Wednesday, January 31, 2018

OK Policy announces new staff and expanded leadership team

For Immediate Release

Today Oklahoma Policy Institute announced the addition of Sabine Brown and Jessica Vazquez to their staff.

Sabine joins as OK Policy's new Outreach & Advocacy Coordinator and as the primary staff person coordinating the grassroots Together Oklahoma coalition. Sabine grew up in Germany in the family of a U.S. service member but has called Oklahoma home since 1998. Before joining OK Policy, she served as the Oklahoma Chapter Leader for Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America.

She is currently pursuing a Master of Public Administration degree from the University of Oklahoma-Tulsa. Sabine earned a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Health Science from the University of Oklahoma and was a physician assistant prior to discovering advocacy work. She lives in Bixby with her husband, Eric, and their two children.

OK Policy announces new staff and expanded leadership team

[caption id="attachment_70686" align="alignright" width="400"] Sabine Brown[/caption]

We're excited to announce the addition of Sabine Brown and Jessica Vazquez to the Oklahoma Policy Institute staff.

Sabine joins as our new Outreach & Advocacy Coordinator and as our primary staff person coordinating the grassroots Together Oklahoma coalition. Sabine grew up in Germany in the family of a U.S. service member but has called Oklahoma home since 1998. Before joining OK Policy, she served as the Oklahoma Chapter Leader for Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America.

She is currently pursuing a Master of Public Administration degree from the University of Oklahoma-Tulsa. Sabine earned a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Health Science from the University of Oklahoma and was a physician assistant prior to discovering advocacy work. She lives in Bixby with her husband, Eric, and their two children.

Jessica Vazquez has joined OK Policy as a Communications Associate. Born in Tamaulipas, Mexico, she immigrated to Oklahoma with her family at a young age and obtained a B.A. in Political Science and Philosophy from Oklahoma City University as a Clara Luper Scholar.

[caption id="attachment_70684" align="alignright" width="400"] Jessica Vazquez[/caption]

Prior to joining OK Policy, Jessica worked as an Inbound and Digital Marketing Specialist for an OKC-based firm. She is an alumnus of both the National Education for Women (N.E.W.) Leadership Institute (2013) and Summer Policy Institute (2015). In addition to her role at OK Policy, Jessica serves as the volunteer Director of Communications for Dream Act Oklahoma, a community organization dedicated to advocating and empowering immigrant youth in the state.

“As we prepare to celebrate OK Policy's 10th anniversary, the continuing growth of this organization is thanks to Oklahomans' strong support for our mission of providing trustworthy information and advancing fair and responsible public policies,” said David Blatt, OK Policy’s Executive Director. “Sabine and Jessica bring numerous talents in grassroots organizing, graphic design, and more that will increase our impact on policy debates and decisions in Oklahoma.”

This new addition brings OK Policy’s staff to nine full-time and two half-time employees. Sabine replaces KJ McKee, who stepped down to run for public office, while Jessica's position is new to the organization.

Along with the addition of new staff, OK Policy has restructured and expanded its leadership team. Bailey Perkins and Carly Putnam have joined the leadership team, with Bailey as Outreach & Legislative Director and Carly as Policy Director. The previous Policy Director, Gene Perry, is now serving as Strategy & Communications Director.

"With these changes, OK Policy is well-positioned to achieve even greater influence on the policies of our state," said Blatt.

OK Policy is an independent, non-partisan based think-tank that promotes adequate, fair, and fiscally responsible funding of public services and expanded opportunity for all Oklahomans through research and advocacy.

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[In The Know] Oklahoma House expected to vote quickly on a massive tax and reform package

In The Know is your daily briefing on Oklahoma policy-related news. Inclusion of a story does not necessarily mean endorsement by the Oklahoma Policy Institute. Click here to subscribe to In The Know and see past editions.

Today In The News

Oklahoma House expected to vote quickly on a massive tax and reform package: The Oklahoma House will not wait long to vote on a massive tax and reform plan that is gaining support among various organizations. Lawmakers return to the Capitol on Monday. House Majority Floor Leader Jon Echols, R-Oklahoma City, said Tuesday he will bring the Step Up Oklahoma plan to the floor in the lower chamber “early in the session.” [Tulsa World] The Step Up Oklahoma plan adds to the consensus that new revenues are essential [OK Policy].

What's the matter with Oklahoma? Forty miles from Tulsa, including along unpaved road, sits Wagoner High School, with its 650 students, championship-calibre football team and show barn—a seemingly ordinary small-town school. But unlike most high schools, Wagoner is closed on Mondays. The reason, a severe reduction in state funds, has pushed 90 other school districts in Oklahoma to do the same [The Economist].

Oklahoma’s debtors’ prisons aren’t just a nuisance – they’re an epidemic: The problem of debtors’ prisons in Oklahoma has slowly come out into the open in recent years. A new OK Policy analysis of court records in five counties shows that the number of people who are affected is staggering: In one county, as many as two in three criminal cases result in an arrest warrant for failure to pay at some point [OK Policy].

QotD 1/31/2018

“The Legislature has a chance to show it can do good things for the people of Oklahoma. It’s no secret that the voters have lost a great deal of confidence in state government.”

– Andrew Speno, Right On Crime Oklahoma Director, expressing optimism for criminal justice reform legislation in the 2018 session (Source)

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$1 billion

Total amount saved by Oklahoma families in 529 college savings plans.

