Now that Oklahoma’s federal Medicaid funding is climbing, let’s not repeat past mistakes

For Oklahoma families to prosper, they must be able to take advantage of work and educational opportunities. But working or doing well in school is much, much harder without consistent access to health care. SoonerCare, Oklahoma’s Medicaid program, provides that needed care for more than one million low-income Oklahomans every year, two in three of whom are children. SoonerCare is an effective, efficient system that is funded by a combination of state and federal dollars. This year, Oklahoma was able to reverse a years-long trend of cuts and increase the rates paid by SoonerCare to doctors and other care providers. After this spring’s legislative sessions, the state’s key health care agencies were able to reverse a years-long trend and increase payments to care providers. These rate increases were possible in part because Oklahoma’s federal Medicaid funding is increasing.

Medicaid is a state-federal partnership

Medicaid is the largest funder of health care services for low-income Americans, and states and the federal government divide up the cost. The federal government pays at least half, with the federal share, known as FMAP (Federal Medical Assistance Percentage) depending on the economy of the state in question. The amount of federal aid is calculated according to a formula that compares a state’s per capita income with federal per capita income. States with lower personal income have a higher federal match, while states with higher personal income have a lower match. FMAP is recalculated using a three-year rolling average, so it grows or shrinks depending on how each state's economy is doing.

In federal fiscal year 2019, which starts in October, fourteen states have an FMAP of 50 percent, the smallest available, while Mississippi will have the highest FMAP at 76.39 percent. Oklahoma’s FMAP will be 62.38, its highest federal share since 2014, and up 3.81 points from 58.57 in 2018. This is by far the largest increase of any state. Projections suggest that Oklahoma will see the largest FMAP increase in 2020 as well, bringing our federal share of Medicaid funding to 65.20 percent.

Federal Medicaid funding responds to need

This funding increase is a good sign for health care funding in Oklahoma, but why is it happening? The answer is in the most recent trends in Oklahoma's economy. Since our economy has been struggling relative to the nation as a whole, even going into a one-year recession in 2016, the federal government is stepping into help. 

However, this also means that as Oklahoma’s economy continues to recover, we should see our federal Medicaid funding decline. Inherent to the FMAP formula is the assumption that as a state’s economy improves, fewer families will need Medicaid coverage, and the state will be better able to handle the costs of those who remain. These are logical expectations, although Oklahoma lawmakers have not always kept up their end of the bargain. It also means state Medicaid financing carries some uncertainty for lawmakers and administrators.    

Health care should be a priority

Quality, consistent medical care is a foundation for a successful state. In recent years, the combination of a declining federal FMAP and state budget crises have led to provider cuts, slashed services, and more pressure on low-income families. This year, the state’s main health agencies were able to begin to reverse the trend, with at least small rate increases for providers. However, what goes up eventually comes down. As the state economy recovers, Oklahoma’s federal Medicaid funding will eventually tick downward, and lawmakers may be tempted to cut funding, or otherwise create more barriers to essential health care. Instead, we can learn from our mistakes, and commit to becoming a state where all families have access to basic health services in good years and bad. 

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[In The Know] Special session may not be needed for medical marijuana regulations

View this email in your browser. 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. In The News Special session may not be needed for medical marijuana regulations, House majority leader says: A special session to deal with regulating medical marijuana under the terms of State Question 788 appears a diminishing prospect as legislative leaders say they’re content to let the state Department of Health do the work [Tulsa World]. The head of Oklahoma's health agency said Wednesday there's a framework in place to get the medical marijuana industry rolling in the state soon, despite concerns from Gov. Mary Fallin that a statewide vote "opens the door" for recreational use [AP News]. Oklahoma's new medical marijuana law is expected to bring in some new tax revenue, although it's too early to put an exact figure on how much [News on 6]. The expressed will of the people in SQ 788 must not go up in smoke during the rule-making process: The state Capitol is hard at work on rules to implement the medical marijuana law approved by voters on Tuesday. The state Health Department has drawn up 61 pages of proposed rules, and Gov. Mary Fallin is said to be considering a special session of the Legislature to consider new laws. The state needs to be very careful moving forward on this effort. Regulation must not be used to undo the clearly expressed intent of a strong majority of Oklahoma voters [Editorial Board / Tulsa World]. Oklahomans Must Choose Between Their Guns and Medical Marijuana: Guns or medical marijuana? Thousands of Oklahomans will be forced to choose between the two to avoid committing a felony, federal officials say. And unless something changes, medical marijuana users also will be prohibited from obtaining state handgun permits, said Rick Adams, Oklahoma's incoming director of the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation. Oklahomans voted to approve state-sanctioned medical marijuana Tuesday, but marijuana use continues to be illegal under federal laws that concern both possession and gun ownership [NewsOK]. Q&A with Charlie Plumb: Possession, use of marijuana at work still prohibited, regardless of Tuesday's vote [NewsOK].

112

Number of executions in Oklahoma since 1976, the third most in the country behind Texas and Virginia.

[Marshall Project]

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Quote of the Day | June 29, 2018

“Oklahoma should stop the push to deny health care to parents if they don’t work a certain number of hours each week and complete strict reporting requirements. Whole families suffer when a parent loses health care — and when that parent is struggling with mental illness or a chronic disease, it can cascade into deep poverty or losing kids to foster care.”

-Oklahoma Policy Institute Director of Strategy and Communications Gene Perry, in an op-ed in The Oklahoman [NewsOK].

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In The Know: Special session may not be needed for medical marijuana regulations

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.

In The News

Special session may not be needed for medical marijuana regulations, House majority leader says: A special session to deal with regulating medical marijuana under the terms of State Question 788 appears a diminishing prospect as legislative leaders say they’re content to let the state Department of Health do the work [Tulsa World]. The head of Oklahoma's health agency said Wednesday there's a framework in place to get the medical marijuana industry rolling in the state soon, despite concerns from Gov. Mary Fallin that a statewide vote "opens the door" for recreational use [AP News]. Oklahoma's new medical marijuana law is expected to bring in some new tax revenue, although it's too early to put an exact figure on how much [News on 6].

Oklahomans Must Choose Between Their Guns and Medical Marijuana: Guns or medical marijuana? Thousands of Oklahomans will be forced to choose between the two to avoid committing a felony, federal officials say. And unless something changes, medical marijuana users also will be prohibited from obtaining state handgun permits, said Rick Adams, Oklahoma's incoming director of the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation. Oklahomans voted to approve state-sanctioned medical marijuana Tuesday, but marijuana use continues to be illegal under federal laws that concern both possession and gun ownership [NewsOK]. Q&A with Charlie Plumb: Possession, use of marijuana at work still prohibited, regardless of Tuesday's vote [NewsOK].

