[The Weekly Wonk] OK Policy State Budget Summit | Privatizing health care is bad policy | Working together to move forward

View this email in your browser. What’s up this week at Oklahoma Policy Institute? The Weekly Wonk shares our most recent publications and other resources to help you stay informed about Oklahoma. Numbers of the Day and Policy Notes are from our daily news briefing, In The Know. Click here to subscribe to In The Know. This week's edition of The Weekly Wonk was published with contributions from Communications Intern Lilly Strom. This Week from OK Policy OK Policy State Budget Summit: On Jan. 26, OK Policy held its 7th State Budget Summit, which featured speakers and panelists discussing the state's budget process and an outlook on the year ahead. For those who were unable to attend, videos and materials from the event are available online:  "With Great Challenges Come Great Opportunities," Paul Shinn, OK Policy Budget and Tax Senior Analyst [Video] [Slides] Panel discussion featuring Sen. Roger Thompson, Sen. Julia Kirt, Rep. Cyndi Munson, and Terra Branson-Thomas, Secretary of the Nation and Commerce, Muscogee (Creek) Nation [Video] "Policy Imperatives for Racial and Economic Justice," keynote presentation from Valerie Rawlston Wilson, Director of the Economic Policy Institute’s Program on Race, Ethnicity, and the Economy (PREE) [Video] Statement: OHCA’s approval of privatizing Oklahoma’s health care is bad health care policy and lacks sufficient public comment processes: OK Policy has previously raised concerns about the OHCA’s processes forcing Oklahomans to choose between their health and participating in the public’s business, as well as OHCA’s continued pattern of shutting down public discussion on the issue. OK Policy analysis has shown that managed care is a bad investment for Oklahoma, but could be especially harmful for patients, providers, and Indigenous communities. [OK Policy] Legislators must work together to move forward (Capitol Update): Those who serve in the legislative branch are the journeymen of democracy. They labor daily in the vineyards, often doing their best work behind closed doors and necessarily sharing credit with others while often defending a compromise they would have preferred not to make. Those who have served seriously at crafting legislation know what it takes to get something done. [Steve Lewis / Capitol Update]

[In The Know] Rural virus deaths continue climbing | Bills filed for upcoming session | Gov. discusses legislative priorities

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. Some stories may be behind paywall or require subscription. OK Policy encourages the support of Oklahoma's state and local media, which are vital to an informed citizenry. Click here to subscribe to In The Know and click here see past editions. Oklahoma News COVID-19 deaths continue to mount in rural Oklahoma: More than 300 rural Oklahomans have died from the coronavirus since the first of the year, as the gap between rural and urban deaths from the virus continues to widen. About 40% of deaths from COVID-19 in January in Oklahoma have been in rural areas. The Oklahoma State University Center for Rural Health says this is a record for the pandemic. [KOSU] COVID hospitalizations fall below 1,400, but 35 more Oklahomans reported dead [Public Radio Tulsa] | [Tulsa World] State piloting text notification system for COVID vaccines in southern Oklahoma [Tulsa World] Oklahoma seeking to return $2M worth of drug once touted as coronavirus treatment [AP News] Hospital staff shortages forecast as current COVID wave strains workforce [Southwest Ledger] COVID: Health Department addresses technology barrier for 65+ group [KSWO] Upping minimum wage, protecting gun rights among bills filed for Oklahoma's 2021 legislative session: Oklahoma lawmakers filed 1,942 House Bills, 44 House Joint Resolutions, two House Resolutions, 1,035 Senate Bills and 26 Senate Joint Resolutions. Appropriations bills may be filed throughout the session. Also among proposed legislation: abortion restrictions, tweaks to medical marijuana law, abandoning Daylight Saving Time, civics education for high-schoolers and several bills in response to the pandemic. The 58th Legislature begins noon Feb. 1 with Gov. Kevin Stitt's State of the State address. [Tulsa World] Halfway through his term, Gov. Kevin Stitt outlines his priorities for the year: Gov. Kevin Stitt’s third year in office will serve as a fresh start for the Republican who closed out the last legislative session at odds with leaders of Oklahoma’s Legislature. Forced to respond to the worst health crisis in modern history, the pandemic, budget woes and tension between the governor and legislative leaders derailed most of Stitt's policy agenda last year. [The Oklahoman] Governor’s prayer event moves to virtual format [The Oklahoman] Gov. Stitt says no budget shortfall ahead of upcoming session, talks Medicaid privatization: Getting the Oklahoma state budget nailed down will rank among the most pressing issues facing lawmakers when they return to the Capitol on February 1. Governor Kevin Stitt said the state’s fiscal outlook is looking better. Coinciding with the expansion is the governor’s push to privatize SoonerCare, the state’s Medicaid system. [NewsOn6]  This Week in Oklahoma Politics (podcast): Privatizing Medicaid, MyHealth Access bid challenge, personal protective equipment and more [KOSU] State to announce private businesses involved in new SoonerCare system [News9] OK Policy: Managed care is a bad investment for Oklahoma, but could be especially harmful for patients, providers, and Indigenous communities. OHCA’s approval of privatizing Oklahoma’s health care is bad health care policy and lacks sufficient public comment processes. OK Policy: The FY 2022 revenue estimate is buoyed by more than $300 million in unspent cash available from prior years (which might not be available in later years), and temporary reallocation of more than $300 million from two state funds. So it’s best to think of this revenue estimate as a one-year reprieve from the pattern of long term budget decline, which likely starts anew in FY 2023.  