[Weekly Wonk] Medicaid expansion improves housing stability | State question process deserves better | Capitol Update

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.  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

Having trouble viewing this email? View it in your web browser Sunday, October 2, 2022 Subscribe  //  View latest headlines This Week from OK Policy Medicaid expansion improves housing stability Oklahomans who voted for State Question 802 in 2020 knew that Medicaid expansion would bring greater access to quality health care, but what voters may not have known is that Medicaid expansion plays a role in keeping people safely housed. [Sabine Brown / OK Policy] Policy Matters: State question process deserves better Policy Matters Sufficient funding for OJA will support Oklahoma families Capitol Update Numbers of the Day 19,919 - Total number of Hispanic businesses in Oklahoma [Greater Oklahoma City Hispanic Chamber of Commerce] 13.2% - For the lowest-earning Oklahomans (the bottom 20%), taxes represent a 13.2% share of their income, which is more than twice the share for Oklahomans in the top 1% where taxes represent 6.2% of their income. [Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy via OK Policy]    $306 million - The amount of lost state revenue for Fiscal Year 2023 if the grocery sales tax was completely eliminated. [Oklahoma Tax Commission via OK Policy] 1.1% - Local criminal justice fines and fees revenue in Oklahoma represents a 1.1% share of the state general fund revenue in 2021, tied with Florida and South Carolina. Only 13 other states had a higher rate. [Tax Policy Center] 11% - Percentage of Oklahoma households with children ages 0 to 4 where adults had to take unpaid leave in order to manage child care disruptions caused by the coronavirus pandemic.[KIDS COUNT] Weekly What's That Medicaid Expansion One of the primary provisions of the Affordable Care Act gave states the option to expand their Medicaid eligibility to include individuals below 138 percent of the federal poverty level ($18,754 per year for one person or $38.295 for a family of four in 2022). The costs of expansion were paid for in full by the federal government through 2016, before dropping down (and freezing at) 90 percent in 2020, well above the typical federal match rate. Under the American Rescue Plan approved by Congress in 2021, states that expand Medicaid also receive a 5 percentage point increase in their regular federal matching rate for two years after expansion takes effect. Until 2020, Oklahoma's Governor and Legislature opted not to expand Medicaid, a decision that left billions in federal funding on the table, and more than 100,000 Oklahomans in a 'coverage crater' (too low-income to qualify for subsidies on the health insurance marketplace, too wealthy or not a member of a population group that is eligible to qualify for traditional Medicaid). In June 2020, Oklahoma voters narrowly approved an initiative petition, State Question 802, to expand Medicaid effective July 1, 2021. As of June 2022, over 325,000 individuals had been approved for benefits under Medicaid expansion. As of July 2022, 39 states, including Washington D.C., have expanded Medicaid. Look up more key terms to understand Oklahoma politics and government here. Quote of the Week "Poor health can be both a cause and consequence of housing instability. Evictions are associated with a broad range of poor health outcomes, including increased mental health hospitalizations, poor birth outcomes, and increased all-cause mortality. Conversely, poor health can lead to absenteeism or job loss and the resulting income reduction can make it hard to afford housing." — Sabine Brown, OK Policy's Infrastructure and Access Senior Policy Analyst, speaking on how Medicaid expansion improves housing stability. [Sabine Brown / OK Policy] Editorial of the Week Tulsa World Editorial: Oklahoma's outdated housing law creates power imbalance, putting renters in squalid homes Living with snakes invading a home is not part of a rental agreement Oklahomans make with landlords. Sadly, it's going to take state laws to get that point across. A story from reporter Tim Stanley outlined the poor and sometimes dangerous conditions Afghan evacuees are living with in Tulsa. A refusal of homeowners to maintain properties, such as fixing air conditioning or getting rid of pests like snakes, are among the problems. Another is escalating home and utility prices. Federal coverage of rent and utilities will be running out, and about one in four Tulsa evacuee households are unable to meet the higher housing costs. That means they will need new homes. It's going to be tough to find other options. A housing shortage for low- to middle-income families in Tulsa has been a problem for years that only worsened in the past two years. Afghan evacuees — many of whom helped American troops in combat zones — escaped war with few possessions and hoped for a new beginning. They arrived in our country struggling with a new language, culture, schools and trauma. Many are mourning deaths of family members while trying to rebuild their lives. They are vulnerable and are prime targets for derelict landlords. Sadly, the Afghan refugees are