Point of View: We Need to Do Better for Oklahoma Children: Oklahoma can be a hard place to be a kid. This conclusion is hard to escape with the release of the new Kids Count Data Book, the annual report by the Annie E. Casey Foundation that measures child well-being in four key areas — health, education, economic well-being, and family and community. The report ranks Oklahoma 44th out of the 50 states for child well-being. In three out of four areas, Oklahoma ranks in the bottom 10. In Oklahoma, we're simply not doing what it takes to give all kids what they need to thrive. Hundreds of thousands of Oklahoma children live in poverty [Gene Perry / NewsOK].

Oklahoma Nears the Bottom of Rankings for Kids' Well-Being: Oklahoma children are facing an uphill climb. The state ranks 44th for kids’ well-being in the latest Annie E. Casey Foundation’s KIDS COUNT report. Besides ranking 44th overall, Oklahoma is in the bottom 15 for every category considered: 36th for economic security, 40th in health, 44th in family and community, and 46th in health. Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy CEO Joe Dorman said the state was climbing, then took a nosedive [Public Radio Tulsa]. The annual KIDS COUNT Data Book uses 16 indicators to rank each state across four domains — health, education, economic well-being, and family and community — as an assessment of child well-being [OKPolicy].

One Hurdle to Helping Oklahoma's Kids: Not Knowing How Many There Are: It could be tough to improve conditions for many young Oklahomans because there may be thousands more than we think. Researchers estimate 93,000 Oklahomans younger than 5 years old live in hard-to-count Census tracts. That means they’re being undercounted or not counted at all. "That’s really important, to get that accurate count, because billions of dollars in federal funding is at stake, based on the numbers that they bring up there," said Oklahoma Policy Institute's Gene Perry [Public Radio Tulsa].

Wave of Teachers Surges Ahead in Oklahoma Legislative Races: Oklahoma's teachers aiming to make their mark on elected office took a major step forward with Tuesday's primary, in which more than half the teachers who were running advanced to the next phase of this year's electoral contests. An Education Week analysis of the 67 teachers running for office this year found that 35 survived Tuesday's primary, some of them advancing to a runoff in August and others headed straight to the general election in November [Education Week]. The Oklahoma Educators Associations told News 4 that 115 educators ran for office [KFOR].

Will Abortion Factor in Gubernatorial Race with Possible Court Shift?: With Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy announcing his retirement, the issue of abortion was thrown into the spotlight as president Donald Trump has said he will appoint justices that would overturn Roe v. Wade, the 1973 decision that upheld a woman's right to abortion. Even if Trump's nominee dramatically swings the Supreme Court to a pro-life bent, overturning Roe v. Wade is far from certain and it would depend on what type of case the court considered [NewsOK].

James Cooper to Seek Ward 2 Seat on Oklahoma City Council: James Cooper, a public school teacher and transit authority trustee, said Thursday he would run for the Ward 2 seat on the Oklahoma City Council. Cooper, 36, lives in the Paseo District. He ran for the seat and lost in 2015, when Ed Shadid won his second term with 59.1 percent of the vote in the primary. Shadid, who was first elected in 2011, has said he will not seek a third term in 2019 [NewsOK].

Mass. Gets a Thumbs-Down on Negotiating Medicaid Prices, but Oklahoma Wins on ‘Value’ Rebates: In a pair of decisions Wednesday, top health officials offered the first clear signals of just how far they will let state Medicaid agencies go when it comes to negotiating discounts for prescription drugs. The administration declined to approve a bolder proposal from Massachusetts to use a formulary to exclude some drugs from Medicaid coverage, a common negotiating tactic for commercial plans. At the same time, it approved a separate idea from Oklahoma to let the state’s Medicaid program negotiate extra rebates if a given drug isn’t as effective as expected [STAT].

Department of Education Looking over Hundreds of Emergency Teaching Certificates: Districts across the state say they are doing everything they can to recruit teachers, but officials say that they still are having to approve emergency certifications. Last year, the Oklahoma State Department of Education approved a record number of emergency certifications in order to have enough teachers at schools across the state. As another way to keep teachers in the classroom, the Oklahoma Education Association began pushing lawmakers to approve a pay raise [KFOR].

OSBE Restores $5,000 Bonus: The Oklahoma State Board of Education on Thursday voted to restore a $5,000 bonus for nationally certified speech-language pathologists, audiologists and school psychologists after revenue for the annual incentive was cut for the last two years. The bonus, which is dependent on state budget leaders’ approval of a $3.65 million transfer from the flexible benefit allowance, will benefit approximately 730 specialists. The bonus will go into effect for the 2018-2019 school year [Journal Record].

Oklahoma Public College, University Presidents Say Employees Need Pay Raise: Low pay for faculty and staff was cited by several presidents of the state's 25 public colleges and universities as they presented their fiscal year 2019 budgets Wednesday to the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education. Many said increases in tuition and fees included in their budgets will be used to improve the situation. The regents will vote Thursday on the proposed budgets. The last time employees of Oklahoma City Community College received a raise was 11 years ago, President Jerry Steward said [NewsOK].

Latest Metro Jobs Data Shows Continued Economic Growth in Oklahoma: Oklahoma's economy continues to grow, data released on Wednesday by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission showed. In year-over-year comparisons for May, unemployment percentages were down in each of the Sooner State's four major metropolitan areas, with all but one showing they had added jobs during that time. Unemployment percentages also were lower in a year-to-year comparison throughout Oklahoma's rural areas, with drops recorded in 75 of Oklahoma's 77 counties [NewsOK].

Tulsa Homicide Rate down Significantly from Last Year's Record: Halfway through the year, Tulsa homicides are less than half what they were at the same time during 2017’s record year. Officer Jeanne MacKenzie says rates are also much better than in 2016, the previous record year. She says there have been 19 murders in Tulsa so far this year, compared to 46 during the same time frame last year, and 31 in 2016 [Public Radio Tulsa].

Oklahoman on Trump's Supreme Court Nominee List: President Trump said Wednesday he intends to nominate a replacement for retiring Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy from a list of names he first compiled during his 2016 campaign. He told reporters he had recently added five more names to the list. The list includes 37-year old Patrick Wyrick, who was appointed to the Oklahoma Supreme Court by Gov. Mary Fallin in 2017 [Public Radio Tulsa].