Source: Oklahoma State Treasurer

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In The Know: Oklahoma House expected to vote quickly on a massive tax and reform package

In The KnowIn The Know is your daily briefing on Oklahoma policy-related news. Inclusion of a story does not necessarily mean endorsement by the Oklahoma Policy Institute. Click here to subscribe to In The Know and see past editions.

Today In The News

Oklahoma House expected to vote quickly on a massive tax and reform package: The Oklahoma House will not wait long to vote on a massive tax and reform plan that is gaining support among various organizations. Lawmakers return to the Capitol on Monday. House Majority Floor Leader Jon Echols, R-Oklahoma City, said Tuesday he will bring the Step Up Oklahoma plan to the floor in the lower chamber “early in the session.” [Tulsa World] The Step Up Oklahoma plan adds to the consensus that new revenues are essential [OK Policy].

What's the matter with Oklahoma? Forty miles from Tulsa, including along unpaved road, sits Wagoner High School, with its 650 students, championship-calibre football team and show barn—a seemingly ordinary small-town school. But unlike most high schools, Wagoner is closed on Mondays. The reason, a severe reduction in state funds, has pushed 90 other school districts in Oklahoma to do the same [The Economist].

Oklahoma’s debtors’ prisons aren’t just a nuisance – they’re an epidemic: The problem of debtors’ prisons in Oklahoma has slowly come out into the open in recent years. A new OK Policy analysis of court records in five counties shows that the number of people who are affected is staggering: In one county, as many as two in three criminal cases result in an arrest warrant for failure to pay at some point [OK Policy].

Oklahoma, America’s No. 2 wind producer, sours on the industry: First the wind came sweeping down the plain, then the dollars, and now the controversy. With ever more spiky wind turbines cropping up across its open lands, Oklahoma has just become the No. 2 state in the country for wind energy production, the American Wind Energy Association announced Tuesday. That has been a boon for local communities, but it has also come at a price for the state, which pays tens of millions of dollars a year in subsidies for wind companies [Christian Science Monitor].

Oklahoma Health Center Foundation declares support for Step Up plan: The Oklahoma Health Center Foundation's board of directors has voted unanimously to support Step Up Oklahoma's proposals to resolve the state's budget impasse and provide $5,000 pay raises for teachers. At least a dozen other organizations previously have announced their support [NewsOK].

Criminal justice reform advocates see hope this session: Criminal justice reform has maintained its rank as one of the most discussed issues at the state Capitol, and its trajectory might shift this year. Leadership positions have changed hands, and several lawmakers have crossed the aisle to sponsor criminal justice reform legislation. Advocates said they’re optimistic. Oklahoma incarcerates more women per capita than any other state in the nation, and it comes in second for overall incarceration [Journal Record].

Oklahoma barber college giving former inmates another chance: wash, a haircut and a shave make up a typical day at JB's Barber Shop, but the mission behind the shop is not. JB Gaines and Anthony Morgan started working together in 2006. Since then, they've opened several barber shops across the metro, and even a barber college in south Oklahoma City. The school serves as a gateway for those who have fallen on hard times and want another chance [KFOR].

OKC district will have to find a new superintendent: Shortly after submitting her resignation letter, Oklahoma City Public Schools Superintendent Aurora Lora told colleagues she probably should have done so sooner. Lora made it official Tuesday, a week after taking aim at the school board in a late-night Facebook post the panel's leader called "regrettable." [NewsOK

Five Things to Know About OKC Superintendent’s Resignation: Aurora Lora, superintendent of Oklahoma City Public Schools, resigned Tuesday, compounding the instability at the helm of the state’s largest school district. Oklahoma City Public Schools has had 11 superintendents since 2000. Lora took the top job in 2016 after a stint as assistant superintendent under Rob Neu [Oklahoma Watch].

OKC mayoral race: A cheat sheet for upcoming election: At first, Cornett’s announcement drew competition from experienced politicians and newcomers alike, but the mayoral candidate field had narrowed by December filing to include only three: Sen. David Holt (R-OKC), Taylor Neighbors and Randall Smith. The trio will appear on a nonpartisan ballot for the OKC mayor race in a primary election Tuesday, Feb. 13 [NonDoc].

Oil and gas producer Chesapeake cuts 13 percent of workforce: Oil and gas producer Chesapeake Energy Corp said on Tuesday it had cut 400 jobs or about 13 percent of its workforce in its latest step to reduce costs. The job cuts affected most functions and were mainly limited to Chesapeake’s headquarters in Oklahoma City, according to an email sent by Chief Executive Doug Lawler to employees. The move comes amid efforts by Chesapeake to raise cash in order to reduce its $9.9 billion debt load and shore up its balance sheet [Reuters].

Liquor prices going up in Oklahoma: Oklahoma alcohol distribution laws said a manufacturer must sell to either a distributor or wholesaler and, then, the middle man sells the product to individual liquor stores. Kerr blames the increase on a little known change that was part of State Question 792, overwhelmingly approved by voters in November 2016, to modernize Oklahoma’s liquor laws [KFOR].

Quote of the Day

“The Legislature has a chance to show it can do good things for the people of Oklahoma. It’s no secret that the voters have lost a great deal of confidence in state government.”

- Andrew Speno, Right On Crime Oklahoma Director, expressing optimism for criminal justice reform legislation in the 2018 session (Source)

Number of the Day

$1 billion

Total amount saved by Oklahoma families in 529 college savings plans.

