[In The Know] State lags in COVID boosters | Delays in foster care cases | Capitol Update

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 Prioritizing how tax dollars are spent (Capitol Update): It’s too early to make a judgment about whether the budget requests being made by state agencies reflect the reality that, unless the economy does a deep dive, this may be a year of opportunity for state services to begin the long climb toward catching up with other states. So far, only a few agencies have made their budget presentations. [Steve Lewis / Capitol Update] Reminder: We’re Hiring! Join the team as a Data Analyst: OK Policy is currently hiring for a Data Analyst to carry out critical data-driven research projects, using the Open Justice Oklahoma database to turn court, prison, and jail administrative records into data that supports efforts to create a more open and equitable justice system. Applications for this position close on January 4, 2022 at 5:00 PM (CST). [OK Policy] Health News COVID boosters protect against omicron, but over 60% of eligible Oklahomans haven't gotten one: More than 60% of fully vaccinated Oklahomans who are currently eligible for a booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine have yet to receive one, according to the state Health Department. [The Oklahoman] The state's seven-day average in new coronavirus cases increased to 1,035 per day. [KOSU] State Government News Child welfare advocates say parents’ right to a jury trial prolongs the time children spend in foster care: The Oklahoma Constitution entitles parents to a trial in front of a jury before their rights are terminated and children in foster care can be adopted. Some lawyers and foster parents say this right causes delays in child welfare cases. [The Frontier] Political notebook: Legislators request more than 3,000 new bills and joint resolutions: Paper work: Legislators requested more than 3,000 bills and joint resolutions for the second session of the 58th Legislature, which begins Feb. 7, the tracking service e-Capitol reports. [Tulsa World] Lawmakers stay engaged outside of session, they say: With Oklahoma’s legislative session at most five months each year, it could be easy to think that state legislatures only work during those five months, but that is not the case — especially for those in the minority party. [The Norman Transcript] Illicit marijuana in Oklahoma: 'You probably don't even understand the magnitude of it': For the most part, the state's marijuana grows seem to be duly licensed by the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority. But law enforcement officials and some lawmakers contend that a good deal of the product is being illegally shipped out of state for old-fashioned street sales.[Tulsa World] Room on the rotunda? Group places Nativity scene at Oklahoma State Capitol for Christmas: Nativity scenes are typically displayed at churches and private Christian schools during the Christmas season, but this year, Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus found accommodations in a new space — the state Capitol. [The Oklahoman] Federal Government News Federal student loan repayments resume in 2022: Here's what you need to know: At the beginning of the pandemic, federal student loan repayments were paused to address the financial hardships many Americans were faced with. Since the economy is recovering, the Biden administration is not extending student loan relief any further and borrowers will have to start making payments again after Jan. 31. [KGOU] Lankford announces Marginal Well Protection Act: U.S. Sens. James Lankford, R-Okla., and Roger Marshall, R-Kan., on Monday announced the introduction of the Marginal Well Protection Act to prevent the Environmental Protection Agency from levying “excessive methane emission fees” for wells that produce less than 15 barrels of oil and less than 90 Mcf (90,000 cubic feet) of natural gas per day. [Tulsa World] As Oklahoma invests in electric vehicles, Sen. James Lankford decries EV tax breaks and other spending initiatives: Sen. James Lankford enumerates his problems with President Joe Biden’s Build Back Better plan. Speaking on the floor of the Senate last week, Lankford grimly listed groups he said like Build Back Better: wealthy Democrats, unions, environmental groups, local reporters, and people who buy electric vehicles. [Public Radio Tulsa] Tribal Nations News State, feds argue surface mining jurisdiction for eastern Oklahoma: Officials from the state of Oklahoma and the U.S. Department of the Interior are awaiting a ruling from a federal district