State Government News First-time state unemployment claims earlier this month were highest since August: Continued unemployment claims declined again last week, while first-time claims earlier this month hit a mark not seen since early August, according to a government report. The U.S. Department of Labor reported that 5,302 Oklahoma workers filed initial unemployment claims the week ending Saturday. [Tulsa World] Top senator with history of criminal justice reform bills not taking on fines and fees this year: An Oklahoma lawmaker who is a proponent of reforming court fines and fees does not plan to carry legislation on it this year, dealing a blow to advocates who see that step as a priority. During a panel discussion at Oklahoma Policy Institute’s budget summit this week, Senate Appropriations Chair Roger Thompson, R-Okemah, said Oklahoma’s courts are actually in line for a supplemental appropriation of around $15 million early in the legislative session because they haven’t collected enough in fines and fees this fiscal year. [Public Radio Tulsa] Video of OK Policy’s State Budget Summit, panel discussion, and keynote speech are available for viewing.  Workforce stimulus: House Bill 2455 filed in Oklahoma: Legislation to direct a portion of future stimulus money to frontline workers has been filed for the 58th Legislative Session. House Bill 2455, authored by House Minority Leader Emily Virgin, D-Norman, requires that a portion of future dollars from any stimulus be paid to employees of businesses deemed essential during the pandemic. [Shawnee News-Star] Oklahoma lawmakers to consider election-related bills: State voting laws became a hot topic among legislators across the country after November’s election despite there being no evidence of widespread voter fraud. Now Oklahoma state senators have filed contrasting election-related bills ahead of the 2021 legislative session. [KGOU] OMES under fire for IT invoice: Several state agency executives – and several legislators who participate in writing the state budget – have registered their concern and displeasure about the soaring cost of computer and internet service provided by the state Office of Management and Enterprise Services. [Southwest Ledger] Bill filed to ‘repurpose’ Manitou center: A measure to keep the Southwest Oklahoma Juvenile Center (SWOJC) in Manitou operating has been filed in the Legislature for consideration this year. The 60-bed secure-care facility for boys is to be consolidated in accordance with legislation enacted in 2017, which will move all secure-care treatment for Oklahoma youth to one location, the Next Generation Campus at the Central Oklahoma Juvenile Center (COJC) in Tecumseh. [Southwest Ledger] Federal Government News Biden White House to circumvent governors, publicly release weekly state COVID reports: The Biden White House announced Wednesday it will publicly release weekly, state-level COVID-19 reports previously kept from view of anyone but state officials. [Public Radio Tulsa] Private prison company operating in Oklahoma reacts to Biden's executive order: President Joe Biden ordered the Department of Justice on Tuesday to stop using private companies to house federal prisoners. The order resurrects an Obama-era decision to phase out use of private prisons, which was overturned by the Trump Administration. [KOSU] Criminal Justice News Oklahoma Information Fusion Center a little-known hub of state law enforcement: The Oklahoma Information Fusion Center aims to promote “prevention through awareness,” according to the motto on the homepage of its website, but chances are that few citizens are aware it exists. [NonDoc] Economic Opportunity U.S. Rep. Markwayne Mullin’s companies are evicting renters during a pandemic: U.S. Rep. Markwayne Mullin voted to overturn the 2020 presidential election results and has refused to wear a mask around other Congress members. Now, despite the CDC’s moratorium on evictions, his companies are trying to evict renters in the middle of the pandemic. [Jacobin]  Economy & Business News Slow job recovery continues in Oklahoma: Oklahoma was one of the states hardest hit by COVID-19 when it comes to unemployment, and recovery is coming slowly compared to other states, according to a recent report. Albeit at a moderate pace, Oklahoma’s progress toward recovery has been steady, as unemployment claims declined for the 31st consecutive week. [The Journal Record] Questions loom over mandatory vaccinations: As the effect of COVID-19 on the workplace continues to evolve, employers are facing more questions than answers in the new year. One “big-ticket item” is mandatory vaccination, Adam Childers of Crowe & Dunlevy said Thursday during the Oklahoma City Human Resources Society’s annual legal seminar. [The Journal Record] Love's to pay employees a bonus for vaccinating [The Oklahoman] Education News How federal coronavirus relief