Bridenstine Defends President’s Space Force Proposal–Says US Is Vulnerable in Space: Former Oklahoma Congressman-turned-NASA administrator Jim Bridenstine’s support of President Trump’s proposed “Space Force” gets more attention. Not only did he support the idea publicly in a meeting this week, but in an interview with the news website Axios the space force is necessary because it’s where the U.S. is strategically vulnerable [OK Energy Today].

Quote of the Day

“Oklahoma should stop the push to deny health care to parents if they don't work a certain number of hours each week and complete strict reporting requirements. Whole families suffer when a parent loses health care — and when that parent is struggling with mental illness or a chronic disease, it can cascade into deep poverty or losing kids to foster care.”

-Oklahoma Policy Institute Director of Strategy and Communications Gene Perry, in an op-ed in The Oklahoman [NewsOK].

Number of the Day

112

Number of executions in Oklahoma since 1976, the third most in the country behind Texas and Virginia.

[Marshall Project]

See previous Numbers of the Day here.

Policy Note

How the Opioid Crisis Is Depressing America's Labor Force: It's been a decade since the financial crisis drove up the unemployment rate in the U.S. and forced people in the prime of their careers to give up looking for work. Even today, as employers add jobs at a furious pace, the workforce participation rate still hasn't recovered. And now researchers think they know one reason why: the opioid crisis. People who are prescribed opioids are more likely to get addicted, and those who are addicted are less likely to participate in the economy by looking for jobs [NPR].

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21.5

Oklahoma drug overdose deaths per 100,000 population (24th out of all 50 states).

[Centers for Disease Control and Prevention]

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Quote of the Day | June 28, 2018

“It’s the opposite of the way it has been, when legislators expected to pay for it in votes if they supported a tax increase. Now they’re paying for it in votes for having been against a tax increase. That is pretty dramatic for Oklahoma.”

-Oklahoma Policy Institute Executive Director David Blatt [New Yorker]

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In The Know: Department of Health says it will be ready to implement marijuana law

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.

In The News

Health Official: Will Be Ready to Implement Marijuana Law: Oklahoma's interim health commissioner says the state Department of Health will be ready to implement a new law allowing medical marijuana.Tom Bates said Wednesday the agency has been working to develop rules and regulations for medical marijuana since he was appointed on April 1. He said the rules will be ready according to the requirements of the law, which is scheduled to go into effect 60 days after passage [AP News]. First medical cannabis clinic sets up shop in Tulsa, but licensing guidelines and protocols yet to be established [Tulsa World].

Sen. Greg Treat: ‘No Desire to Unwind the Will of the People’ on SQ 788: The people of Oklahoma spoke loudly Tuesday night to say they want medical marijuana, and at least one leader of the Legislature says the body plans to listen. “I don’t think anyone in the Legislature or the governor’s office but especially the Senate wants to go against the will of the people,” Senate Majority Leader Greg Treat (R-OKC) said during a conference call this afternoon to discuss State Question 788’s implementation [NonDoc]. Mapping the medical marijuana vote, by county [Oklahoma Watch].

Report: Oklahoma Drops into the Bottom 10 States for Child Well-Being: Oklahoma ranks as one of the worst states in the nation when it comes to the general well-being of its children, according to an annual national report. The 2018 Kids Count Data Book, released Wednesday by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, ranks Oklahoma 44th out of 50 states for child well-being. The state ranked 36th overall last year and had hovered in the lower 30s for several years after once ranking in the mid-40s [Tulsa World].

New KIDS COUNT Data Book Ranks Oklahoma near the Worst in the Nation for Child Well-Being: A new report shows the youngest generation of Oklahomans face far-reaching challenges. The state ranks near the bottom in the nation for most measures of child well-being, according to the 2018 KIDS COUNT Data Book released today by the Annie E. Casey Foundation. Overall, the report ranks Oklahoma 44th out of all 50 states for child well-being. Even in areas where Oklahoma has seen the most improvement recently, we’re not keeping up with the progress in other states [OKPolicy].

Prosperity Policy: Food Security Under Attack: Access to vital food assistance for tens of thousands of Oklahomans depends on which version of a farm bill is passed by Congress in the coming weeks. Both the U.S. House and Senate are considering measures to reauthorize the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as food stamps), as part of a larger farm bill. SNAP is an effective program that helps struggling families buy groceries and put food on the table [David Blatt / Journal Record].

The Oklahoma Primaries Show the Lasting Impact of the Teacher Walkout: Yesterday was primary day in Oklahoma. More than a hundred current or retired educators were running for positions in the state legislature. I was meeting David Blatt, of the Oklahoma Policy Institute, an independent think tank, for coffee in the afternoon, but he was voting first. “I’ve been in line for twenty minutes and there are still thirty people in front of me,” he wrote to me [The New Yorker]. Two Republican state representatives who voted against a tax hike to fund teacher raises this year lost their primaries. They were among six GOP state lawmakers who lost to primary challengers on Tuesday [TIME]. It appears Oklahoma Republicans punished lawmakers who voted against raising taxes [NewsOK]. 

You’re Out! Primary Election Shakes up #Okleg: On an Oklahoma night when medical marijuana passed and congressional races were close, Tuesday’s primary election featured no shortage of drama in legislative face. Six sitting lawmakers lost to primary opponents, three sitting and three new lawmakers secured their seats, and 34 races will have runoff primaries [NonDoc]. Three Oklahoma lawmakers who had climbed the ranks and attained committee chairmanships lost their primary elections on Tuesday. One of the most visible committee chairmen in the Senate and two committee chairmen in the House will not return to their posts in February. Top officials in each chamber said they weren’t sure who would step in as replacements [Journal Record].

Capitol Insider: Nearly All Republican Statewide Candidates Face Runoffs: On this episode of Capitol Insider, KGOU’s Dick Pryor and eCapitol’s Shawn Ashley assess the results of Oklahoma’s June 26, 2018 primary election. Voters approved State Question 788, which will legalize medical marijuana, by 58 percent. And approximately 25,000 more people cast votes for 788 than did for the governor’s race. Kevin Stitt and Mick Cornett will face off in a runoff election, as will Republican candidates in five other statewide races. Overall, six out of Oklahoma’s seven statewide races will appear on the August 28 runoff ballot [KGOU].