court judge regarding which agency has regulatory authority over surface mining and reclamation operations on affirmed tribal reservation land. [NonDoc] Cherokees move forward on hunting, fishing plan without new state compact: Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. on Monday signed an executive order asserting the tribe’s treaty rights for its citizens to hunt and fish within the tribe’s reservation. The action comes after Gov. Kevin Stitt and two tribes could not agree on terms of a new compact. [Tulsa World] Chilocco Indian Agricultural School should remain "site of conscience": The Bureau of Indian Affairs abandoned the cemetery of Chilocco Indian Agricultural School outside Newkirk in north central Oklahoma when the school closed in 1980 after operating it for nearly 100 years. Jim and Charmain spent years trying to find out the names and tribal affiliations of the people buried in the 67 unmarked graves. Many were just children.[KOSU] Criminal Justice News Union files grievance against OKC Police Department amid disagreements on proposed body-cam changes: Oklahoma City's local police union has filed a grievance against the police department over its alleged implementation of new body-worn camera technology before agreeing upon procedure changes in the collective bargaining agreement. [The Oklahoman] Economic Opportunity The down side to getting paid early: Early wage access programs – which allow workers to access wages they have earned ahead of the regular payday – are booming, according to the National Consumer Law Center. However, these on-demand pay services are rarely used occasionally, NCLC reports. Workers typically fall into a cycle of repeat advances to fill the gap in the prior paycheck. [The Journal Record] Fruits of a long labor — Oasis Fresh Market grand opening emotional for advocates: The Monday, May 17 event at 1725 N. Peoria Ave. seemed to have it all: a crowd of about 200, chants of “Oasis, Oasis” and a celebrity sighting in the form of “The King,” Barry Switzer. It was equal parts grocery store grand opening and victory lap for a years-long, economic marathon. [Tulsa World] Economy & Business News (Audio) Capitol Insider: Oklahoma Economy Continues To Show Growth In State Revenue: The latest figures for the State of Oklahoma's General Revenue Fund indicate a dramatic increase in funding - more than a third higher than estimates - fueled by a strong economy. [KGOU] OKC's Convergence Innovation District development to get $13.75 million in assistance: Developers of Convergence, a $178 million mixed-use anchor for the Innovation District, are set to move forward with $13.75 million in tax increment financing and are hoping to win a $10 million MAPS 4 matching grant for construction of a community innovation hall. [The Oklahoman] Oklahoma’s unemployment rate remains among lowest in U.S.: Oklahoma’s unemployment rate – currently at 2.5% – has bounced back better than almost every other state’s since the pandemic, according to federal economists. [The Journal Record] Education News Lawmaker wants testing opt-out without penalty: An Oklahoma lawmaker wants to ensure public school students can opt out of federal standardized tests without facing any consequences, but one education leader said the issue is complicated because schools risk violating federal and state law if they don't have enough students participating. [CNHI via Tahlequah Daily Press] NSU-BA gets $500,000 federal child care grant: Officials with Northeastern State University announced Monday that the school’s Broken Arrow campus will receive more than $500,000 in federal grant funds over the next four years to offer a drop-in child care facility for students’ children. [Tulsa World] General News (Audio) "Tulsa Race Massacre" with Jason Collington, Randy Krehbiel and Kendrick Marshall of the Tulsa World: In this episode of Behind the Headlines, Tulsa World news staff share some of the new information learned while covering the anniversary of the Tulsa Race Massacre this year, along with the many things that remain unknown, and why a search for answers still continues. [Tulsa World] Oklahoma Local News OK County Commissioners allocate CARES funds ahead of deadline [OKC Free Press] Jail Trust held their final meeting of 2021 on Monday afternoon [OKC Free Press] Quote of the Day "Some will argue that money isn’t everything, but in most endeavors those who are significantly better funded seem to be the winners." -Former Oklahoma House Speaker Steve Lewis [Capitol Update] Number of the Day 27% Percentage of fully vaccinated Oklahomans who have received a COVID-19 booster dose, per the CDC. [The Oklahoman] Policy Note The Criminal Justice System Has a Debt Problem: Researchers found that many states do not even track data on criminal justice debt. Almost half the country, in fact, does not know how much court debt their local systems generate. These costs most often punish those in the lowest economic brackets, perpetuating many of the factors that contribute to incarceration in the first place. [Interrogating Justice] 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 slow to spend relief funds | Grand jury indicts state rep. | Faith-based groups and virus info