Source: Oklahoma State Treasurer

See previous Numbers of the Day here.

Policy Note

Kansas Provides Compelling Evidence of Failure of "Supply-Side" Tax Cuts: The deep income cuts that Kansas enacted in 2012 and 2013 for many business owners and other high-income Kansans failed to achieve their goal of boosting business formation and job creation, and lawmakers substantially repealed the tax cuts earlier this year. Former supporters have offered explanations for this failure to prevent the Kansas experience from discrediting “supply-side” economic strategies more broadly [Center on Budget and Policy Priorities].

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Together Oklahoma

Introducing the new Together Oklahoma Advocacy and Outreach Coordinator — Sabine Brown.

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Tuesday, January 30, 2018

Introducing the New TOK Advocacy and Outreach Coordinator

Join Us

Together OK’s success depends on your engagement – and there are many ways for you to get involved.

Hello, Oklahoma Advocates! Let me introduce myself. I am Sabine Brown and I am taking over for Kara Joy McKee as the new Outreach and Advocacy Coordinator for Together Oklahoma. I want to tell you a bit about myself, but first I’m going to tell you a story about my son.

My son is 10 years old, he’s in the 4th grade, and he attends public school. He’s always done well there, but he is super shy. Due to that shyness, recess hasn’t always been his favorite part of the day. That changed when he met a teacher’s aide named Elizabeth. Elizabeth talked to him when he was feeling anxious or lonely. They discussed movies and books, and she made him finally feel comfortable at school. He eventually started making friends of his own, but when he started having trouble with bullies Elizabeth was there to save the day once again.

One day last year he came home looking quite down. I asked him what was wrong and he said, “Elizabeth isn’t going to be there anymore.” I asked him where she was going and he responded, “I don’t know, but she said something about the budget.”

The budget is personal. I’m sure many of you have more heartbreaking and more life-altering stories than mine—teachers trying to make ends meet, parents struggling to care for disabled children, family members helping loved ones battle mental illness and substance abuse. I hope that we will come together to elevate all our voices and fight for a budget that reflects our Oklahoma values.

I look forward to seeing you all at Together Oklahoma meetings and events and at the Capitol! I’m bringing with me five years of organizing experience as the Oklahoma Chapter Leader for a gun violence prevention organization, Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America. I will do whatever I can to help make your job as citizen advocates easier.

If you’re ready to dive in and get started, I hope you will join me in Oklahoma City on Feb. 5th. Together Oklahoma is proud to be a co-sponsor of “Women and Children First” advocacy training. We will have a great line-up of speakers to help you learn how to more effectively communicate with your legislator.

The next regular session is right around the corner, so I will be hitting the ground running, as I’m sure you will too. Let’s lace up our shoes and get this state moving in the right direction!

--Sabine Brown, sbrown@togetherok.org

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Step Up Oklahoma plan includes worthwhile solutions, but concerns remain

Dear Friend,

As you may know, earlier this month a coalition of business and civic leaders and organizations released the Step Up Oklahoma plan, a comprehensive proposal aimed at stabilizing Oklahoma’s budget and reforming state government.

In our blog post examining the Step Up Oklahoma plan, OK Policy recognizes that is is a serious attempt to address budget problems that have plagued our state for years. The Step Up coalition has recognized that Oklahoma's structural budget deficit can only be fixed through approval of new permanent revenues. Overall, the coalition has proposed a balanced mix of new revenues, which include a $1.50-per-pack cigarette tax increase, a 6¢ per-gallon motor fuel tax increase, an increase in the initial gross production tax rate from 2 to 4 percent, and changes to the personal income tax. Together, all the revenue proposals are expected to generate $750 million a year, enough to provide a $5,000 raise for all teachers and principals, fill the current budget hole, and generate an additional $367 million to stabilize the budget and fund essential services.

However, OK Policy has serious concerns with the plan's income tax proposals, which include ending or limiting a number of deductions while adding two new tax brackets and creating a new credit for low-income households. This approach is unnecessarily convoluted and confusing and would leave over half of all taxpayers earning more than $32,000 per year paying higher income tax. We also have serious doubts that the proposal would generate anywhere near the amount suggested by the Tax Commission.

Oklahoma has alternative approaches to income tax reform that would be simpler, more progressive, and provide more certain revenue gains. These would include some mix of restoring the top 5.25 percent rate, assessing a high-income surcharge, ending the capital gains tax break, restoring the full earned income tax credit, and raising the standard deduction.

We are hopeful that lawmakers will strengthen the Step Up Oklahoma plan by adopting a better approach to the income tax. In addition, while the porposed governance reforms include some promising ideas - especially the recommendation to lower State Question 640's revenue threshold - the entire package needs greater scrutiny.

Click here for our blog post on the Step Up Plan. You may also be interested in the following materials and resources:

We welcome your input on the Step Up plan, and we hope that you will make your thoughts known to your Representative and Senator.

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Oklahoma’s debtor’s prisons aren’t just a nuisance – they’re an epidemic

The problem of debtors' prisons in Oklahoma has slowly come out into the open in recent years. More and more criminal defendants have been unable to pay off the thousands of dollars in fines and fees piled on them by our justice system. When they fail to pay, a warrant is issued for their arrest, and they may spend several days in jail for the crime of being too poor.

