[In The Know] Funding for Governor's Medicaid plan appears dead; pension increase for state retirees moving forward; and more

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 Republican proposal to fund Stitt's Medicaid expansion plan appears dead: A funding plan for Gov. Kevin Stitt’s proposed Medicaid expansion appears to be dead. Republicans earlier this week filed a bill that would increase the fees paid by hospitals to draw down additional federal dollars. Enacted in 2011, the Supplemental Hospital Offset Payment Program, known as SHOPP, can assess a fee on hospitals of up to 4% of annual net patient revenue. Some 65 hospitals participate. [Tulsa World] OK Policy: Lawmakers have had nearly a decade to decide how to expand Medicaid in Oklahoma, and taxpayers deserve the opportunity to have their elected officials thoughtfully evaluate important financial matters rather than rushing them through committee. We renew our call on the governor’s office to respect the will of Oklahoma voters by setting an election date for SQ 802, which calls for straightforward Medicaid expansion. COLA compromise: Public pension boost based on longevity: A compromise over how much to hike payments to retired public employees would provide different cost of living adjustments based upon how long individuals have been receiving benefits. Called a COLA, a cost of living adjustment has not been approved for teacher, police, firefighter, judicial and other retired public employees in 12 years. [NonDoc] OK Policy has identified a cost of living adjustment for state retirees as one of its 2020 Legislative Focus areas. Issue summary (PDF) | Additional resources Hamilton: People need to decide fate of Medicaid expansion: In the life or death world of health care, what could possibly go wrong? This is a question worth exploring in light of Gov. Kevin Stitt’s obsession with derailing State Question 802, the proposed constitutional amendment that would expand Medicaid. [Arnold Hamilton / Journal Record $] Attorneys for death row inmates file motion, say 150-day stay is still in place: Oklahoma’s new execution protocol is “incomplete,” attorneys representing Oklahoma’s death row prisoners said on Thursday, saying that information provided by the state so far “does not comply” with a 2015 joint stipulation dismissing the inmates’ former lawsuit. [The Frontier] Federal judge rejects requests by two tribes to join lawsuit against Gov. Stitt: An Oklahoma City federal judge has rejected requests by two tribes to join a tribal gaming lawsuit against Gov. Kevin Stitt. At issue in the lawsuit is whether the state's 15-year gaming compacts with more than 30 Oklahoma tribes expired on Jan. 1 or automatically renewed on that date. [The Oklahoman] (Audio) Super Tuesday, tribal gaming funds, Dove Charter School & more: This week's episode discusses Oklahoma's involvement in the upcoming Super Tuesday Presidential Primary, a call to the Attorney General on whether Governor Stitt can keep tribal gaming funds in an escrow without putting them in state coffers and Stitt signs his first bill of 2020 to increase transparency in private school money from public dollars. [KOSU] Universal Occupational Licensing Act moves to Senate floor: The Senate Appropriations Committee approved the Universal Occupational Licensing Recognition Act Wednesday night.  Sen. Adam Pugh, R-Edmond, authored the bill to help attract more professionals to move and work in Oklahoma. [CNHI / Edmond Sun] Bill would create state-sponsored retirement plan: A bill making headway in the Oklahoma Legislature proposes to establish a state-sponsored trust fund to help people save for retirement. State Sen. John Michael Montgomery, R-Lawton, said his goal in authoring Senate Bill 1890 was to address rising concerns for more than half of Oklahomans who report working for businesses that do not offer workplace retirement plans. [Journal Record $] Oklahoma Representative advocates for mental health resources for first responders: An Oklahoma State Representative has spent the last four years advocating to get first responders the mental health resources they need. Currently in Oklahoma, a mental injury for first responders only qualifies for workers comp if you have a physical injury to go along with it. Representative Josh West wants that to change. [NewsOn6] Utilities Committee passes bill to limit telemarketers and scam calls: The House Utilities Committee today passed legislation to prevent telemarketers from replicating phone numbers and misrepresenting the origin of a phone call. House Bill 3081, authored by Rep. Kyle Hilbert, R-Bristow, would prohibit callers from tampering with information displayed on caller IDs to disguise their identities. [CNHI / Woodward News] Guns and undocumented immigrants dominate committee ahead of legislative deadline: Worried about gun-grabbers and undocumented immigrants, the Oklahoma House of Representatives’ Public Safety Committee slammed through a series of bills Thursday that would make it harder for anyone except the Legislature to control firearms and would allow seizure of some undocumented immigrants’ vehicles while penalizing towns that offer them refuge. [Tulsa