Five Remaining Questions After Tuesday’s Primaries: Tuesday’s primary elections settled some lingering questions but raised a host of others. In a historic vote, voters in one of the nation’s most conservative states indicated a readiness to legalize medical marijuana. And Oklahoma’s Republican voters decided that their choice for the next leader of the state will come down to former Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett and Tulsa businessman Kevin Stitt. But as the dust settles on one of the most competitive primaries in years, questions remain about what Tuesday’s victories mean and how the results will impact elections in the months ahead [Oklahoma Watch].

Amid Many Runoffs, Edmondson Awaits Cornett or Stitt: Only a one-word answer is needed: Cornett or Stitt? After being bombarded for more than a year with phone calls and messaging from GOP gubernatorial hopefuls, registered Republicans are going to hear even further from and have to choose between former Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett and Tulsa businessman Kevin Stitt. On the other side of the fence, former Attorney General Drew Edmondson topped former state Sen. Connie Johnson, earning the Oklahoma Democratic Party’s gubernatorial nomination that escaped him in 2010 [NonDoc].

Kevin Stitt goes from political unknown to gubernatorial contender: In some ways, Kevin Stitt is like many of the Oklahomans whose growing interest in state politics resulted in record turnout for Tuesday’s primary elections. In 12 months, Stitt has gone from a political unknown to the Republican gubernatorial runoff election. All it has taken is hard work, a persuasive message and a few bucks — around 4.8 million of them [Tulsa World].

Murphy, Pinnell Headed to Runoff in Lieutenant Governor's Race: Corporation Commissioner Dana Murphy and longtime Republican Party officer Matt Pinnell headed to a runoff in the GOP lieutenant governor's race on Tuesday, while Democrat Anastasia Pittman held a slight lead for her party's nomination. With 1,948 of 1,951 precincts counted, Murphy garnered 196,017 votes, or 46 percent, and Pinnell had 152,716 votes, 36 percent [NewsOK].

Costello, Osborn Headed to Runoff: The race for state labor commissioner eliminated two candidates in Tuesday’s primary, leaving a clear Democratic contender and a runoff for the Republican ticket. The Democratic ballot had only two names in the race. Republicans fielded three candidates. Voting results affirmed earlier polling that predicted a tight race between Cathy Costello and state Rep. Leslie Osborn [Journal Record].

Top Vote-Getters Bob Anthony, Ashley Nicole Mccray Face Runoffs in Oklahoma Corporation Commission Bids: Oklahoma Corporation Commissioner Bob Anthony will face former Senate President Pro Tem Brian Bingman in a Republican runoff to be the party's nominee for the seat in the November general election. In a Democratic primary election for the same seat Tuesday, community organizer Ashley Nicole McCray was the top vote-getter in a four-way race, receiving 180,121 votes, or nearly 49 percent. She'll face Blake Cummings in the Aug. 28 primary, who recieved 81,890 votes, or about 22 percent [NewsOK].

Incumbent Tulsa County DA Kunzweiler, Challenger Fu Headed Toward Runoff: Incumbent District Attorney Steve Kunzweiler, despite maintaining a double-digit lead throughout Election Day, will have a runoff in August against a former colleague. The biggest surprise Tuesday wasn’t that Kunzweiler received more than 40 percent of votes cast, but that less than 1 percent separated Ben Fu — who received key endorsements from the Tulsa and Broken Arrow fraternal orders of police — and Tammy Westcott, who raised a fraction of Fu’s reported contributions [Tulsa World].

Reports: Dismal #Oklaed Spending Hurts Poor, Minorities: Oklahoma City can’t afford to ignore national reports by journalists and scholars on the state of our #oklaed spending and society. Perhaps predictably, a Magnify Money report released in April ranked Oklahoma City 48th out of 50 in terms of largest education-spending cities. The average metro included in that study spends $12,807 per student, but Oklahoma City spends only $8,898 per student [NonDoc].

Oklahoma DHS Closes Last State-Run Emergency Shelter: The Oklahoma Department of Human Services announced that it has officially closed its last emergency shelter. Officials say the Laura Dester Children’s Center in Tulsa was the last state-run shelter and had become the last resort for children who could not be immediately placed in foster homes or other facilities [KFOR].

Agency Visibility: Outpatient Mental Health Counselors Put Emphasis on Community: North Tulsa Counseling Services is an outpatient mental health facility that offers individual and family therapy and rehabilitation and case management for clients ages 3 and older, said Sharon Briggs, senior clinical director. “A lot of our job is strengthening and rebuilding families, just letting the African-American community know that mental health is not a stigma, that it’s OK to seek help and to get help,” she said [Tulsa World].

Marijuana Advocate Sues Oklahoma Sheriff for Forced Removal: A marijuana advocate is suing a northeastern Oklahoma sheriff who he alleges grabbed him by the throat and escorted him out of a community forum on a state ballot measure on medical marijuana. Court records show Charles “Chip” Paul filed the lawsuit June 20 against Rogers County Sheriff Scott Walton [KFOR].

Quote of the Day

“It’s the opposite of the way it has been, when legislators expected to pay for it in votes if they supported a tax increase. Now they’re paying for it in votes for having been against a tax increase. That is pretty dramatic for Oklahoma.”

-Oklahoma Policy Institute Executive Director David Blatt [New Yorker]

Number of the Day

21.5

Oklahoma drug overdose deaths per 100,000 population (24th out of all 50 states).

[Centers for Disease Control and Prevention]

See previous Numbers of the Day here.

Policy Note

You’ve Been Arrested. Will You Get Bail? Can You Pay It? It May All Depend On Your Judge: In New York City, when clients of The Legal Aid Society who were charged with a misdemeanor in 2017 entered their initial arraignment, they had anywhere between a 2 and 26 percent chance of the judge setting a cash bail, depending on which judge was randomly assigned to oversee the court that day. For felonies,² the range was even wider: anywhere between 30 and 69 percent. Those not assigned bail are likely to be released without having to pay, which means getting arrested on the wrong day can have a major consequence: You are more than twice as likely to have to pay your way to freedom. Can’t find the money? You’re stuck in jail [FiveThirtyEight].

