Articles
-
Higher Education
OU fights public transparency
The University of Oklahoma has spent more than $1 million investigating claims of bogus financial reports and sexual harassment by David Boren, its former president who stepped down in 2018, but continues to stonewall efforts to make the findings public.Ray Carter | June 7, 2023
-
Law & Principles
Stitt defends rule of law from tribal tax collectors
Oklahoma taxpayers can thank both Stitt and the Framers of American government for a system where executives have the power to negotiate deals—and to veto bills that try to interfere with that power.Trent England | June 7, 2023
-
Law & Principles
Renewing tobacco, car-tag compacts bad for Oklahoma
Special-interest attempts to force automatic renewal of existing tobacco and license-tag compacts will create enormous challenges for the state.Jonathan Small | June 5, 2023
-
Law & Principles
What is the Oklahoma Supreme Court doing?
Abolishing the JNC and moving to the model formulated by James Madison would inject more accountability into the judicial system while maintaining the separation of powers so vital to the republican form of government.Ryan Haynie | June 1, 2023
-
Law & Principles
Stitt vetoes compact bills over state revenue concerns
Gov. Kevin Stitt has vetoed two bills that would extend existing state-tribal compacts on tobacco taxes and motor vehicle licenses, warning that those agreements fail to account for the impact of a 2020 U.S. Supreme Court ruling.Ray Carter | June 1, 2023
-
Education, Law & Principles
Lawsuit says Edmond schools violated bathroom law
A recently filed lawsuit accuses officials at Edmond Public Schools of knowingly violating an Oklahoma law that requires schools to limit access to group bathrooms based on a student’s sex, which mandates that only girls may access women’s bathrooms and boys access men’s facilities at state schools.Ray Carter | May 31, 2023
-
Law & Principles
Oklahoma Supreme Court continues pro-abortion rulings
The Oklahoma Supreme Court has declared two state laws restricting abortion to be unconstitutional, citing an earlier ruling in which the court declared abortion is a right granted by the Oklahoma Constitution despite the fact that the state constitution contains no language directly or implicitly addressing abortion.Ray Carter | May 31, 2023
-
Budget & Tax, Education
Will education funding produce results?
Today, no one can credibly argue poor outcomes in Oklahoma schools are due to underfunding.Jonathan Small | May 31, 2023
-
Budget & Tax
Tax-cut discussion to continue?
Although lawmakers are expected to adjourn from the current budget-focused special session without passing a major tax cut, Gov. Kevin Stitt said he may continue to push for one in the coming weeks.Ray Carter | May 26, 2023
-
Law & Principles
Coalition thanks Stitt for free-speech stand
A broad coalition of groups that support freedom of speech and the press has sent a letter of thanks to Gov. Kevin Stitt for his veto of HB 1236. The measure would have weakened the Oklahoma Citizen Participation Act, which provides legal recourse against frivolous lawsuits that are intended to chill free speech.Trent England | May 26, 2023