World] House committee chair uses amendments to push through two gun bills on deadline day. [Public Radio Tulsa] Cali’s Law: Shelter animals could be designated as Oklahoma state pet: A lawmaker authors a bill that would make shelter animals, or rescue pets, the state pet of Oklahoma. State Rep. Mark McBride filed House Bill 3971 and named it after his own rescue dog, Cali. [KOAM News Now] Oklahoma awarded $16 million for emergency road, bridge repairs: The U.S. Department of Transportation has awarded Oklahoma just over $16 million in emergency relief funds to "make repairs to roads and bridges damaged by storms, floods, mudslides or other unexpected events." [The Oklahoman] Gathering input: Student advisory council recommends individualized curriculum, additional counseling staff: Three Carter County teens traveled to Oklahoma City last week as part of a state-level advisory council to give student perspective to education officials. For the three local students who all attended the Friday meeting, providing individualized curriculum for students and more counseling staff for schools could be keys in improving the quality of public education in Oklahoma. [The Ardmoreite] Epic Charter grads less likely to enroll in college: In a five-month investigation into Epic’s college-going rates, Oklahoma Watch found that fewer than one in five 2019 graduates enrolled in a public Oklahoma college or university last fall. Its rate was lower than rates for all of the state’s 10 largest school districts, according to an Oklahoma Watch analysis of education data. [Oklahoma Watch] Where Epic, school districts sent high school graduates to college. [Oklahoma Watch] University of Oklahoma students want change -- in the form of a new provost: What started as a protest over two incidents of professors using the N-word during class has escalated into a student sit-in Oklahoma’s central administration building and calls for Provost Kyle Harper to resign. The university says it won't happen. [Inside Higher Ed] Demonstrator motivation remains high on second night of protest. [OU Daily] Tulsa World Editorial: Innocent but televised for your entertainment: The A&E program “Live PD” sometimes features innocent people, although viewers may not always realize it. Sometimes, it takes a while to figure out if people in the path of police are really of any interest to law enforcement. [Editorial Board / Tulsa World] Majority of councilors support putting police oversight monitor to a vote of the people: A majority of city councilors say they would support allowing Tulsans to vote on whether to establish a police oversight program, according to interviews conducted by the Tulsa World. Councilor Vanessa Hall-Harper said earlier this week she plans to propose an amendment to the city charter that would establish an Office of the Independent Monitor based on the one pitched by Mayor G.T. Bynum, but with significant differences. [Tulsa World] Oklahoma County keeping costs low for upcoming vote on Sunday liquor sales: Putting together an election is costly. But Oklahoma County is piggybacking a countywide vote on Sunday liquor sales with the presidential primary election Tuesday, keeping costs low. [The Oklahoman] OKC parks could be boosted by Tuesday sales tax vote: While it might not get as much attention as who will win Oklahoma’s Democratic primary, Oklahoma City voters could take a big step toward boosting their parks department Tuesday. [NonDoc] CAIR-OK to host 6th annual Oklahoma Muslim Day at the Capitol: This years’ Muslim Day at the Capitol focuses on local level civic engagement with a keynote address from Norman Mayor Breea Clark and an advocacy training talk by Kyle Lawson of Oklahoma Policy Institute. [The City Sentinel] Quote of the Day “It is also an indication that there is a bipartisan skepticism that this alternative to traditional Medicaid expansion is going to really serve the people of Oklahoma.” -Rep. Forrest Bennett, D-Oklahoma City, speaking about the Governor's alternative Medicaid proposal [Tulsa World]  Number of the Day $435 million The accumulated state budget savings since 2001 due to a 64 percent decline in youth detention costs. [Source: Open Justice Oklahoma] See previous Numbers of the Day here. Policy Note Before their day in court, poor people charged with crimes can spend years in jail: This morning Viola Bowman woke up in her cell in the Clay County jail, as she has for the past 1,778 days. The 58-year-old homemaker hasn’t been convicted of a crime and maintains her innocence. But she is charged with murder, and has been locked up for more than four years while her trial has been delayed again and again with her public defender juggling up to 227 other cases. People like Bowman spend years in jail because they don’t have money for a lawyer and their public defender is too busy to help them. Some give up and plead guilty. A lucky few make it to trial and win their freedom. [Kansas City Star] You can sign up here to receive In The Know by e-mail.   Connect with Us   Oklahoma Policy Institute 907 S Detroit Ave, Suite 1005 Tulsa, OK 74120 (918) 794-3944 info@okpolicy.org Unsubscribe

 

 

Action Day at the Capitol!