Heartbreaking stories of Oklahomans incarcerated for failure to pay their court costs have appeared everywhere from Oklahoma Watch to the New York Times, but we haven't had a great understanding of just how many defendants are affected. A new OK Policy analysis of court records in five counties* shows that the number of people who are affected is staggering: In one county, as many as two in three criminal cases result in an arrest warrant for failure to pay at some point. It's yet more evidence that the excessive fines and fees imposed on criminal defendants are creating enormous hardship for the people who can least afford it.

Fines and fees are overwhelming for many defendants

Courts collect millions of dollars in fines and fees each year to fund their operations, but what they collect is only a fraction of how much is charged to defendants. Previously, we used court records to map the millions of dollars in court debt in Tulsa and Oklahoma Counties, showing that court debt per person is up to 10 times higher in low-income neighborhoods compared to high-income neighborhoods.

To get a clearer sense of the problem of debtor's prisons, we collected case data from the state court system’s online Docket search for misdemeanor and felony cases filed from 2008 to 2015 in five counties: Oklahoma, Tulsa, Comanche, Rogers, and Pushmataha. The results show that the financial burden is simply overwhelming for many - and in some places, most - of the people who bear the costs.

Court records show that failure to pay warrants were issued in about two in three felony cases that resulted in court costs filed in Tulsa County in 2008. That means a solid majority of those who had cases that were disposed as a conviction, deferral, or dismissal with costs could not pay their court fines and fees. In Rogers County, over half of 2008 felony defendants had a warrant issued for failure to pay.

The numbers aren't much better for misdemeanors, even though court fines and fees tend to be lower and fewer defendants qualify for a public defender. In three of the five counties from which we collected data, failure to pay warrants were issued in about half of misdemeanor cases filed in 2008. 

Failure to pay warrants hinder defendants' rehabilitation and are a waste of resources

Because debts are so large and defendants' incomes are generally very low, defendants are often asked to pay their debt in monthly installments of $25 to $100 a month. Even if a person has a full-time job, keeping up with these payments can be a challenge for a low-income family. As time goes by, more and more defendants slip up and get caught in a dangerous trap door that threatens that person's rehabilitation even years after their case is resolved. In Tulsa County, over half of felony cases with costs had at least one failure to pay warrant within four years of their case being filed, rising steadily to about two thirds of defendants after nine years.

Data that covers a longer period shows the epidemic proportions of court debt and debtors' prisons in Tulsa County. Of the approximately 72,000 felony and misdemeanor cases that resulted in costs there between 2008-2015, 43.5 percent received at least one failure to pay warrant - a total of over 31,000 cases. Those cases imposed about $154 million in court fines and fees, of which less than a quarter - about 23.9 percent - had been collected as of fall 2017. 

Courts and law enforcement agencies are ever more reliant on the money they collect due to declines in state funding. They devote a great deal of resources to pursuing, arresting, incarcerating, and adjudicating people who have failed to pay the outlandish sums that are demanded of them. The available evidence suggests that this is a losing financial proposition for the agencies involved, who end up spending more trying to collect debt than they gain in revenue.

Courts often ignore the requirement to make a good-faith effort to assess each defendant's ability to pay

Although judges are required by law to take into account a person's ability to pay when imposing fines and fees, that requirement is basically ignored in practice. Judges may ask how much a person can afford and set very low monthly payments, but there is little evidence that judges make a habit of waiving or reducing debts, even in cases of severe poverty.

Strong legislation to standardize ability-to-pay calculations, reduce the impact of debtors' prisons, and create repayment pilot programs was considered last year, but ultimately failed. Similar bills will almost certainly be introduced this year. For the sake of the lives of thousands of Oklahoma who become entrapped by this needless cycle of debt and incarceration, lawmakers must pass these reforms in 2018.

*Five counties were chosen to include the most populous two counties and provide comparisons to rural counties in different areas of the state. Data was available only from counties that used the Oklahoma State Court Network for reporting in 2008. Data was collected in September - October 2017 and January 2018 from the online records of 29,852 felony and misdemeanor cases filed in 2008. Of these cases, 22,299 included a conviction, a deferred conviction, or were dismissed with costs. Data on Tulsa cases from 2008 to 2015 included 100,279 cases, of which 71,898 resulted in costs.

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[In The Know] The Case for and Against Tapping the State's Tobacco Fund

In The Know is your daily briefing on Oklahoma policy-related news. Inclusion of a story does not necessarily mean endorsement by the Oklahoma Policy Institute. Click here to subscribe to In The Know and see past editions.

Today In The News

The Case for and Against Tapping the State’s Tobacco Fund: With another sizable budget shortfall looming, and state agencies pleading for help, some Oklahoma lawmakers are turning hungrily to one of the state’s biggest heaps of public cash. The Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust, valued at $1.1 billion, has become a tempting target for legislators who want to redirect the flow of TSET funds to core state services not directly related to the agency’s mission. At least 10 bills have been filed for the upcoming legislative session that would channel TSET money to, among other things, health care for the poor, mental-health services and a pay raise for teachers [Oklahoma Watch].

Expert: Tax bill has 'credit negative' implications for health systems: In December, President Donald Trump signed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act into law, effective Jan. 1. Much has been written about how those changes to the Internal Revenue Tax Code will affect businesses, but little has been said about how the tax bill will affect municipal, nonprofit hospitals like those in the Norman Regional Health System [Norman Transcript].

