Articles
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Education
Abused child finds new life thanks to adoption, faith, and school choice
As a child, Gina Jackson endured years of horrific abuse from her biological father and even officials working in the state’s child-protection system. Today, thanks to a loving adoptive mother and her religious faith, she’s found spiritual healing. And thanks to Oklahoma’s tax-credit scholarship program, she’s made academic strides that now allow her to pursue a college degree.Ray Carter | June 10, 2019
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Criminal Justice
Criminal justice reform: What passed, and what’s next for Oklahoma?
This session the Oklahoma legislature passed a handful of bills aimed at reforming the state’s criminal justice system. Governor Stitt’s new task force will propose additional criminal justice reform efforts next session.Kaitlyn Finley | June 6, 2019
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Education
As public charter schools come under attack, parents, school officials tout success
In Oklahoma and at the national level, public charter schools have come under attack from critics who claim the schools are bad for racial minorities and operate on an ethos of heartless profiteering. Oklahoma parents and charter school officials say their experiences prove otherwise.Ray Carter | June 6, 2019
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Budget & Tax
Oklahoma’s property tax advantage over Texas may decline
The American Legislative Exchange Council’s most recent edition of “Rich States, Poor States,” which ranks U.S. states based on economic competitiveness, showed property tax burden is one of the few areas where Oklahoma holds a decided advantage over Texas. It may not stay that way.Ray Carter | June 4, 2019
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Health Care
Stitt names new DHS leader
Gov. Kevin Stitt announced Tuesday he is appointing Justin Brown, the Oklahoma City owner of several assisted living centers, to lead the Department of Human Services. Like Stitt, Brown is a private-sector businessman who brings an outsider’s perspective to the position.Ray Carter | June 4, 2019
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Health Care
Expert says ‘sloppy research’ mars one defense of Medicaid expansion
Defenders of Medicaid expansion claim there’s no relation between expansion of that welfare program and the number of disabled individuals put on waiting lists for state services. But a national policy expert says research dismissing that connection has glaring methodological flaws and is a “political talking point in search of data.”Ray Carter | June 3, 2019
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Budget & Tax, Good Government
LOFT may be used more by watchdogs than lawmakers
This year, lawmakers created the Legislative Office of Fiscal Transparency (LOFT), which will audit agency budgets and evaluate the effectiveness of state programs and services, issuing published reports of resulting conclusions. Supporters say the office will lead to better legislative oversight and more efficient use of taxpayer dollars. But officials in other states with similar programs say private-sector watchdogs, rather than politicians, often make better use of the resulting data.Ray Carter | May 31, 2019
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Budget & Tax
Analyst: Spending alone is no measure of success
To simply increase government spending without any focus on also improving outcomes, 1889 Institute research fellow Mike Davis said, is “a terrible goal.”Ray Carter | May 30, 2019
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Higher Education
OCPA still waiting for OU open records
Is the University of Oklahoma a campus rife with racism, hostility to other minority groups, and rampant threats, intimidation, and discrimination? Hopefully not, but there’s no way to tell for certain because the university has failed to respond to requests for details about complaints filed with the school’s bias hotline.Mike Brake | May 29, 2019
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Health Care
Mulready: Bills increase insurance choices
Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner Glen Mulready says this year’s passage of two bills to increase access to health insurance and give people protection against catastrophic events represent a small step forward in addressing Oklahoma’s health needs.Ray Carter | May 28, 2019