Dear TogetherOK Friends --  Please join us next week on Wednesday, March 4, as we travel to the Capitol to deliver to Governor Stitt’s office the Together OK petition calling for an election date to be set for State Question 802.  After that, we will spend the morning and early afternoon talking with lawmakers about the urgent need for straightforward Medicaid expansion in Oklahoma.  Here’s the details: What: Medicaid Day of Action Date: Wednesday, March 4, 2020 Time: 10:00 a.m. Location: Oklahoma Capitol Building, 2300 N. Lincoln Ave., Oklahoma City Basement Level (Look for our table set up near the snack bar/cafeteria) Thank you for adding your voice alongside the record number of Oklahomans who signed the SQ 802 petition. We will continue to call on the governor’s office to respect the will of Oklahoma voters by setting an election date for SQ 802. This remains the only tried and true path to providing health care coverage for Oklahomans who need it the most. RSVP HERE  Resource link  Thank you, Kyle Lawson  TOK Senior Field Organizer TogetherOK’s success depends on your engagement – and there are many ways for you to get involved. Join Us   Together OK | 907 S Detroit Ave, Suite 1005, Tulsa, OK 74120 | (918) 794-3944 click here to unsubscribe | update subscription preferences | view email in browser

 

[In The Know] Fee for Governor's Medicaid plan unveiled; raising cap for state's saving account proposed; and more

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. New from OK Policy Don’t save – Invest!: Governor Stitt is to be commended for thinking about the future. His vision, however, is incompatible with his often-repeated vision of making Oklahoma a Top Ten state. We cannot save our way to better education, health, and economic outcomes. Prosperity comes from wise investments based on actual need. [OK Policy] OK Policy Statement on SB 1046 – Funding for Governor’s Medicaid proposal: Lawmakers did the right thing when SB 1046 was not taken up on Wednesday, and this measure should remain tabled. Introduced less than 24 hours before today’s committee meeting, this bill provided a funding mechanism for the governor’s alternative Medicaid plan — a plan the public and most lawmakers have not fully seen. Read the full statement. Policy Matters: Recognizing the uneven playing field: As Black History Month draws to a close, I think it’s important to shine a light on Oklahoma’s unique history with black-owned businesses and how those impacts are still felt in our state today. write these words less than a mile away from Tulsa’s Greenwood District, which was nationally recognized for its affluent black-owned business and earned the nickname “Black Wall Street for its concentrated wealth. [Ahniwake Rose / Journal Record] In The News ‘Negotiations are ongoing’: Fee for Governor's Medicaid plan unveiled amid managed care debate: Meetings of the House and Senate Joint Committees on Appropriations and Budget fizzled Wednesday, as complex negotiations over Gov. Kevin Stitt’s proposed Medicaid program waiver delayed consideration of a bill to expand a hospital fee that would help fund Oklahoma’s portion of Medicaid expansion. [NonDoc] GOP leadership in Oklahoma's House and Senate scheduled the bills to be voted on in committee Wednesday, but the votes were delayed following opposition from Oklahoma hospitals. [The Oklahoman] OK Policy: Lawmakers have had nearly a decade to decide how to expand Medicaid in Oklahoma, and taxpayers deserve the opportunity to have their elected officials thoughtfully evaluate important financial matters rather than rushing them through committee. We renew our call on the governor’s office to respect the will of Oklahoma voters by setting an election date for SQ 802, which calls for straightforward Medicaid expansion. Bill that would allow Oklahoma voters to raise cap in savings account heads to Senate floor: A measure asking voters to raise the amount sent to the state’s saving account is headed to the Senate floor. The Senate Appropriations Committee on Wednesday voted 15-4 to pass Senate Joint Resolution 30, drafted by Sen. Joe Newhouse, R-Broken Arrow. [Tulsa World] OK Policy: Oklahomans should demand that their elected officials invest wisely, so our state can live up to the future we deserve.  