facing what so many under-resourced, marginalized Oklahomans deal with in housing. Renters in our state do not have the legal power or financial resources to stand up to owners who are acting badly. A legislative interim study held in September found that many renters are evicted after asking for basic repairs to such things as leaking pipes and broken heaters. The Landlord Tenant Act was written in 1978 without anti-retaliation provisions other states adopted, such as preventing landlords from terminating leases or arbitrarily raising rents on tenants who complain. The Legislature in 2014 forbade local governments from maintaining registries of landlords or properties that consistently violate building or property codes. That prevents renters from having a way to check a potential landlord's or rental's history. This is quite an imbalance of power. In the state courts, the statute is so unevenly applied that a recent study characterized it as looking like different laws from county to county. We believe most landlords in our city and state are conscientious people who want to maintain a safe place for renters while also making a profit. Those good landlords would surely want to clear their industry of those who take advantage of defenseless people, including the Tulsa owner who chuckled at the request for snake pest control and suggested using mothballs instead. Some of our Afghan evacuees are seeing the worst of what our nation and community have to offer. We need to do better by them and also for everyone going up against unscrupulous landlords. Our Legislature has a chance to make this right in the next session, and we encourage lawmakers to do so. [Editorial / Tulsa World] This Week We're Reading... Is Ending the Grocery Tax on States' Tax Cut Shopping List? [Tax Policy Center] How Red States Use Regressive Grocery Taxes to Feed the Rich [The New Republic] What Would It Take for States to Reform Local Fines and Fees? [Tax Policy Center] The child care crisis just keeps getting worse [Vox] Hispanic Heritage Month is great time to showcase growing OKC community, but it shouldn't stop there [Miriam Campos Guest Column / The Oklahoman]   NOTE: National Hispanic Heritage Month is Sept. 15 through Oct. 15. Each week, OK Policy will share policy notes and numbers to recognize this commemoration. 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. Your support makes this possible. OK Policy is here to cut through the noise and look at the bottom line for what this means for everyday Oklahomans. Tax-deductible donations from individuals like you make our work possible. Support with Donation Contact Oklahoma Policy Institute 907 S. Detroit Ave. #1005 | Tulsa, Oklahoma 74120 918-794-3944 | info@okpolicy.org Connect with us: Unsubscribe or Manage Your Preferences

[In The Know] Lawmakers approve $1B of ARPA spending | Gender care issue now on governor's desk | How schools adapted to end of universal free lunch

Having trouble viewing this email? View it in your web browser Friday | September 30, 2022 Subscribe  //  View latest headlines Number of the Day 11% Percentage of Oklahoma households with children ages 0 to 4 where adults had to take unpaid leave in order to manage child care disruptions caused by the coronavirus pandemic [KIDS COUNT] Policy Note The child care crisis just keeps getting worse For both workers and parents, already-grim trends in child care have only gotten worse since the pandemic began: program costs have increased, while waiting lists in several states number in the tens of thousands. [Vox] Quote of the Day "It's disturbing that some legislators have chosen to hijack what should be a straightforward special session focused on COVID relief funding to advance a political agenda. Unfortunately, instead of supporting the mental health of Oklahoma's children, lawmakers are once again inserting themselves into private health care." - Statement from Oklahoma State Medical Association about lawmakers threatening to withhold federal relief dollars from the University of Oklahoma health system because of its program that offers gender-affirming care to LGBTQ youth. [The Oklahoman] Oklahoma News Oklahoma lawmakers approve stimulus spending, drought relief, economic development funds: Oklahoma lawmakers reconvened a special legislative session on Thursday to spend more than $1 billion in federal stimulus funds, $250 million for economic development projects and $20 million for emergency drought relief. [The Oklahoman] Despite gender treatment fracas, lawmakers pass bills doling out more than $1 billion [Tulsa World] Oklahoma legislature approves $14M in ARPA funding to upgrade Inola's wastewater infrastructure [KRMG] Gov. Kevin Stitt to decide bill targeting OU Children's gender care: The Oklahoma Children's Hospital would have to immediately halt any "gender reassignment medical treatment" on minors if Gov. Kevin Stitt signs legislation approved by lawmakers Thursday. [The Oklahoman] Oklahoma Senate: No ARPA funding for gender treatment [The Journal Record] Gender-affirming medical care for transgender youth limited by Oklahoma Legislature in ARPA health funding bill [KGOU] OU Health ceasing some gender care after funds threatened [Public Radio Tulsa] As