funds were allocated to Oklahoma school districts: Oklahoma has received more than $825 million in federal relief dollars for K-12 education since the start of the pandemic. The second allocation was more than four times the initial amount. The majority of the funds are available directly to districts, while a small portion was set aside for new and expanding charter schools, grant programs and agency administration. [Oklahoma Watch] State Board of Education approves update to revoking teacher certifications: The State Board of Education unanimously approved changes to the Oklahoma Administrative Procedures Act regarding teacher certification revocation during Thursday’s regular board meeting. Assistant General Counsel Lori Murphy presented the proposal to the board, which has the authority to issue and revoke teaching certificates in the state. [NonDoc] State Board of Education pushes back new eligibility requirements for 4-day school weeks [Public Radio Tulsa] | [StateImpact Oklahoma / KGOU] Pandemic isolation shows need for mental health counselors in schools: Oklahoma high school students have shared mental health stress throughout the pandemic, now they're bringing those concerns to state leaders. [KTUL] Osage County school district in hot water with state, feds for ignoring reporting requirements: An Osage County school district is facing sanctions by both federal and state education authorities. Woodland School District in the town of Fairfax reportedly has the dubious distinction of being the only public school district of all 17,000-plus in the U.S. to ignore mandatory federal reporting requirements since 2015. [Tulsa World] Tulsa Public Schools, unions call for vaccine support amid criticism from Gov. Kevin Stitt: The disagreement between Gov. Kevin Stitt and Tulsa Public Schools over when the district should resume in-person instruction has extended to discussions on where educators should fall on the vaccine priority list. [Tulsa World] Governor Stitt says students need to return to school; Public health officials and Oklahoma educators disagree [Black Wall Street Times] More vaccine coming to Oklahoma next week [CNHI] General News Turnout soared in 2020 as nearly two-thirds of eligible U.S. voters cast ballots for president: The smallest turnout increases, as shares of estimated eligible voters, were in North Dakota (3.3 percentage points), Arkansas (3 points) and Oklahoma (2.5 points). The lowest-turnout states were Tennessee (59.6% of estimated eligible voters), Hawaii and West Virginia (57% each), Arkansas (55.9%) and Oklahoma (54.8%). [Pew Research] Tulsa Race Massacre graves committee to review reburial options: Remains uncovered at Oaklawn Cemetery possibly linked to the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre could eventually be reburied at alternative sites, depending on what members of an oversight committee decide. [Tulsa World] Oklahoma Local News Cheat Sheet: OKC Ward 4 incumbent Todd Stone faces two challengers [NonDoc] Oklahoma City plans final pass for storm debris removal [OKC Free Press] Consulate in OKC aids Guatemalans [Southwest Ledger] Oklahoma State: In-person classes are 'top priority' in Stillwater this fall [The Oklahoman] | [AP News] Attorney Damario Solomon Simmons: “The Commission has no interest in accountability.” [Black Wall Street Times] Quote of the Day "Why are you guys moving so fast? We’re in the middle of a pandemic. You have a hospital provider network who is accustomed to fee-for-service, and in the middle of a pandemic, we are rushing to get this done. And it looks very much to this body as if we’re rushing to get it done before we get back into session so we can’t do anything about it.” -Rep. Marcus McEntire, R-Duncan, questioning Oklahoma Health Care Authority Secretary Kevin Corbett about OHCA's decision to move forward with a managed care proposal for the state's health care system [Oklahoma House of Representatives Video / Appropriations and Budget Committee Agency Budget and Performance Review ]  Number of the Day 929,017 Number of Oklahomans who use Medicaid to see a doctor and fill a prescription (as of Nov. 2020) [Source: Oklahoma Health Care Authority]  Policy Note A Frayed and Fragmented System of Supports for Low-Income Adults Without Minor Children: Over 100 million people — about a third of the country’s population — are non-elderly adults who don’t have minor children in the family and don’t have severe disabilities. More than 1 in 8 of these adults are in poverty. Our system of economic and health supports — such as Medicaid, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and refundable tax credits — is geared largely toward helping children and their parents, people with disabilities, and the elderly. The nation’s basic supports for low-income, non-elderly adults without children, particularly for those who do not meet a rigorous disability standard, are weak, fragmented, and often highly restrictive, leaving many of these individuals without help they need to afford the basics. These adults need stronger supports to help meet essential needs, a problem that the hardships inflicted by the COVID-19 pandemic have magnified. [CBPP] 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

 

 

 

[In The Know] OHCA moves forward with managed care proposal | State budget needs | Why 62,000 doses of COVID vaccine sit frozen