Freshmen lawmakers seek better culture in OK House: During Meloyde Blancett’s three decades in the business world, she never considered herself a partisan person. She still doesn’t, despite representing Oklahoma House District 78 in Tulsa as a Democrat. “I used to call myself a ‘Republicrat’ because I didn’t really have a flavor. It’s more policy related for me,” Blancett said. “I don’t mean to say I’m not loyal to the Democratic Party, I just don’t live and die by that. I just don’t because I think that’s dysfunctional.” [NonDoc]

35,767

Number of new handgun licenses approved in Oklahoma in 2017.

Source: Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation

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QotD 1/30/18

“It’s a common theme of the last decade: The Indian Nations are stepping up to invest in our communities and our people, and the state of Oklahoma is pulling the rug out from under us. It’s not right. It’s the opposite direction that we should be going.”

– Cherokee Secretary of State Chuck Hoskin, Jr., commenting on tribes’ contributions to public services as state dollars declined in recent years (Source)

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In The Know: The Case for and Against Tapping the State’s Tobacco Fund

In The KnowIn The Know is your daily briefing on Oklahoma policy-related news. Inclusion of a story does not necessarily mean endorsement by the Oklahoma Policy Institute. Click here to subscribe to In The Know and see past editions.

Today In The News

The Case for and Against Tapping the State’s Tobacco Fund: With another sizable budget shortfall looming, and state agencies pleading for help, some Oklahoma lawmakers are turning hungrily to one of the state’s biggest heaps of public cash. The Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust, valued at $1.1 billion, has become a tempting target for legislators who want to redirect the flow of TSET funds to core state services not directly related to the agency’s mission. At least 10 bills have been filed for the upcoming legislative session that would channel TSET money to, among other things, health care for the poor, mental-health services and a pay raise for teachers [Oklahoma Watch].

Expert: Tax bill has 'credit negative' implications for health systems: In December, President Donald Trump signed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act into law, effective Jan. 1. Much has been written about how those changes to the Internal Revenue Tax Code will affect businesses, but little has been said about how the tax bill will affect municipal, nonprofit hospitals like those in the Norman Regional Health System [Norman Transcript].

Freshmen lawmakers seek better culture in OK House: During Meloyde Blancett’s three decades in the business world, she never considered herself a partisan person. She still doesn’t, despite representing Oklahoma House District 78 in Tulsa as a Democrat. “I used to call myself a ‘Republicrat’ because I didn’t really have a flavor. It’s more policy related for me,” Blancett said. “I don’t mean to say I’m not loyal to the Democratic Party, I just don’t live and die by that. I just don’t because I think that’s dysfunctional.” [NonDoc]

Accusations 'hurtful,' Tourism chief says: Senior officials at the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department began intensively trying to fix the internal culture at the agency after a report detailing widespread employee mistrust in management, Executive Director Dick Dutton said Monday. Dutton and Deputy Director Claudia Conner testified before the Oklahoma House Special Investigation Committee about those concerns [NewsOK].

Indian Nations Have Taken Notice of Oklahoma's Budget Crisis: A top Cherokee Nation official calls Oklahoma’s last decade of fiscal policy "an abject failure." Cherokee Secretary of State Chuck Hoskin Jr said tribal governments are picking up the slack where the state makes cuts. "In the last year, billions of dollars in the Indian Nations have been invested in education and health care and housing, investing in communities that, frankly, the rest of the world forgot about. But we’re saving them," Hoskin said [Public Radio Tulsa].

Report: Oklahoma behind in educational attainment: A new report shows that Oklahoma still lags in higher education attainment compared to the rest of the country. The latest Vital Signs report by the United Way of Central Oklahoma found that nearly 16 percent of Oklahomans earned a bachelor's degree between 2007 and 2016, which is below the national rate of 18 percent for Americans age 25 and older. The Oklahoman reports that the state also ranked below the national rate for adults who earned associate, graduate and professional degrees [AP].

Medical marijuana passage could burden state agencies: Although the outlook for medical marijuana’s passage remains hazy, state agencies are already gearing up to enforce the laws that could be enacted. Voters will decide whether to legalize medical marijuana in June. Several lawmakers have introduced policy bills that would ensure laws are in place before legalization occurs, and they’re contingent on State Question 788‘s passage. Three state agencies would be affected more than others: the Oklahoma State Department of Health, the Alcoholic Beverage Laws Enforcement Commission and the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics [Journal Record]. How does SQ 788 compare to other states’ medical marijuana laws? [OK Policy]

Religious views could affect adoptions under proposed law: Oklahoma could soon become the next state to allow private adoption agencies to deny applicants based on the organizations’ stated religious beliefs. State Sen. Greg Treat, R-Oklahoma City, introduced a bill that would allow the agencies to write formal religious or moral convictions and make placement decisions based on them. The measure would protect the organizations from civil liability for those refusals [Journal Record].

Police duties, social work mix with Homeless Outreach Team: The Homeless Outreach Team within the Oklahoma City Police Department is tasked to connect the city’s homeless population with agencies and organizations. They have a unique role that not all officers, and most city residents, don’t understand. “When I first came onto this unit, a senior officer said that all I was doing on the team was social work. I asked him what part of police work is not social work,” Sgt. Bobby Prater told Free Press with an easy smile [Oklahoma City Free Press].

