Articles
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Criminal Justice
Criminal justice reform takes aim at ‘debtor’s prisons’
State Sen. George Young (D-Oklahoma City) has introduced two bills that seek to make the transition from prison or jail less stressful and expensive. His goal is to reduce recidivism.Mike Brake | February 25, 2019
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Education
Bill allowing scholarships for homeless students clears committee
A state-funded scholarship program for students with disabilities should be extended to benefit homeless children, according to Oklahoma Senate President Pro Tem Greg Treat (R-Oklahoma City).J.E. McReynolds | February 22, 2019
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Health Care
Medicaid expansion still a bad idea
Senate Bill 605, which passed out of committee this week, has been labeled by some as a “conservative” Medicaid expansion. In reality, it’s just Obamacare Medicaid expansion under a new name.Jonathan Small | February 22, 2019
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Education
OCPA statement on House Bill 1780
After the Oklahoma House of Representatives passed House Bill 1780 to raise teacher pay an additional $1,200, Jonathan Small, president of the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs (OCPA), released the following statement.Staff | February 21, 2019
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Health Care
OCPA statement on Senate Bill 605
After Senate Bill 605 passed the Retirement and Insurance Committee today, Jonathan Small, president of the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs (OCPA), released the following statement.Staff | February 18, 2019
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Budget & Tax
Lower oil prices hit January 2019 economic growth
While still growing, state revenues are feeling the effects of lower oil prices.Curtis Shelton | February 15, 2019
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Education
Despite falsehoods, two great bills move forward
Despite false claims made by the education establishment, two great bills moved forward this week.Jonathan Small | February 15, 2019
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Education
Hope Scholarship bill for bullied kids fails in committee
Starting in the first week of the 2017-18 academic year, a sophomore at an Edmond high school was subjected to what he and his mother claim were relentless acts of bullying. The mother, Cara O’Daniel, complained to school officials. Instead of getting the response she expected, O’Daniel said, the officials “wanted to put a Band-Aid on it and forget about it.”J.E. McReynolds | February 14, 2019
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Budget & Tax
State budget primer: Agencies and their appropriations
According to the latest available data, apportions accounted for 39 percent of total state spending in fiscal year 2018 at $7.5 billion. It is not the whole picture, however. Oklahoma’s total state budget is in fact nearly $18 billion.Curtis Shelton | February 14, 2019
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Education
Gov. Frank Keating and OCPA react to false statements by OSSBA, CCOSA, and others
After the Oklahoma State School Boards Association (OSSBA), the Cooperative Council for Oklahoma School Administration (CCOSA), and others falsely claimed that the Equal Opportunity Scholarship program is a voucher, former Oklahoma Gov. Frank Keating, Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs (OCPA) Chairman Larry Parman, and OCPA President Jonathan Small released the following statements.Staff | February 13, 2019