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. Some stories may be behind paywall or require subscription. OK Policy encourages the support of Oklahoma's state and local media, which are vital to an informed citizenry. Click here to subscribe to In The Know and click here see past editions. New from OK Policy Statement: OHCA’s approval of privatizing Oklahoma’s health care is bad health care policy and lacks sufficient public comment processes: OK Policy has previously raised concerns about the OHCA’s processes forcing Oklahomans to choose between their health and participating in the public’s business, as well as OHCA’s continued pattern of shutting down public discussion on the issue. OK Policy analysis has shown that managed care is a bad investment for Oklahoma, but could be especially harmful for patients, providers, and Indigenous communities. [OK Policy] Oklahoma News Despite opposition, Health Care Authority moves forward with $2B plan to privatize Medicaid: A split Oklahoma Health Care Authority board on Tuesday signed off on plans for the agency to spend up to $2.2 billion to privatize the state’s Medicaid program. After a lengthy debate where efforts to table the controversial agenda items failed, the board did not approve specific contracts with for-profit companies to manage the program’s spending, but gave the agency approval to move forward with overhauling Medicaid. [The Oklahoman] Gov. Kevin Stitt’s pursuit of implementing managed Medicaid contracts has been opposed by many state legislators and health professional associations. As a result, some OHCA board members attempted unsuccessfully to table and reject the funding authorization votes during Tuesday’s meeting. [NonDoc] Stitt appointees make up a majority of the Health Care Authority board, and efforts to table the agenda items failed. All secured approval by a vote of 5-4. [Tulsa World] OK Policy: Managed care is a bad investment for Oklahoma, but could be especially harmful for patients, providers, and Indigenous communities. Lawmakers indicate they're prepared to push back on plan to outsource Medicaid management [Public Radio Tulsa] Budget Summit: State needs more revenue but needs to find it equitably: Oklahoma needs more revenue if the state is going to thrive. That was the theme of Oklahoma Policy Institute Budget and Tax Senior Analyst Paul Shinn’s presentation at the think tank’s annual budget summit on Tuesday. Shinn said Oklahoma’s already lower-than-average tax revenues have plummeted over the past 20 years, taking some of the shine off a projected $8.2 billion budget for fiscal year 2022, half a billion more than this year’s budget. [Public Radio Tulsa] Video of OK Policy's State Budget Summit, panel discussion, and keynote speech are available for viewing.  2021 Legislative Preview: Oklahoma Senate leader answers StateImpact’s questions [StateImpact Oklahoma] Budget, Broadband & Medicaid; Oklahoma House Leaders gear up for session [News9] Arms race: Why 62,000 doses of COVID vaccine sit frozen in Oklahoma: As Oklahomans wait for the state’s limited COVID-19 vaccine supply, more than 62,000 doses allocated for long-term care residents and staff remain in freezers. The state Department of Health provided 97,500 doses to CVS and Walgreens, who were contracted by the federal government to vaccinate vulnerable residents and workers at nursing homes, assisted living facilities, veteran centers and other long-term care facilities. Barely one-third of those doses have been administered, according to federal data. [Oklahoma Watch] Citing slow vaccine rollout, Oklahoma pauses distribution to CVS, Walgreens [The Oklahoman] Oklahoma health officials hesitant in moving into next vaccination priority groups [KOSU] Tulsa Health Department says its weekly COVID-19 vaccine allotments are administered within seven days [Tulsa World] One-day record of 65 COVID-19 deaths reported in Oklahoma [AP News] COVID-19 hospitalizations, new cases down in Oklahoma, but deaths are up [The Frontier] Disparity widening between COVID mortality rates in urban and rural Oklahoma [Public Radio Tulsa] Dozens line up at Oklahoma City church for COVID vaccine as part of an outreach to minorities [AP News] Oklahoma trying to return its $2m stockpile of hydroxychloroquine [The Frontier] | [AP News] | [New York Times] COVID-19 vaccine pod held at a northeast OKC church was aimed at equitable distribution [The Oklahoman] | [AP News] OKC-County Health Department hoping to help city's Spanish-speaking community get COVID vaccine [The Oklahoman] Amid COVID vaccine skepticism, here's how Black doctors in OKC are working to gain trust with their Black patients [The Oklahoman] How the CARES Act forgot Oklahoma’s most vulnerable hospitals: A federal economic relief package passed by Congress in March promised to provide a lifeline for hospitals, particularly those in rural communities where many facilities struggled to survive even before the coronavirus pandemic. But over the past 10 months, the distribution of more than $100 billion in CARES Act funding for health care providers has been plagued by a dizzying rollout and, at times, contradictory guidelines for how to use the funding. [The Frontier / ProPublica] Oklahoma trying to return its $2m stockpile of hydroxychloroquine: The Oklahoma Attorney General’s Office has been tasked with attempting to return a $2 million stockpile of a malaria drug once touted by former President Donald Trump as a way to treat the coronavirus. [The Frontier] Oklahoma attorney general sues PPE company, seeks $1.8M: A Tulsa-based company accepted a $2.1 million deposit from the State Department of Health to purchase masks but then