pandemic response wanes, Oklahoma schools adapt to the end of universal free lunch: Some schools worked to continue offering free meals, but others have to go back to sending out free and reduced lunch applications and managing lunch debt. [StateImpact Oklahoma] State Government News Oklahoma Turnpike Authority: 'We have to upcharge significantly for license plate tolling': Drivers on Oklahoma turnpikes may have noticed a price hike in tolls after the rollout of the state's new PlatePay cashless tolling system. [StateImpact Oklahoma] Editorial: State owes it to taxpayers to fund completion of OKPOP: The Oklahoma Museum of Popular Culture's request for state ARPA money was turned down, and lawmakers have been reluctant to provide more funding. Last session, the Legislature approved $46 million in bonds for the Oklahoma Historical Society — which oversees OKPOP — on the condition that none of it be used on the unfinished museum. [Editorial / Tulsa World] Federal Government News White House Hunger Conference puts spotlight on Oklahoma group: This week's White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition and Health put a spotlight on 23 organizations that promote access to affordable food, including one from Oklahoma. [Tulsa World] USDA spending only a sliver of conservation funding on climate-smart practices, a new report finds: The U.S. Department of Agriculture spent $7.4 billion dollars on two of its conservation programs in recent years, but a report from an environmental group found a very small percentage of that money went to practices that help fight climate change. [KOSU] Voting and Election News Oklahoma governor's race tightening? Election analyst shifts race outlook: A national election analyst group is shifting its outlook on Oklahoma's governor's race less than six weeks from November's midterms. [Fox 25] Health News OSDH: 4,100 more COVID-19 cases reported statewide, 54 virus-related deaths added to provisional death count: Fifty-four virus-related deaths and 4,100 coronavirus cases have been added to the state's count since Sept. 22, according to weekly numbers released by the Oklahoma State Department of Health. [NewsOn6] Medical providers work to break down big barriers to help Oklahoman Hispanic community: Integris Health is working to provide more access to preventative care in Oklahoma's Hispanic communities. [KOCO] Economic Opportunity Grants to benefit homebuyers, renters with low, moderate incomes: The Oklahoma Housing Finance Agency recently approved more than $2.65 million in HOME Investment Partnerships Program grants to benefit low- to moderate-income homebuyers and renters in Oklahoma City and other communities in the state. [The Journal Record] Education News Column: Oklahoma has 33,000 teachers choosing not to teach; we need them back: Oklahoma doesn't have a teacher shortage; it has a shortage of respect and retention. For a little more than 10 years, professional teachers have been opting out of the industry, choosing careers with better pay and less headaches. The pandemic created a surge of that trend, putting the state in our current crisis and public education in an unfair culture war. [Ginnie Graham / Tulsa World] Tulsa World Opinion podcast: When Oklahoma's certified teachers choose not to teach (audio) [Tulsa World] Funding to encourage STEM education, future teachers: The University of Central Oklahoma, Oklahoma City Public Schools and Central Oklahoma STEM Alliance will collaborate in a new program to help educators earn master teacher credentials and ultimately encourage students to pursue careers in classrooms in Oklahoma. [The Journal Record] Oklahoma to receive nearly $12m to provide students with healthier learning environments: The U.S. Education Department says the money can be used for a number of projects to help student's social, mental, emotional and physical well-being. It says some districts are using the money to hire more psychologists and expand counseling programs. [News9] Tulsa school board extends Superintendent Deborah Gist's contract: After a four-hour executive session, Tulsa Public Schools' Board of Education voted 4-3 late Thursday to add another year to Superintendent Deborah Gist's contract. [Tulsa World] General News Column: DRS promotes Disability Employment Awareness Month in October: October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month in recognition of the critical part workers with disabilities play in a diverse and productive workforce. [Enid News & Eagle] You can sign up here to receive In The Know by e-mail. 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 included here are behind paywall or require subscription. OK Policy encourages the support of Oklahoma's state and local media, which are vital to an informed citizenry. Your support makes this possible.   OK Policy is here to cut through the noise and look at the bottom line for what news and policy means for everyday Oklahomans. Tax-deductible donations from individuals like you makes our work possible. Support Our Work with a Donation Contact Oklahoma Policy Institute 907 S. Detroit Ave. #1005 | Tulsa, Oklahoma 74120 918-794-3944 | info@okpolicy.org Connect with us: Unsubscribe or Manage Your Preferences