Articles
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Law & Principles
Tribes send mixed messages on McGirt
Since the U.S. Supreme Court handed down its decision in McGirt v. Oklahoma, which effectively declared that most of eastern Oklahoma remains tribal reservation land, state tribal governments have touted the decision and proclaimed little or no harm has come from the ruling.Ray Carter | February 3, 2022
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Law & Principles, Good Government
With 2,300 bills introduced, which ones should you watch?
How is an interested citizen to know which bills actually have a chance—and which ones are dead on arrival? The answer is much simpler than you might think.Rick Farmer, Ph.D. | January 26, 2022
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Law & Principles
U.S. Supreme Court to consider McGirt limits
The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear a case brought by the State of Oklahoma that could lead to curtailment of the court’s prior decision in McGirt v. Oklahoma, which effectively held that most of eastern Oklahoma consists of Indian reservations.Ray Carter | January 21, 2022
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Law & Principles
Three conservative policies for 2022
With a new year comes new year’s resolutions. While the average citizen may focus on diet and exercise, state policymakers should emphasize growth—growing our economy and increasing opportunity.Jonathan Small | January 17, 2022
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Law & Principles
Court rules against Biden vaccine mandate
The Biden administration’s effort to make COVID-19 vaccines a condition of employment throughout the private sector has been rejected by the U.S. Supreme Court, although the court separately ruled that the Biden administration does have the authority to impose a vaccine mandate on health-care workers at facilities receiving Medicaid or Medicare funding.Ray Carter | January 14, 2022
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Law & Principles
U.S. Supreme Court allows McGirt limit to stand
The U.S. Supreme Court has denied a petition for certiorari, leaving in place an Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals’ decision declaring the high court’s McGirt ruling will not be applied retroactively.Ray Carter | January 11, 2022
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Law & Principles
Biden administration argues it can mandate numerous vaccines
Defending its effort to make COVID-19 vaccination, or routine testing, a condition of private-sector employment, the Biden administration told the U.S. Supreme Court that federal law allows the executive branch to unilaterally mandate vaccinations through the Occupational Safety and Health Administration—and said the administration has the authority to require additional vaccinations as well.Ray Carter | January 7, 2022
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Law & Principles
McGirt harming Oklahoma nationally
Some tribal leaders argue the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in McGirt v. Oklahoma, which found a reservation was never disestablished in Oklahoma and that state officials therefore cannot prosecute many crimes involving American Indian victims or criminals, is a boon to the state.Jonathan Small | January 5, 2022
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Law & Principles
Judges among those criticizing McGirt ruling
Since the U.S. Supreme Court handed down its decision in McGirt v. Oklahoma, which effectively declared that nearly half of Oklahoma consisted of Indian reservations, Gov. Kevin Stitt and Attorney General John O’Connor have been among the most high-profile critics of that decision.Ray Carter | January 4, 2022
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Higher Education, Law & Principles
‘Land acknowledgement statements’ abound, but some say reparations needed
Virtue-signaling Oklahoma universities are awash in ahistorical “land acknowledgement statements.” But some activists say performative gestures are not enough: It’s time to give the land back, or at least provide free tuition for Native Americans.J.E. McReynolds | December 20, 2021