Lamb wants to review billions in sales tax exemptions to raise state revenue: Lt. Gov. Todd Lamb says he opposes tax hikes to raise teacher pay and stabilize the budget, but he is willing to consider applying the Oklahoma sales tax to activity that is currently exempt. In speeches and interviews as he campaigns for governor, Lamb has called for modifying or removing some of the $6.7 billion in sales tax exemptions, the largest of which cover goods purchased for resale and goods bought by manufacturers [NewsOK]. Lamb resigned from Gov. Fallin's cabinet in 2017 after Fallin supported doing away with 164 sales tax exemptions [NewsOK].

Holt projects a generational shift in city leadership in remarks to Kiwanis audience: David Holt says he aspires to be a leader who expands the field of challenges a mayor takes on while looking broadly for ideas on how Oklahoma City's renaissance ought to move forward. Holt, 38, outlined his vision for the next four years in remarks Monday to the Downtown Oklahoma City Kiwanis Club [NewsOK].

Quote of the Day

"It’s a common theme of the last decade: The Indian Nations are stepping up to invest in our communities and our people, and the state of Oklahoma is pulling the rug out from under us. It’s not right. It’s the opposite direction that we should be going."

- Cherokee Secretary of State Chuck Hoskin, Jr., commenting on tribes' contributions to public services as state dollars declined in recent years (Source)

Number of the Day

35,767

Number of new handgun licenses approved in Oklahoma in 2017.

Source: Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation

See previous Numbers of the Day here.

Policy Note

Massive new data set suggests economic inequality is about to get even worse: The “endless inegalitarian spiral” may be coming for us sooner than we think. In his best-selling 2014 book “Capital in the Twenty-First Century,” French economist Thomas Piketty warned that if the already rich were able to accumulate wealth faster than economies were able to grow, inequality would skyrocket in the coming decades, potentially destabilizing societies in the process. Wealth, after all, is self-perpetuating [Washington Post].

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Monday, January 29, 2018

In The Know: Former Oklahoma governors endorse Step Up package, Oklahoma nursing home closing due to lack of funding, More than 6,000 Oklahoma Dreamers in danger, and more

In The Know: Former Oklahoma governors endorse Step Up package, Oklahoma nursing home closing due to lack of funding, More than 6,000 Oklahoma Dreamers in danger, and more

In The Know: Former Oklahoma governors endorse Step Up package

In The Know is your daily briefing on Oklahoma policy-related news. Inclusion of a story does not necessarily mean endorsement by the Oklahoma Policy Institute. Click here to subscribe to In The Know and see past editions. Today In The News Former Oklahoma governors endorse Step Up package: Members....

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QOTD 1/29/18

“Our current level of funding is one of the lowest in the nation. If we want to provide for our seniors and allow them to live in dignity and comfort, the current budget situation is unsustainable. We have got to get these facilities more resources or we will see more closures and more displacement of vulnerable and frail Oklahomans. I hope our lawmakers are paying attention and discussing solutions. Our senior citizens need to know that help is on the way.”

– Nico Gomez, CEO of the Oklahoma Association of Health Care Providers, pointing out that Oklahoma nursing homes have lost over $93 million in state and federal appropriations since 2010 (Source)

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10.8%

Percentage of Oklahoma jobs in “Professional & Business Services”, below the national average of 14.2%. (Dec. ’17)

Source: Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City

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In The Know: Former Oklahoma governors endorse Step Up package

In The KnowIn The Know is your daily briefing on Oklahoma policy-related news. Inclusion of a story does not necessarily mean endorsement by the Oklahoma Policy Institute. Click here to subscribe to In The Know and see past editions.

Today In The News

Former Oklahoma governors endorse Step Up package: Members of one of Oklahoma’s most exclusive clubs, the state’s five living former governors, have unanimously endorsed Step Up Oklahoma’s package of proposals to resolve the state budget impasse and provide teacher pay raises. [Tulsa World] Step Up Oklahoma plan adds to the consensus that new revenues are essential [OK Policy]

Oklahoma nursing home closing due to lack of funding: Officials say 20 residents in an Oklahoma nursing home will have to find a new place to stay due to the ongoing budget crisis. While the next regular session is just weeks away, Oklahoma lawmakers are still struggling to agree on a budget. In the meantime, officials at a local nursing home say a lack of funds is leading to the closure of one of Pawhuska’s largest employers. [KFOR] The doomsday scenario has already begun — but it can be stopped [OK Policy]

From Teacher Pay to Free Speech, Education Bills Queue Up for Session: With the start of the 2018 legislative session eight days away, lawmakers have submitted a flurry of proposals related to education. They range from the expected — proposed salary boosts and other financial compensation for teachers — to the unexpected, like bills to allow schools to sell and place ads on school buses and to permit students to apply their own sunscreen. [Oklahoma Watch] Another year goes by, and Oklahoma still leads the nation for cuts to education [OK Policy]

Legislative action preventing federal income tax change from blowing a $375 million hole in state budget: December’s federal income tax reform bill would have decreased Oklahoma’s state income tax revenue by $375 million had legislators not “decoupled” from the federal standard deduction last year, analysts say. “Had we not decoupled, the state would have been bringing in $375 million less this year,” said David Blatt of the Oklahoma Policy Institute, citing the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy. [Tulsa World]

More than 6,000 Oklahoma Dreamers in danger: On March 8, hundreds of thousands of young people will lose their legal status in the only home they’ve ever known, the United States. On that day, unless Congress takes action, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals will expire. They will face deportation to countries where many of them have no family or friends and might never have visited since leaving as children. [Julie Ward/Tulsa World] Congress must pass the Dream Act to protect young Oklahomans and our economy [OK Policy]