Committee deadline tomorrow: Turnpike speed limit, gun restrictions among bills considered in Oklahoma: Oklahoma legislators filed 2,243 bills and resolutions for the 2020 session. House bills must be advanced by a House committee and Senate bills must be advanced by a Senate committee to remain under consideration after the close of business Thursday, Feb. 27. [Tulsa World] Make sure to check out OK Policy's Legislative Primer for information about how Oklahoma's legislative process works.  Initiative petition bill advances: House Speaker Charles McCall, R-Atoka, is author of House Bills 3826 and 3827 to improve the initiative and referendum petition processes used to place state questions on the ballot in Oklahoma. HB 3827 addresses a lack of transparency in campaign finance for state questions. HB 3826 requires the initiative and referendum signature gathering form to include each signatory’s printed first name, last name, ZIP code, house number, and month and day of birth. [Journal Record $] State constitution: Measure would ask Oklahoma voters to limit pain, suffering damages: A measure that asks voters to amend the state constitution to cap pain and suffering damages in civil lawsuits at $350,000 is headed to the Senate floor. The Senate Rules Committee on Wednesday passed Senate Joint Resolution 40, by Sen. Julie Daniels, R-Bartlesville, by a vote of 7-2. [Tulsa World] State civil service reform measure advances: The dismantling of state government’s venerable civil service structure continued moving forward Wednesday with the advancement of House Bill 3094, by Rep. Mike Osburn, R-Edmond, from committee. In its current form, the bill would phase out the existing merit protection system by putting all new employees and current employees who opt to do so under a newly created Human Capital Management Administration. [Tulsa World] Stitt signs private-school scholarship bill despite privacy concerns: Gov. Kevin Stitt signed House Bill 1230 into law Tuesday, requiring private schools to provide information about recipients of the Lindsey Nicole Henry Scholarship. The program, named after former Gov. Brad Henry’s daughter, offers state-funded scholarships to private schools for students with disabilities and to those who are in state custody, including children in foster care. [The Oklahoman] House Bill aims to increase doctors in rural areas, includes tribal component: The House of Representatives passed a bill Wednesday to help combat doctor shortages in rural areas. House Bill 3823, authored by House Speaker Charles McCall (R-Atoka) authorizes a $25,000 tax credit for doctors who move to a rural community to practice. [FOX25] Nonsmoking advocates rally around bill to ban smoking in bars: Organizers of a forum held Wednesday on the economics and politics of smoke-free workplace laws hope the discussion will add momentum to a bill progressing in the Legislature that would ban, with few exceptions, smoking in restaurant bars and taverns in Oklahoma. [Journal Record $] Oklahoma Senate considers bills that will allow local farmers markets, home bakers more freedom: Some local bakers, farmers, and farmers markets are closely eyeing two bills in the Senate right now. One impacts regulation for farmers markets (Senate Bill 1714) and the other does the same for home bakers (Senate Bill 1785). [KFOR] Oklahoma legislators, Cherokee Nation emphasize need to address missing and murdered Indigenous people: Activist organizations across the United States have compared incidents of missing and murdered Indigenous people to a plague, an epidemic, and a national emergency. Oklahoma state legislators and the Cherokee Nation recently pledged to end it, with bills and natives targeted at data collection and emergency response. [Claremore Daily Progress] Hoskin lauds 'powerful' friendships with lawmakers on Cherokee Nation Capitol visit: Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. addressed both chambers of the Oklahoma legislature Wednesday as Cherokee Nation officials visited the capitol. Cherokee Nation officials have made an annual visit to the capitol for years, but this one comes in the midst of the dispute over gaming compacts with Gov. Kevin Stitt. [Public Radio Tulsa] Proposed legislation could bolster Oklahoma's electric vehicle industry: Two bills intended to help Oklahoma's electric vehicle industry are moving through the state Legislature. If they become law, EV engineers could avoid paying part of the state income tax if they settle in Oklahoma, and companies that invest in EV technology could receive tax breaks. [KGOU] Resolution to make Oklahoma 2nd amendment sanctuary state advances: A resolution to make Oklahoma a second amendment sanctuary state advances to the