Articles
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Higher Education
OU pursues tuition hike despite student financial challenges
Millions of dollars in additional funding have surged into the coffers of Oklahoma’s colleges and universities in the last two years, but that isn’t stopping officials at the University of Oklahoma from requesting another tuition increase even as students and their families are struggling with the highest inflation in four decades.Ray Carter | June 21, 2022
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Education, Law & Principles
Lawmaker makes false claim about own district
State Rep. Josh West recently claimed that he “ain’t got a private school within dadgum two hours of me.” But independent research shows that people throughout most of West’s district live within 30 minutes of a private school—some of which West himself has visited.Ray Carter | June 20, 2022
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Education
Oklahoma Secretary of Education: Academic focus needed in Tulsa
By Ray Carter Oklahoma Secretary of Education Ryan Walters is defending a Tulsa Public Schools board member who has come under fire after suggesting the district should focus more on academics than social agendas.Ray Carter | June 17, 2022
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Education, Law & Principles
AG O’Connor opposes Biden transgenderism mandate
Oklahoma Attorney General John O’Connor has joined a national coalition of state attorneys general to oppose the Biden administration’s efforts to force schools to embrace transgender policies, including policies that grant male students access to girls’ restrooms.Ray Carter | June 14, 2022
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Budget & Tax, Law & Principles
Fuzzy math in House tax-and-spending plan?
The leadership of the Oklahoma House of Representatives says that chamber will advance several tax proposals this week in response to Gov. Kevin Stitt’s call for passage of broad-based, pro-growth tax cuts—but indicated passage of tax cuts relies in part on cutting the budget of the governor’s office, citing the state’s balanced-budget requirement.Ray Carter | June 14, 2022
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Budget & Tax
Lawmakers start tax-cut session, but action appears unlikely
Conceding to Gov. Kevin Stitt’s wishes, members of the Oklahoma Legislature met briefly on June 13 in a special legislative session that will focus on tax cuts.Ray Carter | June 13, 2022
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Higher Education
OU accused of forcing students to engage in political speech
State Rep. Justin Humphrey, R-Lane, said he has received reports that officials at the University of Oklahoma forced student athletes to participate in a 2020 “unity march” that allegedly included support for political organizations such as Black Lives Matter.Ray Carter | June 9, 2022
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Law & Principles, Culture & the Family
Cherokee Nation chief bans display of Oklahoma state flag
Even as the Cherokee Nation is removing the flag of Oklahoma from its properties, tribal officials continue to take an active role in Oklahoma political campaigns.Ray Carter | June 8, 2022
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Budget & Tax, Law & Principles
Lawmakers differ on reining in inflated tax bills
State lawmakers spent much of the past year trying to rein in practices that critics say have dramatically inflated businesses’ property-tax valuations in some Oklahoma counties.Ray Carter | June 8, 2022
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Law & Principles
House lawmakers’ spending on themselves explodes
In 2018, the Oklahoma Legislature approved hundreds of millions of dollars in tax increases. Since then, House lawmakers have increased their own budget by 92 percent.Ray Carter | June 7, 2022