Oklahomans don’t want to pay what it costs to keep incarcerating so many: We are holding in prison 673 per 100,000 Oklahoma residents. The national average is 397 per 100,000. If Oklahoma incarcerated our people at the national average, there would be 11,020 fewer inmates in our prisons at a cost of $48 per day. Doing the math, if we were just average in incarceration, neither high nor low, the savings to the state budget would be $193 million! [OK Policy] Justice Reform Task Force recommendations could be the solution Oklahoma desperately needs [OK Policy]

The Tulsa World agenda for the 2018 Oklahoma Legislature: What might turn out to be the most important legislative session for a generation will convene Feb. 5. With public schools, the state health department and the prison system in shambles and other vital state services barely surviving, lawmakers face a monumental number of tasks. Here is the Tulsa World’s legislative agenda for 2018. [Tulsa World]

Public education, it's worth saving: Oklahoma ranks dismally low in all education statistics. That, of course, is certainly not good news for parents and their children, and it does the state’s reputation no good when it comes to attracting new businesses and young people to the state. [Mike Jones/Tulsa World]

Survey of educators who have left Oklahoma draws local response: A new study on people holding Oklahoma teaching certificates but not teaching in the state shows low pay and classroom management were the biggest reasons people chose not to teach in Oklahoma. Local educators and teacher advocates said this wasn’t surprising. [Norman Transcript]

Income tax plan would raise revenue, but most taxpayers would see no increase: Proposed changes to Oklahoma’s income tax law would raise millions, but most Oklahomans would either see their income taxes go down or stay the same. Fifty-five percent of individuals filing Oklahoma tax returns would see either a decrease or no change in their state income taxes, according to Rep. Kevin Wallace’s figures. [Editorial Writers/Tulsa World]

Oklahoma's foster home capacity outpaces other states: The number of available foster homes in Oklahoma rose by more than 3,300 over the past five years, a figure that dwarfs other states' growth. A nationwide report from the Chronicle of Social Change shows Oklahoma reported a foster care capacity for 5,612 children last year. Only 25 states were included in the report because others did not respond to the nonprofit's requests or handed over incomplete data. [The Oklahoman]

A line-item budget requirement would force legislators to make choices and take responsibility: Through the general appropriations ruse, lawmakers accomplish a lot, but little for the good of Oklahoma. They bypass the governor’s line-item veto power. When money is tight, they can routinely underfund critical state services, but leave the hard decisions to the bureaucrats. [Editorial Writers/Tulsa World]

Education is the key to building a better Oklahoma: Oklahoma is in competition for businesses, jobs and families. A teacher pay raise is a strategic investment. Children — and educators — in Oklahoma are worth just as much as those in other states, and our competitive standing as a state is hurt by the failure to ensure a high-quality, well-trained teacher for each and every student. [Shawn Hime/The Oklahoman] Two big myths that distort Oklahoma’s education funding debate [OK Policy]

Quote of the Day

“Our current level of funding is one of the lowest in the nation. If we want to provide for our seniors and allow them to live in dignity and comfort, the current budget situation is unsustainable. We have got to get these facilities more resources or we will see more closures and more displacement of vulnerable and frail Oklahomans. I hope our lawmakers are paying attention and discussing solutions. Our senior citizens need to know that help is on the way.”

- Nico Gomez, CEO of the Oklahoma Association of Health Care Providers, pointing out that Oklahoma nursing homes have lost over $93 million in state and federal appropriations since 2010 (Source)

Number of the Day

10.8%

Percentage of Oklahoma jobs in "Professional & Business Services", below the national average of 14.2%. (Dec. '17)

Source: Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City

See previous Numbers of the Day here.

Policy Note

Two Lessons of the Urban Crime Decline: Over the past few years, the discussion of crime and violence in the United States has focused on police brutality, mass incarceration and the sharp rise in violence in cities like Baltimore, St. Louis and Chicago. This is entirely appropriate: Any spike in violence should garner attention, and redressing the injustices of our criminal justice system is a matter of moral urgency. But it is also worth reflecting on how much the level of violence has fallen in this country over the past 25 years and how widespread the benefits of that decline have been. [NY Times]

 

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The post In The Know: Former Oklahoma governors endorse Step Up package appeared first on Oklahoma Policy Institute.


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from:
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[In The Know] Former Oklahoma governors endorse Step Up package

In The Know is your daily briefing on Oklahoma policy-related news. Inclusion of a story does not necessarily mean endorsement by the Oklahoma Policy Institute. Click here to subscribe to In The Know and see past editions.

Today In The News

Former Oklahoma governors endorse Step Up package: Members of one of Oklahoma’s most exclusive clubs, the state’s five living former governors, have unanimously endorsed Step Up Oklahoma’s package of proposals to resolve the state budget impasse and provide teacher pay raises. [Tulsa World] Step Up Oklahoma plan adds to the consensus that new revenues are essential [OK Policy]

Oklahoma nursing home closing due to lack of funding: Officials say 20 residents in an Oklahoma nursing home will have to find a new place to stay due to the ongoing budget crisis. While the next regular session is just weeks away, Oklahoma lawmakers are still struggling to agree on a budget. In the meantime, officials at a local nursing home say a lack of funds is leading to the closure of one of Pawhuska’s largest employers. [KFOR] The doomsday scenario has already begun — but it can be stopped [OK Policy]