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[In The Know] Department of Health says it will be ready to implement marijuana law

View this email in your browser. 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. In The News Health Official: Will Be Ready to Implement Marijuana Law: Oklahoma's interim health commissioner says the state Department of Health will be ready to implement a new law allowing medical marijuana.Tom Bates said Wednesday the agency has been working to develop rules and regulations for medical marijuana since he was appointed on April 1. He said the rules will be ready according to the requirements of the law, which is scheduled to go into effect 60 days after passage [AP News]. First medical cannabis clinic sets up shop in Tulsa, but licensing guidelines and protocols yet to be established [Tulsa World]. Sen. Greg Treat: ‘No Desire to Unwind the Will of the People’ on SQ 788: The people of Oklahoma spoke loudly Tuesday night to say they want medical marijuana, and at least one leader of the Legislature says the body plans to listen. “I don’t think anyone in the Legislature or the governor’s office but especially the Senate wants to go against the will of the people,” Senate Majority Leader Greg Treat (R-OKC) said during a conference call this afternoon to discuss State Question 788’s implementation [NonDoc]. Mapping the medical marijuana vote, by county [Oklahoma Watch]. Report: Oklahoma Drops into the Bottom 10 States for Child Well-Being: Oklahoma ranks as one of the worst states in the nation when it comes to the general well-being of its children, according to an annual national report. The 2018 Kids Count Data Book, released Wednesday by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, ranks Oklahoma 44th out of 50 states for child well-being. The state ranked 36th overall last year and had hovered in the lower 30s for several years after once ranking in the mid-40s [Tulsa World].

New KIDS COUNT Data Book ranks Oklahoma near the worst in the nation for child well-being

A new report shows the youngest generation of Oklahomans face far-reaching challenges. The state ranks near the bottom in the nation for most measures of child well-being, according to the 2018 KIDS COUNT® Data Book released today by the Annie E. Casey Foundation.

Overall, the report ranks Oklahoma 44th out of all 50 states for child well-being. Even in areas where Oklahoma has seen the most improvement recently, we’re not keeping up with the progress in other states. We have a high percentage of kids scoring below proficient in reading and math, a high rate of teen births, hundreds of thousands of kids living in poverty, and tens of thousands without health insurance. The 2018 Data Book shows that while Oklahoma has improved on some measures of child well-being, we still have a lot of work to do.

The annual KIDS COUNT Data Book uses 16 indicators to rank each state across four domains — health, education, economic well-being, and family and community — as an assessment of child well-being. Oklahoma ranks:

• 36th in economic well-being. The economic security of Oklahoma kids has improved significantly in recent years as the state and national economy emerged from recession. Compared to 2010, 19 percent fewer children were in families facing burdensome housing costs in 2016. The state also made progress in reducing child poverty and increasing full-time employment among parents. However, the percentage of teens ages 16-19 not attending school and not working (9 percent) has remained stagnant and ranks as one of the highest percentages in the nation.
•  46th in education. Oklahoma’s ranking for education was lowest among all areas covered in the report. While Oklahoma had seen progress in improving 4th grade reading proficiency, that progress was reversed in 2017 when 71 percent of 4th graders scored below proficient, 44th worst in the nation. Oklahoma students ranked even lower (45th) for 8th grade math proficiency, with 76 percent scoring below proficient.
• 44th in the family and community domain. Teen birth rates are at an all-time low nationwide and in Oklahoma, where they have dropped 34 percent since 2010. Despite this improvement, Oklahoma’s 2016 rate of 33 births per 1,000 females age 15 to 19 was tied with Mississippi for 2nd highest in the nation. Oklahoma also ranked among the highest for children in families where the head of household lacks a high school diploma (141,000 children, or 15 percent of all kids in the state).
• 40th in health. Oklahoma was a national leader for one measure of child health in the Data Book – the state has the lowest percentage of children ages 12-17 who abused alcohol in the past year (4 percent). Oklahoma also improved in reducing the number of low birthweight babies by 7 percent since 2010 and now ranks 19th in the U.S. on this measure. However, the state continues to struggle with a relatively high child uninsured rate (7 percent, 5th highest in the U.S.) and a high rate of child and teen deaths (35 deaths per 1,000, 7th highest in the U.S.).

For too long, Oklahoma has under-invested in children and put too many barriers in the way of young families who are struggling to get by. The commitments made this year to fund education and teacher pay will make a difference, but we also took some steps in the wrong direction. For example, the push to deny health care to very low-income parents who don’t meet strict work and reporting requirement threatens health care access for both these parents and their children. We must do better to become a state where all children have what they need to thrive.

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[In The Know] Oklahoma voters show statehouse lawmakers the door

View this email in your browser. 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. In The News Oklahoma Voters Show Statehouse Lawmakers the Door: Several House lawmakers lost their seat or face a dangerous runoff election after Tuesday's primary, capping off a year of exasperated politics focused on money and education. Five lawmakers lost in the primary election, whether by a wide margin or within a few dozen votes, according to election results Tuesday [NewsOK]. It was a mixed bag for teachers running for political office in Oklahoma but clearly a bad night for incumbent Republicans who voted this year against a tax package to fund a teacher pay raise [NewsOK]. Oklahoma voters encountered some glitches at the polls Tuesday, but a spokesman for the state Election Board said that is pretty typical of an election day [NewsOK]. Puff, Puff, Pass: Oklahoma Approves Medical Marijuana: Voters in Oklahoma appear to have passed State Question 788, which will legalize medical marijuana, according to unofficial results from the State Election Board. Soon after polls closed, initial voting totals showed favor for the measure by a consistent margin of about 10 points. The latest totals as of the time of this posting maintained that early margin, with about 56 percent of voters in favor of the initiative and about 44 percent opposed [NonDoc]. Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin released a statement saying her office will work to properly regulate medical marijuana after the passage of State Question 788 [OU Daily]. The new Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority is accepting public comments on draft rules to regulate medical marijuana [omma.ok.gov]. Mick Cornett and Kevin Stitt Head to a Republican Runoff: See How Each County Voted for Governor: Former Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett comfortably advanced and Tulsa businessman Kevin Stitt upset Lt. Gov. Todd Lamb to get into the Republican runoff for governor. On the Democratic side of the governor’s race, former Attorney General Drew Edmondson easily advanced to the general election, securing more than 60 percent of the vote over state Sen. Connie Johnson. Cornett and Stitt move on to an Aug. 28 runoff [Tulsa World]. See registration and voting deadlines for the runoff on our Oklahoma 2018 State Questions and Elections page [OKPolicy].

In The Know: Oklahoma voters show statehouse lawmakers the door

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.

In The News

Oklahoma Voters Show Statehouse Lawmakers the Door: Several House lawmakers lost their seat or face a dangerous runoff election after Tuesday's primary, capping off a year of exasperated politics focused on money and education. Five lawmakers lost in the primary election, whether by a wide margin or within a few dozen votes, according to election results Tuesday [NewsOK]. It was a mixed bag for teachers running for political office in Oklahoma but clearly a bad night for incumbent Republicans who voted this year against a tax package to fund a teacher pay raise [NewsOK]. Oklahoma voters encountered some glitches at the polls Tuesday, but a spokesman for the state Election Board said that is pretty typical of an election day [NewsOK].