failed to deliver or refund the money to the state, Attorney General Mike Hunter alleged in a lawsuit filed Tuesday. [AP News] Oklahoma paid this Tulsa bar owner $2.1 million to deliver N95 masks from China. They got less than 10,000. [The Oklahoman] | [Tulsa World] State Government News Oklahoma Supreme Court rejects Stitt’s gambling compacts: The Oklahoma Supreme Court has rejected gambling compacts that Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt negotiated with two Oklahoma-based Native American tribes, delivering the first-term governor another setback in his attempt to renegotiate the deals that allow gambling at tribal casinos. [AP News] The court’s decision invalidated compacts Stitt made with the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokees and the Kialegee Tribal Town. The high court in July invalidated compacts with the Comanche and Otoe-Missouria Tribes. [The Oklahoman] McGirt decision impact on state oil and gas industry examined during OEPA briefing with state legislators: The McGirt decision’s impact on the oil and gas industry was a major topic Wednesday at a briefing held for state legislators by the Oklahoma Energy Producers Alliance. OEPA President Dewey Bartlett Jr. presided over the roughly 100-minute online event, during which Oklahoma Attorney General Mike Hunter spoke at length about the state’s economic future. [Tulsa World] After setting record, should Oklahoma end straight-ticket voting?: More Oklahomans than ever before skipped over selecting individual candidates and instead voted for their party’s entire slate of candidates with a single pen stroke in 2020. Oklahoma State Election Board data shows that more than 710,200 — or 45.5% of all voters — chose the straight-party voting option during last year’s general election. [Oklahoma Watch] Here's how progressive policies are actually winning big in red states — from Oklahoma to Nebraska: Last year, while many ballot initiatives had to be pushed off due to the virus's impact on signature collection, there was still an impressive number of wins, including Medicaid expansion (Oklahoma and Missouri) and recreational and/or medical marijuana legalization (Arizona, Montana, South Dakota, and Mississippi). [AlterNet] Federal Government News Oklahoma Senators James Lankford, Jim Inhofe oppose Trump impeachment trial: Oklahoma Sen. James Lankford on Tuesday slammed the upcoming impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump as "political theater." Lankford and Sen. Jim Inhofe were among the 45 Republicans who backed a procedural move by Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul on Tuesday to declare the impeachment trial unconstitutional. That motion failed. [The Oklahoman] Osage County Republicans call for Inhofe, Lankford to resign over failing to support election challenge [Tulsa World] Rep. Stephanie Bice lands seat on Armed Services Committee: Freshman Rep. Stephanie Bice scored a seat on the House Armed Services Committee, ensuring continuity for Oklahoma on the panel that oversees military policy. [The Oklahoman] Native Americans get voice in how to handle cases of missing, murdered: According to U.S. Census data, 9.4% of Oklahoma’s 4 million residents identify as American Indian or Alaska Native. In July 2020, the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s National Crime Information Center reported that there were more than 1,400 unresolved Native American and Alaska Native missing person cases in the country. [Reuters] Criminal Justice News ‘What our citizens expect’: Edmond to expand police body camera program: The Edmond City Council approved spending more than $65,000 tonight to “complete the deployment” of body cameras for all Edmond Police Department patrol officers. [NonDoc] Economic Opportunity Oklahoma County gets second chance to spend $5 million from CARES Act: Oklahoma County officials almost lapsed roughly $5 million in federal COVID-19 relief funding last year until an extension to spend the money was approved by Congress in late December. Now, officials have until the end of 2021 to spend those dollars, known as CARES Act funds. [The Oklahoman] Fewer shelter beds available, as homeless count expected to rise: Experts say the number of people experiencing homelessness for the first time, especially those without some sort of shelter, has likely increased because of the coronavirus pandemic. And, they warn, an increase is expected to be reflected in Tulsa’s annual survey of the homeless set to begin this week. [The Frontier] Oklahoma City asks Supreme Court to review 2015 panhandling ordinance: A controversial Oklahoma City panhandling ordinance thrown out by a Denver court would have “withstood constitutional scrutiny” in other parts of the country, attorneys for the city said Wednesday in a plea to the U.S. Supreme Court. [The Oklahoman] Economy & Business News Just like Trump? Biden using executive orders to reposition nation's energy production, could face similar court challenges: President Joe Biden took a page from President Donald Trump’s playbook Wednesday by signing an executive order suspending future leasing activities of on- and off-shore minerals owned by the federal government, for now. [The Oklahoman] Education News Mike Cantrell leaves Epic board, charter termination hearing depositions to begin: The Epic Charter Schools board accepted the resignation of 11-year member Mike Cantrell and appointed new member J.P. Franklin at Monday night’s meeting. Cantrell, who has served on the board for both