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 Oklahoma slow to spend latest round of federal pandemic money: Nine months after President Joe Biden signed the American Rescue Plan Act into law, Oklahoma lawmakers have recommended spending few stimulus dollars from the state's share of the $1.9 trillion federal relief package. Lawmakers have recommended projects amounting to $9.5 million, or less than 1%, of the $1.87 billion in stimulus funds state leaders will decide how to spend. [The Oklahoman] Rep. Terry O’Donnell, wife indicted by grand jury over tag agency: An Oklahoma County grand jury indicted House Speaker Pro Tempore Terry O’Donnell late Friday afternoon, charging the House of Representatives’ second highest-ranking member and his wife, Teresa O’Donnell, with eight counts related to legislation he supported that allowed her to become a state tag agent. [NonDoc] The Catoosa Republican introduced a bill in 2019 that allowed spouses of legislators to serve as tag agents. The Oklahoma Tax Commission appointed his wife to take over the Catoosa Tag Agency on Aug. 1, 2019, three months after Gov. Kevin Stitt signed the bill into law. [AP News] | [The Oklahoman] Oklahoma House Speaker Charles McCall testified before grand jury that indicted colleague [The Oklahoman] Health News As Some Oklahoma Churches Push Vaccines, Others Sow Misinformation, Doubt: As concerns about the Omicron variant have fueled a renewed push by health experts to encourage vaccinations or boosters, the role that religion and church leaders have on vaccine acceptance has been put in the spotlight. Numerous studies have found that white evangelical Protestants, more than any other religious or demographic group, have resisted the vaccine. [Oklahoma Watch] Hundreds of law enforcement officers killed by COVID as debates over vaccine mandates rage [The Oklahoman] (Audio) The Source: A year after the first vaccination became available, Oklahoma cases still high [The Oklahoman] Grief from COVID losses harder this holiday with nearly 1,200 still dying each day in U.S. [Tulsa World] Grading Oklahoma: Oklahoma ranks 1st in heart disease mortality rate in the nation: Heart disease tops the list of leading causes of death almost every year. Even with the emergence of COVID-19, nothing has killed more Oklahomans on an annual basis recently than heart disease. [The Oklahoman] Editorial: Oklahoma not preventing people from reaching crisis in brain health: Oklahoma’s approach to brain health has evolved into an expensive model focusing on seriously ill patients, minimizing much-needed and more effective prevention services. [Editorial / Tulsa World] $100 million to further Tulsa health equity pledged by Ascension St. John Foundation through 2032: Through the Community Health Equity Catalyst Strategy, the Ascension St. John Foundation is prepared to pump up to $10 million a year over the next 10 years into community agencies and organizations working across Tulsa to give each resident a fair and equitable opportunity to live a healthy lifestyle. [Tulsa World] State Government News The jump from political staffer to lobbyist isn't a far one, at least in Oklahoma: Taylor Broyles was a redistricting assistant for the state Senate until this month when she took a job with CMA Strategies, a Republican consulting firm that had submitted maps to be considered for new state and federal districts. She wasn’t the only Senate staffer to join the ranks of paid lobbyists. Keith Beall, the Senate’s director of redistricting, ended his work on Dec. 1 and registered Dec. 2 as a lobbyist for the Petroleum Alliance of Oklahoma. [The Oklahoman] (Audio) Podcast: Putting a bow on 2021: Well, it’s that time of year. Time to take stock of the past 12 months, to recount the good times and the bad, to reflect on our victories and disappointments and to meditate on our hopes for next year. [NonDoc] Federal Government News Case against state attorney general candidate dismissed after settlement over killing