Articles
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Law & Principles
Document shows Cherokee political donations favor Democrats
Oklahoma politicians often refer to tribal governments as state “partners.” A recently obtained Cherokee Nation document indicates the tribe financially partners with politicians from both parties through campaign contributions, but especially with Democratic lawmakers.Ray Carter | July 13, 2023
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Good Government
Brecheen demands federal transparency on transgender study
U.S. Rep. Josh Brecheen, R-Coalgate, is continuing his fight for greater transparency from the federal NIH after the agency drug its feet in response to requests for information about an NIH-funded study on transgender youth in which two participants committed suicide.Ray Carter | July 12, 2023
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Higher Education
Public confidence in universities plunges amid controversies
Gallup finds that public confidence in higher education has declined to a new low point.Ray Carter | July 12, 2023
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Education
Support for school choice remains strong after pandemic
A new national poll shows that extremely high levels of public support for school-choice programs persist today among all demographic groups, and new state polling shows the same trend in Oklahoma.Ray Carter | July 11, 2023
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Higher Education
OU tuition hike is a real drag
After Oklahoma’s higher education system received the largest appropriations increase in recent history—and after OU paid a drag queen $18,000—the university decided to raise tuition.Jonathan Small | July 10, 2023
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Law & Principles
Fairness, certainty, and unity still needed
“If Oklahoma is to survive, we must all be subject to the same laws, taxes, and treatment—period.”Curtis Shelton | July 7, 2023
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Law & Principles
Executive power—and the responsibility that comes with it
According to Oklahoma law, “The Governor is authorized to negotiate and enter into cooperative agreements on behalf of this state with federally recognized Indian tribal governments within this state to address issues of mutual interest.”Brandon Dutcher | July 6, 2023
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Law & Principles
We need fairness for all Oklahomans
You may have seen some recent news that could have serious public-safety implications for Tulsa and other parts of eastern Oklahoma.Dave Bond | July 5, 2023
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Law & Principles
Light those fireworks in your front yard! (No, not you.)
Tribal members are no longer subject to city ordinances under a new ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit. Throughout much of eastern Oklahoma, anyone who has a Certificate of Degree of Indian Blood (CDIB) card will now be exempt from local enforcement of municipal ordinances.Jonathan Small | July 4, 2023
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Law & Principles
Public-safety reality contradicts tribal claims
After a federal court ruled that city police within historic tribal reservations in Oklahoma cannot enforce local ordinances, such as speed limits, when the violator is an American Indian, tribal officials have downplayed the decision, saying tribal law enforcement who are cross-deputized by cities like Tulsa can handle the workload. But the manpower of tribal police forces, and the tribes’ own calls for federal bailouts, suggest the tribes cannot handle much of that responsibility.Ray Carter | July 3, 2023