Articles
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Education
Incremental improvement isn’t enough: Oklahoma’s draft standards fall short
Oklahoma’s new 2026 Draft Academic Standards for Social Studies represent a modest improvement over the weak 2019 standards. Unfortunately, they still reflect the education establishment’s studied lack of interest in patriotism, the historic roots of the American republic, or any notable achievements by conservatives or Republicans.David Randall, Ph.D. | February 6, 2026
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Budget & Tax, Health Care
Medicaid costs surge, squeezing Oklahoma’s budget
Oklahoma’s Medicaid program has become one of the fastest-growing pressures on the state budget, crowding out other budget priorities.Curtis Shelton | February 6, 2026
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Higher Education
Stitt pushes college reforms: faster degrees, new tenure rules
Gov. Kevin Stitt unveiled a higher-education reform package that includes executive orders to create 90-credit-hour bachelor’s degrees, overhaul faculty tenure, and tie university funding to workforce outcomes.Ray Carter | February 5, 2026
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Education
Oklahoma House committee advances bill blocking sexually explicit books in school libraries
House Bill 2978, which prohibits Oklahoma public school libraries from offering students books containing sexually explicit depictions of certain acts, advanced on a 10–1 bipartisan vote in the House Common Education Committee.Ray Carter | February 5, 2026
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Economy
SQ 832 could raise prices for everyone
SQ 832 would increase Oklahoma’s minimum wage by tying it to the cost of living in expensive urban centers. Research repeatedly shows that significant minimum-wage hikes push up prices in sectors that are heavy on minimum-wage labor.Curtis Shelton | February 5, 2026
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Budget & Tax, Education
Munson’s claims of education cuts rebutted by revenue reports
House Democratic Leader Cyndi Munson claims that recent school-funding increases are simply a recovery from “massive cuts” a decade ago—but state revenue records don’t support her story. It’s not the first time her claims have been contradicted by data.Ray Carter | February 5, 2026
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Law & Principles
Speaker Hilbert’s bill to bar illegals from welfare clears first hurdle
Legislation that would implement new safeguards to ensure welfare benefits in Oklahoma are provided only to legal U.S. citizens has easily advanced from a state House committee.Ray Carter | February 4, 2026
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Budget & Tax, Health Care
Warnings prove true as Medicaid expansion strains Oklahoma state budget
Medicaid is blowing a hole in the state budget, with the Oklahoma Health Care Authority requesting nearly $500 million in new funding. Able-bodied, working-age adults added under the Obamacare Medicaid expansion continue to drive costs upward.Ray Carter | February 4, 2026
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Budget & Tax
Devon relocation highlights tax issue
Devon Energy’s decision to merge with Coterra and place the combined headquarters in Houston has reignited Oklahoma’s long-running fight over the state income tax.Ray Carter | February 3, 2026
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Budget & Tax, Education
Democrats criticize Stitt’s final address, challenge his tax and education priorities
Democratic lawmakers slammed Gov. Kevin Stitt’s final State of the State address, arguing that his $1.6 billion in tax cuts were ill-advised. One exception: Democratic state Sen. Mary Boren backed Stitt’s criticism of OSSAA over its treatment of open-transfer students.Ray Carter | February 3, 2026