Epic One-on-One and Epic Blended since the virtual charter schools’ inception, said he resigned owing to health problems, and he praised the charter school for its innovation despite an ongoing criminal investigation. [NonDoc] $11.2 million repayment from Epic Charter Schools to state is delayed; public records lawsuit stalls [Tulsa World] New Epic school board member shared COVID misinformation [The Oklahoman] An impromptu interview with Epic Charter Schools co-founder Ben Harris [NonDoc] Oklahoma Local News Two current board members, former member run for OKCPS chairperson [NonDoc] | [The Oklahoman] Cheat sheet: A crowded field battles for OKC Ward 1 [NonDoc] Cheat sheet: McAtee retirement opens door for wide open OKC Ward 3 race [NonDoc] Oklahoma City Community College removes Land Run monument [AP News] | [The Oklahoman] Long-term development takes center stage in Edmond mayoral race [NonDoc] Jenks City Council meeting canceled over safety concerns, meaning mask ordinance could expire this weekend [Tulsa World] | [Public Radio Tulsa] Three sites at Union Public Schools move to distance learning; 27 staff members in district are COVID-positive [Tulsa World] Muskogee man charged in connection with U.S. Capitol insurrection is released on bond [Tulsa World] | [AP News] U.S. Sen. James Lankford to remain on Race Massacre Centennial Commission [Tulsa World] Quote of the Day “Privatizing our state’s Medicaid system will lead to reduced access for our most vulnerable Oklahomans and will only cost the state and taxpayers more." -Oklahoma Hospital Association statement about OHCA's managed care proposal [The Oklahoman] Number of the Day 96.4 COVID-19 mortality rate per 100,000 for Oklahoma's rural residents, compared with 78.8 deaths per 100,000 residents in urban areas and 84.8 per 100,000 residents for the state as a whole. [Source: OSU Center for Health Sciences Project ECHO via Public Radio Tulsa] Policy Note With Medicaid Expansion, More Than “a Bus Pass and a Good Luck” for Formerly Incarcerated People: People who are incarcerated have complex health needs. To make matters more complicated, prisons and jails have seen some of the worst COVID-19 outbreaks in the U.S.But what happens when they leave prison or jail and need to receive health care on the outside? Many states that have expanded Medicaid are also trying to ensure that people leaving jail or prison are able to enroll in health coverage upon release. On the latest episode of The Dose podcast, learn how these and other health care and criminal justice reform efforts work together. (Contains transcript) [Commonwealth Fund] 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

 

 

 

[In The Know] State now averaging 40 virus deaths per day | Vaccine distribution continuing | Working together to move forward

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. Some stories may be behind paywall or require subscription. OK Policy encourages the support of Oklahoma's state and local media, which are vital to an informed citizenry. Click here to subscribe to In The Know and click here see past editions. In The Know will be on hiatus Tuesday and Wednesday as OK Policy hosts the State Budget Summit and Advocate Training. [More info or to register] New from OK Policy Legislators must work together to move forward (Capitol Update): Those who serve in the legislative branch are the journeymen of democracy. They labor daily in the vineyards, often doing their best work behind closed doors and necessarily sharing credit with others while often defending a compromise they would have preferred not to make. Those who have served seriously at crafting legislation know what it takes to get something done. [Steve Lewis / Capitol Update] Oklahoma News COVID-19: Oklahoma now averaging 40 deaths per day for the first time since pandemic began: Despite an encouraging decline in new daily cases, deaths related to COVID-19 continue to rise statewide. The Oklahoma State Department of Health on Sunday reported 2,941 new COVID-19 cases and 48 more deaths related to the virus. The number of cases in the state is now 373,090 with 3,279 deaths from the virus. [Tulsa World] Active COVID-19 cases fall in Oklahoma, death reports remain high [Oklahoma Watch] Another 48 COVID-19 deaths reported in Oklahoma [AP News] New evidence suggests UK coronavirus variant is in Oklahoma [Public Radio Tulsa] Editorial: Broken Arrow continues ignoring science, endangering residents [Tulsa World Editorial] Oklahoma to target minority communities for virus vaccines: Oklahoma health officials plan to work with retailers and faith leaders in minority communities across the state to ensure equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines. The Oklahoma State Department of Health plans to unveil vaccine dispensing sites in minority communities across the state in the coming weeks, Deputy Health Commissioner Keith Reed said Friday. [AP News] Oklahoma doing relatively well with COVID vaccination, but herd immunity a long way off [Public Radio Tulsa] Oklahoma Department of Corrections gearing up for COVID vaccination as soon as February [Public Radio Tulsa] State health officials working to increase COVID-19 vaccine access in Tulsa [Tulsa World] Trent Smith appointed to State Board of Education: Gov. Kevin Stitt today named former Oklahoma Employment Security Commission commissioner and former University of Oklahoma football player Trent Smith as his appointment to fill the vacant seat on the State Board of Education. [NonDoc] Smith, 41, is