of trees on federal land: The federal government has settled its property destruction case against Tulsa attorney and GOP attorney general candidate Gentner Drummond and others after agreeing to a cash settlement from an aerial herbicide spraying company. [Tulsa World] Tribal Nations News Voices: Tribal compact cancellations could hit Wildlife Department funding: Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt’s decision not to renew hunting and fishing compacts with the Cherokee and Choctaw Nations for 2022 could mean a potential loss of millions of dollars in future federal funding for the state’s wildlife department. [Kelly Bostian, the Conservation Coalition of Oklahoma Foundation / The Frontier] Editorial: Hunting, fishing compact fight with tribes an unnecessary self-inflicted wound [Editorial / Tulsa World] Editorial: Stitt fishing for problems [Stillwater News Press] Editorial: Stitt's rift with tribes is damaging the state [Enid News & Eagle] Tulsa Mayor: Phone calls from business leaders not a factor in city's decision to file brief supporting overturning McGirt: The city of Tulsa came close to not filing an amicus brief in support of the state’s effort to overturn or limit the U.S. Supreme Court’s McGirt ruling despite receiving calls from CEOs of some of the region’s largest employers urging it to do so. [Tulsa World] Rez ball in Chinle: Navajo Nation community rebounds after COVID peak: Shaun Martin’s office sits at the front corner of Chinle High School, down the street from the Navajo Nation hospital that serves his community. It looks onto Highway 191, and during the throes of the pandemic, it provided a window into the state of his city. [Cronkite News / NonDoc]  Criminal Justice News Oklahoma might allow 18 and 19-year-olds to work in prisons: The Oklahoma Department of Corrections is working with lawmakers to possibly change state law so the agency can hire 18 and 19-year-olds to work in state prisons and help address a shortage of nearly 500 workers. [AP News]  Corrections Department Seeks to Hire Teenagers as Detention Officers [Oklahoma Watch] Uptick in attacks on Oklahoma police officers leaves experts debating the root cause: Attacks on police officers were rising across the country the morning Caleb Sherman, a 5-year veteran of the Broken Arrow Police Department in his early 30s, pulled over a vehicle for a traffic violation on Nov. 6. [The Oklahoman] Petition drive for grand jury investigation of DA falls short: Community activists had thought they had more than enough signatures on petitions calling for an investigation of Oklahoma County District Attorney David Prater. They needed 5,000 signatures from voters for a county grand jury to be convened. They had collected more than 7,200. The Oklahoma County Election Board, though, determined they fell short after checking the signatures against voter rolls. [The Oklahoman] Economic Opportunity Urban Renewal may use eminent domain to acquire former eastside Oklahoma City Buy For Less property: The Oklahoma City Urban Renewal Authority is preparing to use eminent domain for the first time in more than 20 years. The organization plans to acquire a controversial property in northeast Oklahoma City that was once eyed for redevelopment as a shopping center anchored by an Uptown Grocery. [The Oklahoman] Economy & Business News Hispanics increasingly entering housing market: Almost 12% of Oklahomans identify as Hispanic or Latino, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, making them the second-largest racial or ethnic group in the state. One result is more Hispanics are becoming homeowners in Oklahoma and across the country, despite financial, language and trust barriers. Projections show half of all homebuyers nationally will be Hispanic in the next decade. [The Journal Record] Grading Oklahoma: This state has the most marijuana dispensaries in the nation: This week we look at the marijuana industry, and the number of dispensaries in our state in particular. Oklahoma has the most dispensaries of any state in the country outpacing states with larger populations, more mature marijuana markets, and even more than states with legalized recreational marijuana. [The Oklahoman] Pulling out the weeds: Oklahoma farmers raise concerns with rural marijuana grows [Enid News & Eagle] Education News Facing $9.1 million withholding, Epic Charter Schools want Epic Youth Services reimbursement: Epic Charter Schools will seek reimbursement from their former management company, Epic Youth Services, for the $9.1 million in state funding that will be withheld by the Oklahoma State