Articles
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Budget & Tax
Total state revenue collections hit record high
Total gross receipts collected in April 2019 were $1.58 billion—an increase of 12.7 percent, or $178 million, from the same month in the prior year. The General Revenue Fund (GRF) grew 25.5 percent from the same month the previous year, collecting $509 million.Curtis Shelton | May 20, 2019
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Health Care
Budget plan shows challenges of existing Medicaid program
Even as debate continues over expanding Oklahoma’s Medicaid program to include many able-bodied adults, details of this year’s budget agreement show the state continues to struggle to cover the costs of the existing program, which primarily serves those with severe disabilities, pregnant women, and low-income children.Ray Carter | May 20, 2019
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Good Government
Lawmakers cite constitutional problems with Ethics Commission regulations
Members of the Oklahoma Senate overwhelmingly rejected proposed Oklahoma Ethics Commission rules on Friday, saying the regulations violated constitutional rights.Ray Carter | May 17, 2019
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Education
OEA attacks state savings effort
Despite announcement of a state budget that provides a historic appropriation for schools, the Oklahoma Education Association and its allies continue to attack the plan even as lawmakers advance related legislation.Ray Carter | May 17, 2019
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Criminal Justice
A Primer: Oklahoma’s criminal justice system
Oklahoma’s incarceration rate has risen to number one in the nation. This overuse of incarceration has significant financial and social costs. Oklahoma lawmakers are considering reforms aimed at reducing incarceration rates.Kaitlyn Finley | May 16, 2019
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Law & Principles
Tulsa attorney files landmark suit against Oklahoma Bar Association
A Tulsa attorney has filed a lawsuit against the Oklahoma Bar Association in an effort to break the OBA’s monopoly on licensing and collecting dues from members of the legal profession.Mike Brake | May 16, 2019
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Budget & Tax, Education
Stitt, legislative leaders announce budget agreement
Gov. Kevin Stitt and legislative leaders announced Wednesday that they have reached a budget agreement that spends more than $8 billion for the first time in Oklahoma history and includes $157.7 million more for K-12 schools, but they struggled to identify any specific measurement of student outcomes they expect will improve as a result.Ray Carter | May 15, 2019
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Budget & Tax, Health Care
Lawmakers vow to ‘keep fighting’ for tobacco-fund reform
On April 19, Oklahoma received $69.7 million in tobacco-settlement funds of which $53.3 million went to TSET.Ray Carter | May 15, 2019
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Higher Education
Separate but equal at OU
The battle for integration for black Americans and other minorities lasted for more than 150 years and, on some fronts, continues today. That’s why it is so alarming to many observers of higher education that on many campuses today, things from student residence halls to graduation ceremonies have been increasingly balkanized by race or ethnicity.Mike Brake | May 15, 2019
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Health Care
There is no pot of ‘free’ Medicaid money waiting to be spent
Expanding Medicaid will force more people to become dependent on government while potentially increasing federal spending by $3.4 billion. With the annual national deficit projected to grow to $896 billion this will increase the burden already placed on the younger generation.Curtis Shelton | May 14, 2019