the CEO of Accentra Home Health and Hospice. He served as a commissioner for the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission until his resignation Friday morning, and is a founder of the education-focused organization Every Kid Counts Oklahoma. [The Oklahoman] State Superintendent Joy Hofmeister issued a written press statement, as well, saying: “Trent Smith will bring an important and unique perspective to the State Board of Education. [Tulsa World] Stitt initially appointed an Enid woman to replace Bollenbach, but later rescinded the appointment at her request. Melissa Crabtree had faced fierce criticism from Democrats in the Legislature and some public education groups for social media posts in which she shared misinformation about the coronavirus and vaccines. [AP News] Health News Tulsa-based health information exchange awarded federal COVID grant amidst uncertainty about state's own HIE effort: The federal government recently announced that a Tulsa nonprofit is receiving a $124,000 grant to track COVID-19 vaccination progress and related health outcomes in Oklahoma. The funds will allow MyHealth Access Network to help clinicians contact high-risk patients who are at a high priority to be vaccinated, as well as to aid public health agencies in following up with those who still need a second dose, according to a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announcement Tuesday. [Tulsa World] Contract dispute temporarily puts local nonprofit at odds with state after a decade of working for Oklahomans' health [Tulsa World] Hamilton: Lawmakers must address Medicaid issues: There is much handwringing these days about how state lawmakers will fund Oklahoma’s share of Medicaid expansion. It’s not big money: worst-case cost scenario suggests about $40 for every Oklahoman. And the return is breathtaking: Nine federal dollars for every $1 the state must invest. [Arnold Hamilton Column/ Journal Record] State Government News Oklahoma legislators poised to fast-track virtual meetings legislation: When the Oklahoma Legislature convenes Feb. 1, state legislators could fast-track legislation allowing public bodies to resume meeting virtually. Senate Pro Tem Greg Treat, R-Oklahoma City, prefiled legislation to reinstate the virtual meetings allowance, so government boards, commissions, city councils and more can meet via teleconference. [The Oklahoman] President Pro Tem Greg Treat’s Senate Bill 1031 would reinstate provisions of the Open Meeting Act that expired in November, leaving them in place until the governor’s pandemic emergency declaration expires. [Public Radio Tulsa] House Speaker Charles McCall, R-Atoka, has filed House Bill 2038, which would continue the 2020 changes until Jan. 31, 2022. [Tulsa World] Rep. Jon Echols previews the 2021 Oklahoma legislative session: If you want to know how the Oklahoma Legislature’s 2021 session is shaping up, then listen to today’s episode of Live from the News Dungeon because House Majority Floor Leader Jon Echols reveals a lot of secrets within. Well, maybe they weren’t all secrets, but Echols (R-OKC) spent about an hour discussing with our team the key issues facing state lawmakers when they return Monday, Feb. 1. [NonDoc] Capitol Insider: Record amount of legislation pre-filed for 2021 legislative session [KGOU] Oklahoma governor seeks negotiations with tribal leader: Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt on Friday invited leaders of the Five Tribes of Oklahoma to begin formal negotiations related to last year’s landmark U.S. Supreme Court ruling on tribal sovereignty. [AP News] In a news release, Stitt said he wanted the tribes to negotiate with his office regarding jurisdiction in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court ruling last year that major crimes involving Indians in the Muscogee (Creek) Nation’s reservation must be handled by the federal government because the tribe’s reservation was never disestablished. [The Oklahoman] The tribes contacted by the Tulsa World on Friday responded cautiously to Stitt’s overtures. [Tulsa World] Oklahoma’s absentee voting rules have changed. Here's what to know: Absentee voters in Oklahoma can no longer include a photocopy of a valid identification card to certify their mail-in ballot. Despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, state election measures designed to allow Oklahomans some flexibility while voting during the health crisis expired at the end of 2020. [The Oklahoman] Point of View: Let's remove barriers to getting Oklahoma voters engaged [Sen. Julia Kirt Op-Ed / The Oklahoman] Editorial: Make voter registration automatic in Oklahoma [Tulsa World Editorial] Bills propose boundaries for instruction, classroom environments: A state senator from Durant has proposed a “Students’ Bill of Rights” that he said would protect Oklahoma students from bias and prejudicial instruction in classrooms. [The Journal Record] Bill would ensure EV owners contribute to road costs: Several House lawmakers have endorsed a bill that would ensure that everyone who drives on Oklahoma roads contributes to costs of maintaining the state’s travel infrastructure. [The Journal Record] Federal Government News During the U.S. Capitol riot, this Oklahoma man grabbed a beer from a fridge, FBI says. Now he has been charged: From inside the U.S. Capitol during the rioting Jan. 6, Andrew Craig Ericson used Snapchat to post photos of himself inside House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's conference room, the FBI