Articles
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Law & Principles
Legislative compact expands tribe’s territory 109,000 percent
Because of a 2020 U.S. Supreme Court ruling, new state-tribal tobacco compacts drafted by state legislators could provide a gargantuan expansion of tribal territory. That change could result in hundreds of millions in existing state tax collections shifting to the control of a small sliver of tribal officials over time, and force non-Native Oklahomans to shoulder a larger tax burden to make up the difference.Ray Carter | June 15, 2023
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Law & Principles
Tribal chiefs chosen by few tribal members
Election results suggest that Gov. Kevin Stitt received far more raw votes from American Indian voters than the combined number of tribal citizens who have cast votes in favor of the elected chiefs of five major tribes.Ray Carter | June 14, 2023
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Law & Principles
Oklahoma Democrats praise Republicans’ veto override
The Oklahoma House of Representatives has voted to override Gov. Kevin Stitt’s veto of legislation that would automatically renew existing state-tribal compacts that provide special breaks on the cost of car tags to Oklahomans based, to a large degree, on the owner’s race.Ray Carter | June 12, 2023
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Law & Principles
Stitt defends rule of law from tribal tax collectors
Oklahoma taxpayers can thank both Stitt and the Framers of American government for a system where executives have the power to negotiate deals—and to veto bills that try to interfere with that power.Trent England | June 7, 2023
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Law & Principles
Renewing tobacco, car-tag compacts bad for Oklahoma
Special-interest attempts to force automatic renewal of existing tobacco and license-tag compacts will create enormous challenges for the state.Jonathan Small | June 5, 2023
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Law & Principles
What is the Oklahoma Supreme Court doing?
Abolishing the JNC and moving to the model formulated by James Madison would inject more accountability into the judicial system while maintaining the separation of powers so vital to the republican form of government.Ryan Haynie | June 1, 2023
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Law & Principles
Stitt vetoes compact bills over state revenue concerns
Gov. Kevin Stitt has vetoed two bills that would extend existing state-tribal compacts on tobacco taxes and motor vehicle licenses, warning that those agreements fail to account for the impact of a 2020 U.S. Supreme Court ruling.Ray Carter | June 1, 2023
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Education, Law & Principles
Lawsuit says Edmond schools violated bathroom law
A recently filed lawsuit accuses officials at Edmond Public Schools of knowingly violating an Oklahoma law that requires schools to limit access to group bathrooms based on a student’s sex, which mandates that only girls may access women’s bathrooms and boys access men’s facilities at state schools.Ray Carter | May 31, 2023
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Law & Principles
Oklahoma Supreme Court continues pro-abortion rulings
The Oklahoma Supreme Court has declared two state laws restricting abortion to be unconstitutional, citing an earlier ruling in which the court declared abortion is a right granted by the Oklahoma Constitution despite the fact that the state constitution contains no language directly or implicitly addressing abortion.Ray Carter | May 31, 2023
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Law & Principles
Coalition thanks Stitt for free-speech stand
A broad coalition of groups that support freedom of speech and the press has sent a letter of thanks to Gov. Kevin Stitt for his veto of HB 1236. The measure would have weakened the Oklahoma Citizen Participation Act, which provides legal recourse against frivolous lawsuits that are intended to chill free speech.Trent England | May 26, 2023