Articles
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Law & Principles
Groups across the political spectrum support students in free-speech lawsuit against OSU
The organization Speech First says OSU’s harassment, computer, and bias-incidents policies violate students’ constitutional rights. Several organizations from across the political spectrum are urging the court to preserve the plaintiff students’ anonymity.Ray Carter | June 19, 2023
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Education
School choice: Oklahoma’s challenge isn’t over
At long last, Oklahoma has universal school choice. But in order to survive the inevitable angry backlash from education special interests, we must get families signed up.Greg Forster, Ph.D. | June 19, 2023
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Agriculture, Energy
Conservatively stewarding or else
In Oklahoma, three areas in public policy—energy, environment, and agriculture—need thorough engagement by conservatives for the thriving of all Oklahomans and to prevent progressives from being able to seize them to expand government.Jonathan Small | June 16, 2023
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Culture & the Family
Which Oklahoma company funds group accused of aiding pedophiles?
The Trevor Project states that its “mission is to end suicide among LGBTQ young people.” But the group has drawn scrutiny for a chat service that independent investigations have concluded exposes vulnerable children to adults who may be pedophiles.Ray Carter | June 15, 2023
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Law & Principles
Legislative compact expands tribe’s territory 109,000 percent
Because of a 2020 U.S. Supreme Court ruling, new state-tribal tobacco compacts drafted by state legislators could provide a gargantuan expansion of tribal territory. That change could result in hundreds of millions in existing state tax collections shifting to the control of a small sliver of tribal officials over time, and force non-Native Oklahomans to shoulder a larger tax burden to make up the difference.Ray Carter | June 15, 2023
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Budget & Tax
State land trust costing schools millions, report says
The current land trust system in Oklahoma, which was intended to generate revenue for state schools, is actually causing them to lose millions of dollars. According to a report by the Legislative Office of Fiscal Transparency, if the state sold the land held in trust by the Commissioners of the Land Office and invested the revenue, state schools could receive up to an additional $53 million per year.Ray Carter | June 15, 2023
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Budget & Tax
Oklahoma tribes made bank during COVID
Oklahoma tribes received significantly more federal relief per capita compared to the State of Oklahoma.Curtis Shelton | June 14, 2023
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Law & Principles
Tribal chiefs chosen by few tribal members
Election results suggest that Gov. Kevin Stitt received far more raw votes from American Indian voters than the combined number of tribal citizens who have cast votes in favor of the elected chiefs of five major tribes.Ray Carter | June 14, 2023
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Law & Principles
Oklahoma Democrats praise Republicans’ veto override
The Oklahoma House of Representatives has voted to override Gov. Kevin Stitt’s veto of legislation that would automatically renew existing state-tribal compacts that provide special breaks on the cost of car tags to Oklahomans based, to a large degree, on the owner’s race.Ray Carter | June 12, 2023
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Budget & Tax
Indian ruling could hit the state treasury
A case before the Oklahoma Supreme Court could have major revenue implications for state government.Curtis Shelton | June 12, 2023