While the new federal health law has expanded consumer guarantees for minimum health benefits, Oklahoma is poised to move in the opposite direction. Embedded in an ‘interstate compact’ bill to allow out-of-state insurers to sell policies in Oklahoma is a provision that could nullify several of the state’s existing consumer protections. Language in SB 1059 appears to exempt both out-of-state and in-state insurers from state laws regarding minimum coverage and benefits offered by health insurance policies.  This bill would turn back the clock on our health care system and deprive Oklahomans of essential medical care that they rely on their insurance to provide. Read the rest of this entry »

The 2012 legislative session convened last Monday and will run until the end of May (click here for a complete run-though of how this works in our handy Legislative Overview). With 1,934 new bills  filed, it takes awhile before we know for certain which priorities will dominate the session. But now that our merry gang of bill-trackers have taken a first look, a few themes have emerged.

One is a subject more notable by its absence than its presence: immigration. Last year, some two dozen immigration bills were introduced, most looking to impose tighter law enforcement and verification restrictions on undocumented immigrants. Most of the bills were killed by House and Senate leadership over the course of session. Ultimately a single bill, HB 1446, emerged out of conference committee but was defeated on a bipartisan vote in the House. Read the rest of this entry »

We all know that the state legislature is tasked with addressing the state’s most urgent and important public policy problems.  From program budgeting to educational standards to defining and specifying criminal penalties for unlawful acts, state senators and representatives enter each new session with a long list of weighty and substantive issues on the docket.  However, as the elected voice of the people, the state legislature is also tasked with the particular and idiosyncratic concerns of a wide range of constituencies.  We thought it would be enlightening – and entertaining – to start the session with a survey of some of the bills that won’t qualify for OK Policy’s brand of serious and in-depth analysis, but deserve a spot on the 53^rd Legislature’s highlight reel.  Besides, why should the Lost Ogle get to have all the fun?

Senator Judy McIntyre wants to declare, ‘Swing Low, Sweet Chariot,’ the official state gospel song.  If passed, SB 73 would add ‘Swing Low’ to the states growing list of official songs.  Rodgers and Hammerstein’s ‘Oklahoma!’ was appointed the official state song in 1953, Woody Guthrie’s ‘Oklahoma Hills’ was declared the state’s folk song in 1988, and in 2009 the Flaming Lips’ ‘Do You Realize’ was pronounced Oklahoma’s official rock song. Read the rest of this entry »

Do you know who chairs the Senate Appropriations committee? Who serves as Governor Fallin’s Secretary of Energy? When the deadline is for passing bills out of their original chamber? How much money there is in the Rainy Day Fund? The answers to these questions – and more! – are now available from OK Policy’s fully updated 2011 Oklahoma Legislative and Budget Process Overview.

If you follow Oklahoma legislative issues, the Overview will serve as a handy, informative reference guide, whether you are a veteran lawmaker or a novice advocate. We can honestly say that our Overview is the only resource that compiles updated 2011 information about such topics as legislative leadership, members of the Executive, and appropriations history in a single place. To take advantage of this unlimited time offer, just go to our website where the Overview can be viewed online or downloaded for the insanely low price of free – although should you wish to make a donation to help us continue to make resources like this available, we would certainly appreciate it.

We hope you find the Overview useful, and we hope you will stay informed and engaged over the course of the upcoming legislative session.

The Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy (OICA) hosts its annual Fall Forum in Edmond on October 13 and 14. This unique event brings together hundreds of opinion leaders and advocates to identify issues affecting children. Participants work together to help shape OICA’s legislative priorities for the coming session. Topics that will be discussed this year include early childhood care and education, children of incarcerated persons, and many other important issues. Attendees will also have the opportunity to participate in advocacy workshops, hear from four candidates for governor, and see OK Policy’s David Blatt discuss Oklahoma’s changing budget picture.

Early bird registration ends this Friday, October 2 and all registration ends next Tuesday, October 6. For directions, an agenda, and online registration, see OICA’s web site.