From Teacher Pay to Free Speech, Education Bills Queue Up for Session: With the start of the 2018 legislative session eight days away, lawmakers have submitted a flurry of proposals related to education. They range from the expected — proposed salary boosts and other financial compensation for teachers — to the unexpected, like bills to allow schools to sell and place ads on school buses and to permit students to apply their own sunscreen. [Oklahoma Watch] Another year goes by, and Oklahoma still leads the nation for cuts to education [OK Policy]

Legislative action preventing federal income tax change from blowing a $375 million hole in state budget: December’s federal income tax reform bill would have decreased Oklahoma’s state income tax revenue by $375 million had legislators not “decoupled” from the federal standard deduction last year, analysts say. “Had we not decoupled, the state would have been bringing in $375 million less this year,” said David Blatt of the Oklahoma Policy Institute, citing the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy. [Tulsa World]

More than 6,000 Oklahoma Dreamers in danger: On March 8, hundreds of thousands of young people will lose their legal status in the only home they’ve ever known, the United States. On that day, unless Congress takes action, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals will expire. They will face deportation to countries where many of them have no family or friends and might never have visited since leaving as children. [Julie Ward/Tulsa World] Congress must pass the Dream Act to protect young Oklahomans and our economy [OK Policy]

Oklahomans don’t want to pay what it costs to keep incarcerating so many: We are holding in prison 673 per 100,000 Oklahoma residents. The national average is 397 per 100,000. If Oklahoma incarcerated our people at the national average, there would be 11,020 fewer inmates in our prisons at a cost of $48 per day. Doing the math, if we were just average in incarceration, neither high nor low, the savings to the state budget would be $193 million! [OK Policy] Justice Reform Task Force recommendations could be the solution Oklahoma desperately needs [OK Policy]

The Tulsa World agenda for the 2018 Oklahoma Legislature: What might turn out to be the most important legislative session for a generation will convene Feb. 5. With public schools, the state health department and the prison system in shambles and other vital state services barely surviving, lawmakers face a monumental number of tasks. Here is the Tulsa World’s legislative agenda for 2018. [Tulsa World]

Public education, it's worth saving: Oklahoma ranks dismally low in all education statistics. That, of course, is certainly not good news for parents and their children, and it does the state’s reputation no good when it comes to attracting new businesses and young people to the state. [Mike Jones/Tulsa World]

Survey of educators who have left Oklahoma draws local response: A new study on people holding Oklahoma teaching certificates but not teaching in the state shows low pay and classroom management were the biggest reasons people chose not to teach in Oklahoma. Local educators and teacher advocates said this wasn’t surprising. [Norman Transcript]

Income tax plan would raise revenue, but most taxpayers would see no increase: Proposed changes to Oklahoma’s income tax law would raise millions, but most Oklahomans would either see their income taxes go down or stay the same. Fifty-five percent of individuals filing Oklahoma tax returns would see either a decrease or no change in their state income taxes, according to Rep. Kevin Wallace’s figures. [Editorial Writers/Tulsa World]

Oklahoma's foster home capacity outpaces other states: The number of available foster homes in Oklahoma rose by more than 3,300 over the past five years, a figure that dwarfs other states' growth. A nationwide report from the Chronicle of Social Change shows Oklahoma reported a foster care capacity for 5,612 children last year. Only 25 states were included in the report because others did not respond to the nonprofit's requests or handed over incomplete data. [The Oklahoman]

A line-item budget requirement would force legislators to make choices and take responsibility: Through the general appropriations ruse, lawmakers accomplish a lot, but little for the good of Oklahoma. They bypass the governor’s line-item veto power. When money is tight, they can routinely underfund critical state services, but leave the hard decisions to the bureaucrats. [Editorial Writers/Tulsa World]

Education is the key to building a better Oklahoma: Oklahoma is in competition for businesses, jobs and families. A teacher pay raise is a strategic investment. Children — and educators — in Oklahoma are worth just as much as those in other states, and our competitive standing as a state is hurt by the failure to ensure a high-quality, well-trained teacher for each and every student. [Shawn Hime/The Oklahoman] Two big myths that distort Oklahoma’s education funding debate [OK Policy]

Quote of the Day

“Our current level of funding is one of the lowest in the nation. If we want to provide for our seniors and allow them to live in dignity and comfort, the current budget situation is unsustainable. We have got to get these facilities more resources or we will see more closures and more displacement of vulnerable and frail Oklahomans. I hope our lawmakers are paying attention and discussing solutions. Our senior citizens need to know that help is on the way.”

- Nico Gomez, CEO of the Oklahoma Association of Health Care Providers, pointing out that Oklahoma nursing homes have lost over $93 million in state and federal appropriations since 2010 (Source)

Number of the Day

10.8%

Percentage of Oklahoma jobs in "Professional & Business Services", below the national average of 14.2%. (Dec. '17)

Source: Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City

See previous Numbers of the Day here.

Policy Note

Two Lessons of the Urban Crime Decline: Over the past few years, the discussion of crime and violence in the United States has focused on police brutality, mass incarceration and the sharp rise in violence in cities like Baltimore, St. Louis and Chicago. This is entirely appropriate: Any spike in violence should garner attention, and redressing the injustices of our criminal justice system is a matter of moral urgency. But it is also worth reflecting on how much the level of violence has fallen in this country over the past 25 years and how widespread the benefits of that decline have been. [NY Times]

 

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