies show virtual charters not overfunded
Based on national research, Oklahoma’s virtual charter schools are not overfunded, lawmakers were told this week.Ray Carter | September 13, 2019
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Higher Education
Facing discrimination claims, OU settles with law professor
The University of Oklahoma has reached a settlement agreement with a law school professor whose Christian beliefs and writings made him the target of hostile articles in the student newspaper last year and resulted in his loss of two administrative positions.Mike Brake | September 13, 2019
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Education
Experts: Many trade-offs with class-size limits
While some school lobbying groups continue to call for reducing class sizes, experts told members of the Senate Education Committee on Tuesday that class-size reduction is very expensive, the educational benefits are limited, and there may be more beneficial ways to spend taxpayer resources in schools.Ray Carter | September 11, 2019
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Education
HB 1017 reforms included school-choice funding
The passage of House Bill 1017 in 1990 has long been hailed as a major step forward for Oklahoma education. One often overlooked component of that reform measure is that the law allowed the use of taxpayer funding to cover private-school costs for certain students, lawmakers were reminded Tuesday.Ray Carter | September 10, 2019