Senate floor. Senate Joint Resolution 16 would change the state constitution to, according to the author, prevent any new laws that would weaken Oklahomans rights to have guns. [News9] Atheists, Christians clash at Capitol over ‘In God we trust': A small group of atheists held signs and wandered the Capitol on Wednesday attempting to persuade lawmakers that “In God we trust” doesn’t belong on state buildings. [CNHI / McAlester News-Capital] Holt focuses 2020 State of the City speech on idea of 'collaborative conversation' to improve public schools: Mayor David Holt said Wednesday he would be gathering city, business, educational and philanthropic leaders together with the goal of producing a "unified vision" for public education in Oklahoma City. [The Oklahoman] ‘Triumphant’: MAPS 4 investment celebrated in State of the City address. [Journal Record $] Parents voice concerns about proposed changes to Tulsa Public Schools' Indian Education Program: Parents are voicing their concerns about proposed changes to Tulsa Public Schools' Indian Education Program. [NewsOn6] Oklahoma colleges get creative to support mental health treatment as need grows: Experts have taken notice of the rise in depression and anxiety on college campuses. A 2019 Chronicle of Higher Education report estimates about 80% of Generation Z students have mild to moderate anxiety or depression. [StateImpact Oklahoma] Demanding action: OU students sit in at Evans Hall overnight: The group of students and faculty started small Wednesday morning, barely spilling out of the OU provost’s suite as they sat in protest. By 5 p.m., the group had swelled to more than 100 students, faculty and staff, most sitting on the ground throughout the first and second levels of Evans Hall. [Norman Transcript] OU Evans Hall sit-in: Inside a historic day — and night — for a campus in crisis amid demands for change. [OU Daily] Tribal jurisdiction on Supreme Court docket again with McGirt v. Oklahoma: Oral arguments in a case that could reshape tribal justice in eastern Oklahoma have been set to be heard by the U.S. Supreme Court on April 21. The case, McGirt v. Oklahoma, argues under the Indian Major Crimes Act the state does not have the authority to prosecute convicted child rapist Jimcy McGirt. [KGOU] Early voting for Oklahoma presidential primary begins Thursday: Early voting is available at all county election board offices statewide. Early voting is from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday and Friday and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. There is no early voting Monday. All regular polling places will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday. [Tulsa World] Quote of the Day “To double the cap when we have so many critical needs I think is dangerous” -Rep. J.J. Dossett, D-Owasso, speaking about a proposal to increase the state's Rainy Day Fund cap [Tulsa World] Number of the Day 75,778 Total number of Black children in Oklahoma in 2018 — 8% of the total Oklahoma child population. [Source: KIDS COUNT] See previous Numbers of the Day here. Policy Note Black History Month: Greenwood District & 1921 Race Massacre: Starting as a simple land acquisition by black entrepreneur O.W. Gurley, Greenwood, in just over a decade, had become one of the most vibrant hubs of African American business in the country. After much of it was destroyed in the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, many residents would stay and rebuild, and the area would eventually regain much of its former glory. But a decline followed, brought on by desegregation and other factors. Today, the area is receiving renewed attention and projects are underway to promote its historic value. [Tulsa World] Decades would pass before the event was openly discussed in Tulsa or taught in its schools. With accounts of deaths that number into the hundreds, a city effort to search for possible burial sites of victims was launched last year and remains ongoing. [Tulsa World] February is Black History Month — a time to celebrate and reflect on contributions Black men and women have made to American history and the struggle for freedom and equality. To commemorate Black History Month, we have highlighted relevant content in our Number of the Day and Policy Note sections during the month. #BlackHistoryMonth You can sign up here to receive In The Know by e-mail.   Connect with Us   Oklahoma Policy Institute 907 S Detroit Ave, Suite 1005 Tulsa, OK 74120 (918) 794-3944 info@okpolicy.org Unsubscribe