Puff, Puff, Pass: Oklahoma Approves Medical Marijuana: Voters in Oklahoma appear to have passed State Question 788, which will legalize medical marijuana, according to unofficial results from the State Election Board. Soon after polls closed, initial voting totals showed favor for the measure by a consistent margin of about 10 points. The latest totals as of the time of this posting maintained that early margin, with about 56 percent of voters in favor of the initiative and about 44 percent opposed [NonDoc]. Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin released a statement saying her office will work to properly regulate medical marijuana after the passage of State Question 788 [OU Daily]. The new Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority is accepting public comments on draft rules to regulate medical marijuana [omma.ok.gov].

Mick Cornett and Kevin Stitt Head to a Republican Runoff: See How Each County Voted for Governor: Former Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett comfortably advanced and Tulsa businessman Kevin Stitt upset Lt. Gov. Todd Lamb to get into the Republican runoff for governor. On the Democratic side of the governor’s race, former Attorney General Drew Edmondson easily advanced to the general election, securing more than 60 percent of the vote over state Sen. Connie Johnson. Cornett and Stitt move on to an Aug. 28 runoff [Tulsa World]. See registration and voting deadlines for the runoff on our Oklahoma 2018 State Questions and Elections page [OKPolicy].

Runoff Bound: Oklahoma Congressional Candidates Struggle to Top 50 Percent: Democrat Kendra Horn was hoping to have a clear shot at U.S. Rep. Steve Russell (R-OKC) in November, but her five primary opponents combined to keep her below 50 percent of the 5th Congressional District primary vote. Tom Guild, Elysabeth Britt, Tyson Meade, Ed Porter and Leona Kelley-Leonard were also on the CD 5 ballot for Democrats. But CD 5 on the Democratic side is far from the only high-profile race heading to an Aug. 28 runoff election [NonDoc].

Mike Hunter, Gentner Drummond Head for Runoff in Attorney General Race; Dana Murphy, Joy Hofmeister Also in Runoffs: Republican candidates for attorney general, state superintendent and lieutenant governor are all headed to the August runoff. In the heated attorney general race, Mike Hunter had 44.5 percent of the votes over Gentner Drummond’s 38.5 percent. Democrat Mark Myles will face the winner in November. The race for attorney general got negative, Drummond acknowledged to supporters at his Tulsa watch party [Tulsa World]. State schools Superintendent Joy Hofmeister got a tougher-than-expected fight from two challengers in Tuesday's Republican primary and will face one in an August runoff [NewsOK].

Byrd, Prater Set for Runoff After Republican Primary for State Auditor: Cindy Byrd and Charlie Prater will be involved in a runoff for state auditor and inspector in Tuesday's primary. Byrd, of Coalgate, received 203,373 votes, or 49.45 percent, while Prater, of Edmond, received 173,072, or 42.08 percent, with 1,948 of 1,951 precincts reporting. John Uzzo, of Tahlequah, received 34,858 votes, or 8.48 percent. The winner of the August runoff will face Libertarian candidate John Yeutter, of Tahlequah [NewsOK].

Oklahoma Teachers Went on Strike. Nearly 100 of Them Are Now Running for Office to Unseat Republican Lawmakers: First they went on strike, now they’re running for office. Nearly 100 public school teachers and administrators are on the ballot in Oklahoma’s primary elections on Tuesday, trying to unseat Republican lawmakers who fought their demands to spend more money on public education. Many first-time candidates participated in the nine-day teacher strike in April that shut down more than half of the state’s public schools [Vox].

Could Anti-Incumbent Fever Leave an Opening for Democrats in Oklahoma and South Carolina Governor’s Races?: Oklahoma and South Carolina don’t top the list for most competitive gubernatorial races in 2018, but Democrats hope to reach for both governor’s mansions this year anyway. Voters in both states with elections Tuesday are incredibly unhappy with their current governors [Washington Post].

Dry Counties Get Wet: Diana Swadley approached Hughes County in February about getting the liquor-by-the-drink vote on the ballot. The county told her to do some research and see what it would mean for the county. Swadley found that failing to get it on the ballot could mean establishments would not get to sell alcohol. The oil-field employees would likely drive to another county to eat dinner where they could get alcohol with their meal [Journal Record].

Oklahoma Ethics Commission Files Lawsuit Against Gov. Mary Fallin, Legislative Leaders: The Oklahoma Ethics Commission on Tuesday filed suit against Gov. Mary Fallin, legislative leaders and others for allegedly failing to provide adequate funding. The suit asks the Oklahoma Supreme Court to force the Legislature and Fallin to give it an appropriation as required by law. The Legislature raided the agency’s revolving fund, which is made up of fees, and the agency maintains using that revenue to fund the agency is illegal [Tulsa World].

OK PolicyCast Episode 32: Danielle Allen, from South Central Los Angeles to the Declaration of Independence: We’ve got something really special for you today. We’re sharing the recording of an event that Oklahoma Policy Institute co-hosted with Danielle Allen, a Harvard University professor and the author of the new book, “Cuz”. In the book, Allen tells the story of her attempt to rescue her cousin, who was arrested at 15 for an attempted carjacking, was tried as an adult and sentenced to thirteen years. He served eleven years in prison, and three years after coming out of prison, he was dead [OKPolicy].

Second Health Insurer Added to Oklahoma Exchange: Another health insurance provider is coming to the state next year, giving Oklahomans two choices in the federally run marketplace. Minnetonka, Minnesota-based Medica will join Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma in offering insurance plans for individuals. The previous two years BCBSOK was the only provider to offer a plan on the insurance exchange [Journal Record].

Most Regional Oklahoma Universities Plan for Tuition Raise: All but one of the institutions in the Regional University System of Oklahoma will increase tuition this fall under fiscal 2019 budgets approved by regents. The budgets approved last week include increases in tuition and mandatory fees from 3.1 percent to 5.5 percent for five universities, the Oklahoman reported. Southeastern Oklahoma State University won't raise tuition or fees for the first time since 2009-2010 [AP News].