Department of Education over the next 12 months. The OSDE governing board formalized its decision to withhold the money Thursday owing to Epic’s prior over-expenditures on administrative costs identified in the the State Auditor & Inspector’s Office investigative audit last year. [NonDoc] General News 'These are human beings': Annual memorial for those who died while homeless moved to Jan.: Anton "Tony" McFarthing, 66, and Kenny McGee, 54, also had some other things in common. Each man experienced periods of homelessness on the streets of Oklahoma City and they both died in 2021. McFarthing died in November while sleeping outside the bakery he loved so much. McGee died in April after being hospitalized. [The Oklahoman] Oklahoma Local News OKC homeless shelters brace for surge as frigid temperatures expected [The Oklahoman] McElhaney has no opponents for OKCPS Board Dist 7, preps for next term [OKC Free Press] City has spent $2 million recovering from ransomware attack, city officials say [Tulsa World] Tulsa's DPS megacenter to close soon after serving nearly 45,000 Oklahomans' Real ID needs [Tulsa World] Community members turn out to oppose Bell's Amusement Park development in Broken Arrow [Tulsa World] Quote of the Day “In the case of COVID vaccines, we know that doctors and medical professionals are of course the experts. But it bears out in the numbers that religious organizations and religious leaders are also in people's trust circle and there is considerable attention to what respected religious leaders say.” -Natalie Jackson, director of research at the Public Religion Research Institute. [Oklahoma Watch] Number of the Day 894,000 Number of Oklahoma children under 18 who would lose out if federal Child Tax Credit expansion is not extended. This is about 93% of Oklahoma children. [CBPP] Policy Note Allowing the expanded child tax credit to expire would be a major mistake: For the past six months, families with kids have received monthly payments from the federal government as part of the expanded child tax credit — a policy that has slashed child poverty in the US. If Congress doesn’t act, however, this measure is set to expire for future payments near the end of the month. The last monthly payment was scheduled to go out on December 15, after which these installments will end. (This year, six monthly payments have been sent out; one larger payment will be distributed next year during tax season 2022.) [Vox] 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

 

 

 

Five reasons you shouldn't contribute to OK Policy

View this email in your browser. We usually love to list all the reasons we believe you should support our work here at the Oklahoma Policy Institute with a tax-deductible contribution. However, we like to reflect at the end of every year, and share a reminder that other people may believe differently. Here are five things you may believe that should lead you to not contribute to OK Policy.  1. Facts don’t matter As the only organization of its kind in Oklahoma, OK Policy is the state’s trusted source for reliable, data-driven information and analysis on the state policy issues that matter to Oklahomans. We produce fact-based resources, such as our Online Budget Guide and daily In The Know newsletter, that help Oklahomans understand the laws and policies that impact our lives, including taxes, health care, public services, and criminal justice. But if facts are irrelevant to you, do not contribute to OK Policy. 2. I don’t need to know how the state spends my tax dollars This year, we released A Better Path Forward, our comprehensive report on Oklahoma’s tax and budget systems. The report includes more than 30 potential reforms that could boost revenue while making our tax system fairer to everyone, highlighting the major lack of transparency. OK Policy works to explain Oklahoma’s state budget process and push for greater transparency, guided by the belief that an informed citizenry - particularly when it comes to our own tax dollars - is vital to a healthy and functioning democracy. Citizens count on OK Policy to shine a light on the decisions made behind the scenes about Oklahoma’s complex $7 billion budget. But if you prefer to remain in the dark about how your tax dollars are budgeted, then making a tax-deductible contribution to OK Policy is most certainly a terrible idea. 3. I’m OK with our state being Top 10 in all the wrong metrics One of OK Policy's core convictions is that Oklahoma can be a place where all Oklahomans have an equal opportunity to thrive, raise healthy families, and live in safe communities. One in six