reports. [The Oklahoman] Authorities allege that he livestreamed video of himself entering the building with other rioters and taking beer out of a Capitol refrigerator, and that he posted photos online of himself posing in House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s office. [AP News] Criminal Justice News Oklahoma prison lockdowns due to COVID-19 eased: Oklahoma Department of Corrections is easing prison lockdowns across the state. Prisoners’ movements have been restricted since late November after more than 20 people were assaulted in gang fights at three male prisons. [KOSU] Oklahoma Department Of Corrections Gearing Up For COVID Vaccination As Soon As February [Public Radio Tulsa] Oklahoma County jail has third death of 2021: A child rape defendant at the Oklahoma County jail died Friday after complaining of chest pains. Eddie D. Hollins is the third inmate at the facility to die this year and the fifth since mid-December. [The Oklahoman] Death at Oklahoma County Jail latest among detainees in short succession [OKC Free Press] New jail report on COVID, reduced population, shows small advances [OKC Free Press] Wendell Franklin reflects on first year as Tulsa's police chief: It wasn’t yet time for him to be awake, but Police Chief Wendell Franklin happened to be up before sunrise when he received a call from dispatch one day in late June. [Tulsa World] Economic Opportunity City reorganizing economic development procedures with focus on shared prosperity and racial equity: City officials will announce Monday the creation of a single authority — yet to be named — to formulate and implement Tulsa’s economic development policies. What makes the new authority significantly different from other development organizations, Bynum said, is that its mission will be to advance policies and projects that ensure shared prosperity and reduce racial disparities. [Tulsa World] Economy & Business News Oklahoma experts concerned as Biden suspends oil and gas leases on federal land: "Just as we repeatedly warned." That was the message this week from an energy industry representative in Oklahoma who said he is not surprised that a suspension of new permitting activities for a wide range of energy recovery activities on federal lands during the next two months was enacted. [The Oklahoman] Expert: Pipeline’s suspension good for Oklahoma [The Journal Record] Enthusiasm For Oklahoma’s Medical Marijuana Boom Tempered By Concerns Of A Bust: Oklahoma has what many consider to be the only free-enterprise medical marijuana industry in the U.S., with cheap startup fees, no cap on medical marijuana business licenses and few limits on who can get a patient card. But this low barrier to entry could lead to an oversaturated market where cannabis businesses struggle to survive. [KGOU] Panel: After COVID-19, change coming under Biden: Employers can expect to see substantive changes in economic policy and employment law during the first 100 days of President Joe Biden’s administration – and gradual improvement in the economy as vaccinations begin to stem the tide of the pandemic [The Journal Record] Education News COVID-19 continues to create challenges for Oklahoma classrooms: Across Oklahoma, many schools are attempting in-person learning despite the continuing challenges imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic. There is mounting evidence that in-person school is safe when COVID-19 community transmission rates are low and basic precautions are taken. But the challenges created by the pandemic make for sudden stops and starts to in person instruction. [KGOU] OKC schools confirm middle, high school reopening [The Oklahoman] TPS hosting virtual enrollment expo ahead of upcoming academic year [Tulsa World] Tulsa Public Schools magnet deadlines unaffected by pandemic-related semester shift, officials say [Tulsa World] Editorial: Stitt's feud with Tulsa Public Schools selectively backs local control approach [Tulsa World Editorial] Oklahoma Local News OKC Ward 3 candidates weigh in on infrastructure, sprawl, other issues [OKC Free Press] Group drops lawsuit challenging Tulsa mask mandate [Tulsa World] Centennial commission recesses without decision regarding Sen. Lankford [Tulsa World] Ardmore Homeless Coalition survey aims to get the full picture of homelessness in Ardmore [KXII] Oklahoma Senate redistricting meeting provides information, community involvement [Enid News & Eagle] Quote of the Day "Basically, what it comes down to is perhaps staying at five and a half feet and wearing a mask and interacting with somebody for 14 and a half minutes — in the past, maybe that was OK. But with the new strain, that may end up putting you at risk." -State Epidemiologist Dr. Jared Taylor discussing the new, more transmissible U.K. coronavirus variant that has appeared in the U.S, including possibly Oklahoma [Public Radio Tulsa] Number of the Day 55% Percentage of the 2.85 million voting-eligible Oklahomans who cast a ballot in the 2020 presidential election, far below the national average of 66.4%. [Tulsa World] Policy Note Revitalizing Democracy: The 'For the People Act' would strengthen democratic systems and make it easier to vote: Racial justice cannot be fully achieved in this country without a system in which all Americans can advocate for themselves and exercise political power — and that requires voting rights, fair access to the ballot, fair redistricting, and an equitable campaign finance system. [Brennan Center] 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