OKC School Board Approves Projected Budget: The Oklahoma City School Board on Monday night approved a proposed budget of nearly $600 million for the coming fiscal year, which begins July 1. The $598.6 million spending plan is based on projected federal, state and local revenues and includes and operating fund of $434.7 million (more than half is devoted to salaries and benefits); a capital fund of $74.1 million (bond projects); and a debt repayment and insurance fund of $89.8 million [NewsOK]

Opinion: Quality Early Childhood Investments Pay Off: Two different professionals, Greg Forster and Ray Potts, recently submitted opinion editorials to The Oklahomanon early childhood education and came to completely different conclusions. Sounds like the joke about economics: It's the only field in which two people can share a Nobel Prize for saying the complete opposite! But the topic of early childhood and its economic and social impacts on families and society is no laughing matte [Craig R. Knutson / NewsOK].

Judge Says 'No' to Request for Expedited Procedures in Opioids Lawsuit: An Oklahoma City federal judge on Monday once again rejected an emergency request by the state to expedite court proceedings on whether a lawsuit against opioid manufacturers should be transferred back to state court in Cleveland County. Twice Oklahoma Attorney General Mike Hunter and his legal team asked U.S. District Judge Vicki Miles-LaGrange to expedite the legal review process [NewsOK].

Quote of the Day

"More total votes were cast in today's Primary/State Question than were cast in the 2014 GENERAL Election. And votes are still coming in."

-Oklahoma State Election Board [Twitter]

Number of the Day

40.6%

Percentage of the population in Alfalfa County that is female, the lowest of any county in Oklahoma (2017).

[U.S. Census 2017 Population Estimates]

See previous Numbers of the Day here.

Policy Note

Why America Needs More African American Teachers - and How to Recruit and Retain Them: African American students are not the only ones who benefit when classrooms have more black teachers. Students of every background benefit from encountering and interacting with African Americans in the educational system and among authority figures. Unfortunately, many Americans do not fully understand the benefits that accrue to students of all backgrounds when they are taught by a diverse group of educators [Scholars Strategy Network].

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40.6%

Percentage of the population in Alfalfa County that is female, the lowest of any county in Oklahoma (2017).

[U.S. Census 2017 Population Estimates]

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Quote of the Day | June 27, 2018

“More total votes were cast in today’s Primary/State Question than were cast in the 2014 GENERAL Election. And votes are still coming in.”

-Oklahoma State Election Board [Twitter]

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Episode 32: Danielle Allen, from South Central Los Angeles to the Declaration of Independence

You can subscribe to our podcast on iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, or RSS. The podcast theme music is by Zébre. If you have any questions for the OK PolicyCast, topics you’d like us to cover, or people you want us to interview, you can reach us at policycast@okpolicy.org.

We've got something really special for you today. We're sharing the recording of an event that Oklahoma Policy Institute co-hosted with Danielle Allen, a Harvard University professor and the author of the new book, "Cuz". In the book, Allen tells the story of her attempt to rescue her cousin, who was arrested at 15 for an attempted carjacking, was tried as an adult and sentenced to thirteen years. He served eleven years in prison, and three years after coming out of prison, he was dead.

In this conversation between Danielle Allen and Tulsa civil rights attorney Damario Solomon-Simmons, they dig deep into how the inequalities of America — racial inequality, social inequality, economic inequality — play out not just in statistics and political debates, but in the personal dynamics of real individuals and families — as Danielle Allen puts it, in the "rending of kith and kin." It was a powerful, impactful conversation, ranging all the way from South Central Los Angeles to the Declaration of Independence. It's worth your time to give a listen.

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In The Know: Early voting suggests turnout could be bigger than 2016 presidential primaries

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.

In The News

Early Voting Suggests Turnout Could Be Bigger Than 2016 Presidential Primaries: Tulsa County Election Board officials said Monday that early in-person voting and absentee ballot requests suggest turnout for the primary elections that conclude Tuesday could top 50 percent. That translates into about 170,000 votes, or nearly three times as many as in the 2014 statewide primary and more than even the 2016 presidential primary [Tulsa World]. Visit our State Questions & Elections page for links to helpful information, resources, and deadlines [OKPolicy].

More Oklahoma Candidates Are Female, but Numbers Still Low: Men have called Carrie Blumert “princess” and “honey.” They have commented on her body, invited her inside their homes and even grabbed her hand to check for a wedding ring. Blumert, 31, has been campaigning for an Oklahoma County commissioner seat for more than a year, and she said sexism and harassment have become common occurrences for her. She now understands why many women don't want to run for office. The number of women running for Oklahoma's Legislature has nearly tripled since four years ago, but they still only make up 29 percent of the candidates [NewsOK].

(Capitol Update) A Connection Between the Nation’s Highest Incarceration and Refusal to Expand Medicaid?: The latest state-by-state comparison for incarceration rates drew headlines in Oklahoma because we are now number one in incarceration. Rounding out the top ten after Oklahoma are Louisiana, Mississippi, Georgia, Alabama, Arkansas, Texas, Arizona, Kentucky and Missouri. A quick view at the list suggested the question of whether there is a correlation between incarceration rates and Medicaid expansion, so I decided to look [OKPolicy].

Groups Weigh in on Health Department’s Plan to Regulate Marijuana If State Question 788 Passes: State Question 788 would allow Oklahomans over 18 to keep, use and grow medical marijuana, after they get a physician-approved license from the state. Draft rules obtained by StateImpact shed light on how state officials may regulate medical marijuana if voters pass the ballot initiative on Tuesday. The 63 pages of proposed rules, written by state health officials are subject to change [StateImpact Okahoma]. James Lankford and pro-medical marijuana group bicker over biblical quotes [NewsOK]. State Question 788 Fact Sheet [OK Policy].

Money Talks: The Industries Driving Oklahoma’s Race for Governor: Five industries have driven most of the donations to candidates for Oklahoma’s next governor, an analysis by The Frontier of campaign donation data shows. And those donations are mostly clustered around four candidates — three Republicans and one Democrat, according to the data. Oklahoma voters will decide the candidates who will be on November’s ballot for governor on Tuesday, barring a run-off election [The Frontier].

Stumped? Watch These Debates Before Casting Ballots: When trying to decide between candidates of the same party in a primary election, sometimes it can seem like each person’s words and positions sound quite similar. At that point, examining how candidates say those words, how they carry themselves and how they behave under pressure should be extra important before casting your vote in Tuesday’s primary elections. (Viewing tip: Things get rolling after introductions, usually about the seven-minute mark of the videos.) [NonDoc].

The McCongressman? Out-Of-State McDonald’s Money Flows into the Campaign of Tulsa Restaurateur Kevin Hern: The biggest player in the race to replace Tulsa Congressman Jim Bridenstine might just be a fast food restaurant. A review by The Frontier found that almost $130,000 of the outside donations brought in by frontrunner (and McDonald’s franchisee) Kevin Hern’s campaign was from fellow restaurateurs. The vast majority of those donors appear to be other McDonald’s franchisees, according to a review of campaign finance data from the Federal Election Commission [The Frontier].