Oklahomans —and more than one in five of our state’s children — live in households that earn too little to stay above the poverty line. By nearly every health and social indicator, Oklahoma ranks last. But if you think Oklahoma is OK the way it is, supporting OK Policy is probably not for you. 4. All issues are one-sided issues Through our nonpartisan analyses, reports, op-eds, and columns, OK Policy breaks through the noise and offers a different perspective — arguing for a transparent budget process, ensuring access to health coverage, or reconfiguring our criminal justice system to alleviate racial disparities. But if you believe there’s only one side to every issue, then you should most definitely not contribute to OK Policy. 5. Oklahoma has done all it can to help its residents Oklahoma is one of the leaders in incarcerating its citizens, remains last in our region in education funding, and maintains a tax system that penalizes our poorest citizens. So long as these and other issues remain, OK Policy will keep fighting for a better Oklahoma. If, however, you think there’s no more work to do, do not contribute to OK Policy. All kidding aside, we sincerely hope you will make a tax-deductible one-time or recurring year-end contribution to OK Policy to help ensure that our work continues to have an impact in 2022. We greatly appreciate your support, and we hope this year, you can make the coming year even better by donating securely online at okpolicy.org/donate. Sincerely, Ahniwake Rose Executive Director Connect with Us   Oklahoma Policy Institute 907 S Detroit Ave, Suite 1005 Tulsa, OK 74120 (918) 794-3944 info@okpolicy.org Unsubscribe

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Weekly Wonk] Funding requests signal approaching session | Budget transparency needed | More

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 from OK Policy Funding requests signal approaching session (Capitol Update): It’s a sure sign the legislative session is close when the appropriations committees begin hearing from state agencies about how they are spending their funding for the current fiscal year and what their funding requests are for the next year. The Senate began its hearings last week. These hearings mainly function as educational meetings for appropriations committee members to learn more about the agencies they are responsible for funding, how they are performing, and the direction they are headed. The hearings provide an opportunity for an agency to put its best foot forward and for legislators to probe areas of interest or concern. [Steve Lewis / Capitol Update] Policy Matters: Three days in May: How long do you think Oklahomans were able to review the state’s $7.7 billion budget between the time it was publicly released and when it was sent to the governor for signature? Three days. (Which, by the way, was the nation’s second shortest such time frame last year.) My colleague Paul Shinn wrote a piece on the Oklahoma Policy Institute blog last week about his three decades of watching the state’s budget process. During that time, he noted that Oklahoma has moved further away from transparency. But it doesn’t have to be this way. [Ahniwake Rose / The Journal Record] We're Hiring! Reminder: We’re Hiring! Join the team as a Data Analyst: OK Policy is currently hiring for a Data Analyst to carry out critical data-driven research projects, using the Open Justice Oklahoma database to turn court, prison, and jail administrative records into data that supports efforts to create a more open and equitable justice system. Applications for this position close on January 4, 2022 at 5:00 PM (CST). [OK Policy] Weekly What’s That Deductible/High-Deductible Health Plan A deductible is an amount that someone with health insurance (or other insurance) is required to pay for most services before the insurance provider begins to cover the cost. Deductibles are generally set over an annual period. For example, if an enrollee's health care plan’s annual deductible is $1,500, the enrollee is responsible for 100 percent of eligible health care expenses until bills for those expenses total $1,500. In general, plans with higher deductibles have lower monthly premiums. The IRS defines any plan with a deductible of at least $1,400 for an individual or $2,800 for a family as a high deductible health plan. High deductible health plans are often combined with health savings accounts that allow you to pay for certain medical expenses with money free from federal taxes. A high deductible health plan's total yearly out-of-pocket expenses (including deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance) can’t be more than $7,000 for an individual or $14,000 for a family Look up more key terms to understand Oklahoma politics and government here. Quote of the Week “We have to own that history and learn from that history to create equality, diversity, and inclusion for all of our communities.” -Larry Nash White, OKC Metropolitan Library System executive director, speaking about the 100th anniversary of the opening of the Dunbar Library branch. The city opened the branch as a separate library for Black residents because they were barred from the city’s only library at the time [The Oklahoman] Editorial of the Week Stitt's rift with tribes is damaging the state The rift between Gov. Kevin Stitt’s administration and Oklahoma tribes continues to grow with the recent decision by the governor to not renew the state’s standing hunting and fishing compacts with tribal governments after they expire this year. The agreements with the Choctaw and Cherokee nations have been in place since 2016, but will be terminated effective Dec. 31, 2021. The tribes have guaranteed hunting and fishing rights on their reservations under treaties with the United States; however, these compacts allowed for an intergovernmental system that provided hunting and fishing opportunities for tribal citizens and generated revenue and federal funding for wildlife management programs. Under the Choctaw Nation’s agreement, the tribe purchased at least 50,000 licenses at $2 each. With fees, the tribe paid the state Wildlife Department around $300,000. About 33,000 of those licenses ultimately were used by tribal citizens. Now the governor is saying “all Oklahomans should receive equal treatment under the law,” and that is the reason for his decision to let the compact expire. That’s a pretty weak reason for taking a long-standing arrangement that has been seen as a “win-win” for both the state and the tribes for the last several years. Choctaw Nation Chief Gary Batton said the compacts provided financial and cultural benefit to both the state and tribal members. One of the most disheartening aspects of Stitt’s dealings with the tribes is that his administration’s actions reinforce a negative connotation about Oklahoma’s treatment of the tribes since the early days of the land runs. For the past several decades, the tribes and the state have built up a partnership of mutual respect and opportunity. That all seems to be disappearing under the Stitt administration. If there is a better explanation for the governor’s decision, then that needs to be explained now. Because right now, it appears to be another example of sour grapes and is leading to negotiations and partnerships breaking down at every turn. This situation underscores the definite need for future administrations to set up a cabinet-level position for tribal relations between the state and the tribes. If this governor continues to completely break down the long-standing relations, a tribal relations cabinet position will be more important in the future than ever. [Enid News & Eagle] Numbers of the Day 7.0 - Oklahoma’s infant mortality rate is 7.0 infant deaths per 1,000 live births, which is higher than the national rate of 5.6. [KIDS COUNT Data Center] 6,078 - Number of juvenile arrests in Oklahoma reported during 2020, accounting for 6.6% of all arrests [OSBI]  171,551 - The number of Oklahomans enrolled in HealthCare.gov, the federally facilitated health insurance exchange/marketplace, during the open enrollment period for 2021 coverage. This was a record high for Oklahoma and more than 8% higher than the previous record high, set in 2020. [HealthInsurance.org] 21% - Percentage of Oklahoma adults with very low and low financial well-being score ranges, which ranks the state 44th nationally. The national average is 18%. [Prosperity Now] 23,825 - Number of people in Oklahoma’s community supervision programs, as of 12/13/21 [Oklahoma Department of Corrections] What We’re Reading Health of Black, Native moms key in fight to improve infant death disparities, experts say [USA Today] Minors Facing Major Debt: The Immense Burden of Court Fees on Macomb County Youth and Families [Michigan Center for Youth Justice] How ACA Marketplace Premiums Are Changing by County in 2022 [KFF] Wage inequality continued to increase in 2020 [Economic Policy Institute] BBB Reduces Barriers, Improves Opportunity for People in the Criminal Justice System [Center on Budget and Policy Priorities] Connect with Us   Oklahoma Policy Institute 907 S Detroit Ave, Suite 1005 Tulsa, OK 74120 (918) 794-3944 info@okpolicy.org Unsubscribe