Articles
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Budget & Tax
Budget impasse discussed in dueling press conferences
Gov. Kevin Stitt and House leaders announced they are at an impasse with Senate leaders in budget negotiations, but highlighted only a handful of concrete differences during a Monday press conference.Ray Carter | May 13, 2019
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Good Government
Mazzei nomination advances after defense of tax cuts, savings
The Senate Appropriations Committee unanimously approved the nomination of former Sen. Mike Mazzei to serve as Gov. Kevin Stitt’s cabinet secretary of budget, less than a week after that appointment appeared in jeopardy.Ray Carter | May 13, 2019
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Health Care
Bill to expand insurance coverage quietly becomes law
Senate Bill 943, authored by leadership in both chambers of the Legislature, updates and aligns Oklahoma law with federal regulations regarding the creation of association health plans.Ray Carter | May 13, 2019
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Health Care
OCPA files legal challenge to Medicaid-expansion petition
The Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs, a free-market think tank, has filed a legal challenge to an initiative petition that would expand the state’s Medicaid welfare program, saying the proposal is unconstitutional and the petition gist is so misleading it violates state law.Staff | May 10, 2019
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Budget & Tax, Education
PLAC supports Democrats’ education budget
The Oklahoma Parent Legislative Action Committee (PLAC) has endorsed a Democratic budget plan. The proposal put forth by the House Democrats not only spends the entirety of this year’s $570 million surplus, but would increase total spending by more than $800 million. To fill the financial gap, Democrats would raise taxes on income and investment.Ray Carter | May 9, 2019
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Health Care
Thousands of disabled Oklahomans stuck on Medicaid waiting list
Thousands of Oklahomans with developmental disabilities may wait years to receive specialized home care through a waiver program under the state’s traditional Medicaid program.Kaitlyn Finley | May 9, 2019
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Budget & Tax
Economic growth, tax hikes produce record-high state revenue
Some tax consumers may try to point to the tax increases as the main driver for the recent record-high revenue collections, but the data suggests otherwise.Curtis Shelton | May 9, 2019
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Health Care
Medicaid expansion could crowd out disabled
An Arkansas state representative warns that individuals with developmental disabilities may be among the people most harmed, indirectly, by expanding Medicaid to able-bodied adults.Ray Carter | May 8, 2019
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Education
Stitt nominee passes committee over Democratic opposition
Democrat legislators opposed the appointment of William Flanagan, Jr. to the State Board of Education after he voiced support for charter schools and virtual education and said officials could reduce administrative duplication and waste in Oklahoma schools.Ray Carter | May 8, 2019
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Higher Education
Officials give glimpse of plans for OU
The future of the University of Oklahoma will involve a continued focus on efficiency, fewer new buildings and an expansion of online learning, based on the comments of officials appearing before the Senate Education Committee.Ray Carter | May 7, 2019