Articles
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Budget & Tax, Education
Federal cash, reduced costs, boost K-12 funds
This year’s budget legislation technically reduces state appropriations to the K-12 school system by 2.55 percent, or $78.2 million. But during floor activity on related legislation, lawmakers have repeatedly noted Oklahoma’s school system will nonetheless see an increase in total funding due to a flood of federal COVID-19 money.Ray Carter | May 14, 2020
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Budget & Tax
Stitt vetoes budget; Legislature overrides
Gov. Kevin Stitt vetoed the state’s “general appropriation” bill and several associated measures on Wednesday, but lawmakers voted to override those vetoes within hours.Ray Carter | May 14, 2020
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Budget & Tax, Health Care
Tax/fee on health care, state savings, to fund Medicaid expansion
Facing a July 1 expansion of Medicaid, members of the Oklahoma Senate voted Wednesday to fund the expansion of the welfare program with a de facto tax on health care and by drawing down an undetermined and open-ended amount of state savings.Ray Carter | May 14, 2020
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Budget & Tax, Education
Budget chair: State superintendent did not ‘help on anything—period’
The chair of the House committee that drafts the budget for Oklahoma’s K-12 school system said Tuesday that State Superintendent of Public Instruction Joy Hofmeister refused to provide meaningful assistance in this year’s budget process.Ray Carter | May 12, 2020
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Budget & Tax
Stitt says he will veto bills that redirect pension funds
Gov. Kevin Stitt announced he will veto two bills that redirect money from state pension systems to education. That will remove a substantial share of funding lawmakers used to avoid making larger cuts to state agency budgets and potentially force a redrafting of the state budget.Ray Carter | May 11, 2020
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Budget & Tax
Ex-lawmaker Mike Jackson selected for spending oversight position
An oversight committee voted Friday to hire a former legislator-turned-lobbyist to head a newly created agency tasked with auditing and reviewing state spending.Ray Carter | May 8, 2020
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Budget & Tax, Economy
Don’t hit businesses on UI experience rating
As Oklahoma begins the slow process of reopening, policy solutions for consumers and businesses will be needed to jumpstart the economy. With Oklahoma unemployment reaching record numbers, lawmakers must focus on making hiring easier for businesses. One way would be to suspend any increases to experience rating for businesses paying unemployment insurance (UI) taxes.Curtis Shelton | May 8, 2020
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Budget & Tax
House budget debate pits tax increases against spending restraint, savings
House lawmakers voted Thursday to send legislation to Gov. Kevin Stitt that relies on modest spending reductions and use of savings rather than tax increases to cover a $1.3 billion shortfall.Ray Carter | May 7, 2020
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Budget & Tax
Market downturn could wallop Oklahoma pension funds; COLA would make things worse
A new analysis from Pew Charitable Trusts provides numbers to show just how severe the impact of COVID-19 on public pensions in Oklahoma could be.Curtis Shelton | May 6, 2020
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Budget & Tax
Senate approves funding bill as Democrats hint tax increases needed
The Oklahoma Senate approved Tuesday the “general appropriation” bill to fund state government for the next year but did so over the objections of Democrats who hinted tax increases should be pursued instead of modest spending reductions.Ray Carter | May 6, 2020