Five Labor Commissioner Candidates Hope to Win This Week’s Primary Election: One way or the other, after this year’s elections in Oklahoma, the state will have a new Labor Commissioner. And six candidates are hoping they win the November election. Five have to make it past this week’s primary election. Incumbent Commissioner Melissa McLawhorn Houston, appointed by Gov. Fallin in 2015 is not a candidate.  That leaves voters to decide among three Republicans, two Democrats and one independent [OK Energy Today].

Republicans face off in Oklahoma County primaries: Two Republicans are seeking their party's nomination in the race for Oklahoma County assessor, the office long held by Leonard Sullivan, who is retiring. The winner will face Mike Shelton, 45, of Oklahoma City — the only Democrat to file for the office — in the general election [NewsOK]. Two Men Will Face off for the Republican Nomination for Oklahoma County Treasurer. The winner will face Democrat Daniel Chae, 35, of Oklahoma City, in the November general election [NewsOK].

Two Races for Judges in Oklahoma County’s District 7: Oklahoma County’s District 7 judicial jurisdiction encompasses all of Oklahoma County. It is one of 26 total district courts in the state. Unlike other races for public offices, judges don’t usually run by political party, so elections are nonpartisan. Further, there are special rules limiting how they can campaign. Those differences can make it hard for voters to choose how to vote and for candidates to stay within the rules [NonDoc]. Judges on the Ballot in Oklahoma: What you need to know [OKPolicy].

Susan Ellerbach: Respect Your Candidates, Take the Time to Get out and Vote: Every two years, I’m reminded of just how much I love my job. And, it’s no coincidence that every two years there is an election. I witness first-hand the excitement that candidates bring to the campaign. By virtue of working in the media, candidates often flock to our doors to tell their personal stories of why they’re running for office and what they hope to do. It’s impressive, whether you agree with their politics or not [Susan Ellerbach / Tulsa World].

Wind Group Buying Ads in Support of 15 Candidates: An advocacy group for the wind industry reported spending $178,693 in support of state legislative candidates. Most of the 15 candidates are on primary election ballots Tuesday. American Wind Action (AWA) spent the money June 14 on radio and digital ads independent of the candidates' efforts, its expense report shows. The majority of the money went to help state representatives and senators who have been supportive of the wind industry. The rest went to help candidates running for open seats [NewsOK]. 

PSO adjusts Wind Catcher power line plans; Bixby drops opposition: The Bixby City Council withdrew its opposition to the Wind Catcher Energy Connection power line project Monday evening after Public Service Co. of Oklahoma presented an alternate plan to not only use existing right-of-way through the southern part of the town but to rebuild that route with smaller towers. Wind Catcher is a $4.5 billion project that includes a 300,000-acre wind farm to be built in Cimarron and Texas counties with a 350-mile 765kV transmission line and sub station that will connect to the power grid at Tulsa. The wind farm would be the largest in the U.S. and the power line would be the largest west of the Mississippi [Tulsa World].

OCAST Working with Shrinking Budget: The Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology has awarded nearly $4.1 million this year for research and development projects in energy, aerospace, agriculture and health industries, officials said Wednesday. However, that figure is significantly reduced from grant totals in recent years as state appropriations have shrunk, OCAST officials said, and the picture doesn’t look good further out [Journal Record].

Cities try to estimate sales tax return: Some municipal officials have started contacting the Oklahoma Tax Commission for guidance following a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling on internet sales taxes. The decision has huge implications for government budgets, particularly in Oklahoma, the only state in the nation that requires municipalities to rely almost exclusively on sales tax collections for operations. Yukon City Hall spokeswoman Jenna Roberson echoed several other municipalities’ perspectives in a general sense of satisfaction and happiness but not much information to act on yet [Journal Record].

Oklahoma Rape Kits Task Force Working to Finalize Recommendations: Now that more than 7,000 untested rape kits have been identified in Oklahoma, a task force that's working to make recommendations for the state moving forward has been weighing the question of how to proceed. The task force is scheduled to meet Monday to try to finalize its recommendations for Gov. Mary Fallin and state legislative leaders ahead of a July 1 deadline [NewsOK].

OU Dean Calls Layoff Talk 'Unwise': A University of Oklahoma dean referred to the incoming president’s talk of possible non-faculty staff layoffs to improve the financial situation as “premature and unwise.” Suzette Grillot, the dean of the David L. Boren College of International Studies, made the comment while retweeting a story by the OU Daily about President Designate Jim Gallogly who told the Tulsa World last week that staff layoffs could be part of the solution to turn around the university’s budget deficit [Norman Transcript].

Oklahoma Camp Aims to Identify Future Doctors in Rural Areas: "Operation Orange" is designed to allow students to experience a day in the life of an OSU medical student. And there were plenty of volunteer medical students on hand to talk the attendees through the different stations. One of those volunteers, second-year med student Jacy O'Dell, understands firsthand the need for recruitment in rural communities [AP News].

Quote of the Day

“I get a lot of questions like ‘Are you married?', ‘Do you have children?', ‘You look too young.' ‘You look like a teenager.' ... I don't want to ever be rude, but I also want to make these men aware that the way they're treating me is not acceptable. If we want more women in public office, we need to start treating them equally and fairly.”

-Carrie Blumert, a candidate for Oklahoma County commissioner [NewsOK]

Number of the Day

23.9%

Uninsured rate for people of color in Oklahoma - twice as high as the uninsured rate for white Oklahomans

[Prosperity Now Scorecard]

See previous Numbers of the Day here.

Policy Note

Rural America Has Too Few Dentists — and Too Few Patients Who Can Pay: Poor oral health has an impact beyond mere toothache. A landmark 2000 report by the U.S. Surgeon General found that oral health is intimately linked to people’s overall physical health and is often associated with serious systemic conditions such as diabetes and heart disease, as well as the likelihood of complications in pregnancy. Nevertheless, some 74 million Americans had no dental coverage in 2016, according to the National Association of Dental Plans, putting the dentally uninsured rate at nearly four times the rate for the medically uninsured. According to a 2014 report from the American Dental Association’s Health Policy Institute, nearly 20 percent of adults ages 21 to 64 said they’d foregone needed dental care in the past 12 months, with the most common reason being “could not afford the cost” [Washington Post].

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