In The Know is a daily synopsis of Oklahoma policy-related news and blogs. Inclusion of a story does not necessarily mean endorsement by the Oklahoma Policy Institute. You can sign up here to receive In The Know by e-mail.

Today you should know that with just two weeks left in the legislative session, Republican House Speaker T.W. Shannon said he will introduce a measure to repeal common core standards in Oklahoma school districts. The Legislature approved a bill to ban prescription refills of the painkiller hydrocodone. A Senate panel approved a measure to fund the American Indian Cultural Center and a pop culture museum in Tulsa with money taken off the top of sales tax and use tax revenues.

After 18 months of growth, Oklahoma City’s sales tax receipts have dropped two months in a row compared to the previous year. Senate Minority Leader Sean Burrage wrote in the Pryor Daily Times that the income tax cut signed by Governor Fallin will do almost nothing for 80 percent of Oklahomans. M. Scott Carter writes that by combining the tax cut and state Capitol repairs into one bill, lawmakers are thumbing their nose at the state’s constitutional ban on logrolling.

NewsOK writes that Oklahoma corrections officers are hoping for a cool August, since they are unprepared to safely deal with prison riots in the heat. The OK Policy Blog shared a 3-minute video that sheds light on America’s racial wealth gap. This Land Press has an in-depth story on the struggle of descendants of black slaves held by Cherokees to keep their citizenship in the Cherokee Nation.

The Number of the Day is the average annual wage in Oklahoma, 42nd lowest in the U.S. in 2012. In today’s Policy Note, the Washington Post reports on the Obama administration’s new draft of regulations for fracking on federal and Indian lands.

continue reading In The Know: House Speaker introducing bill to repeal common core standards

In The Know is a daily synopsis of Oklahoma policy-related news and blogs. Inclusion of a story does not necessarily mean endorsement by the Oklahoma Policy Institute. You can sign up here to receive In The Know by e-mail.

Today you should know that Oklahoma’s statewide average gas price surged above the national average for the first time in more than 5 years. The Cherokee Nation has approved plans to team up with four other tribes to develop a 90-turbine wind farm in Kay County. The OK Policy Blog discussed a consultant’s report on developing an Oklahoma plan for expanding health coverage, which appears to be moving Oklahoma along a path to accept federal dollars.

Kaiser Health News reports on a new Oklahoma law that could force doctors to perform painful, costly, and often futile medical interventions on disabled, elderly, or terminally ill patients if they have any chance of extending life. David Blatt’s Journal Record column explains why the Legislature’s refusal to approve any new bonds is financially irresponsible. NewsOK urged caution about using short term revenue trends to make verdicts on the effect of tax cuts.

The Tulsa World writes that funding for an Oklahoma popular culture museum is important for its economic benefits and to preserve Oklahoma history. KJRH reports that despite a recently approved bond issue for Tulsa Public Schools, education funding is still a problem in Oklahoma. The Number of the Day is the number of Oklahomans, one-third of whom have incomes below the poverty level, who will lose their state-sponsored health coverage if Oklahoma continues to refuse to comply with the Affordable Care Act. In today’s Policy Note, the Atlantic shares two maps that explode one of the biggest myths about student loans.

continue reading In The Know: Oklahoma gas price surges above national average

In The Know is a daily synopsis of Oklahoma policy-related news and blogs. Inclusion of a story does not necessarily mean endorsement by the Oklahoma Policy Institute. You can sign up here to receive In The Know by e-mail.

Today you should know that the state’s $7.1 billion budget bill cleared the Senatate and is on its way to Gov. Fallin. The OK Policy Blog previously shared what you need to know about the state budget agreement. State revenue in April topped projections, bringing collections to about 1 percent above this time last year.

A proposed Oklahoma pop culture museum is getting more support and donations from entertainment industry stars, but it still waits for a bond issue from the Legislature. The OK Policy Blog discussed social impact bonds, a promising new approach that Oklahoma could use to fund smart on crime reforms. Voters in the Tulsa Public Schools district approved a $38 million bond issue that will provide every teacher with modern instructional technology and students with up-to-date computers. Public schools across the state would be able to “opt out” of many state mandates under a bill approved by the Oklahoma House. 

Civilians working for the U.S. Defense Department — including about 24,000 in Oklahoma — will be furloughed for 11 days beginning July 8. Multiple Oklahomans have been arrested after chaining themselves to equipment to block construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline through the state. Under threat of a lawsuit, a Muldrow high school removed 10 Commandments plaques from its classrooms. A map of hate speech on Twitter finds that it dramatically exceeds the national average in tweets coming out of Elk City and along the Oklahoma-Texas border.

The Number of the Day is the projected GDP growth over 10 years if the U.S. granted resident immigrants legal status and a pathway to citizenship. In today’s Policy Note, Wonkblog discusses new Congressional Budget Office projections that the U.S. deficit problem is solved for the next 10 years.

continue reading In The Know: Senate approves $7.1 billion budget bill

In The Know is a daily synopsis of Oklahoma policy-related news and blogs. Inclusion of a story does not necessarily mean endorsement by the Oklahoma Policy Institute. You can sign up here to receive In The Know by e-mail.

Today you should know that Gov. Fallin signed into law both an income tax cut and a fee hike on new or renewing driver’s licenses. Oklahoma City attorney Jerry Fent said he will sue to stop the tax cut law, because pairing it with funding Capitol repairs in the same bill is unconstitutional “log rolling.” The OK Policy Blog finds silver linings in the tax cut debate. 

A Democratic legislator plans to push for a statewide vote to require the Legislature to conduct “zero-based” budgeting on state agencies every four years. Some state legislators want the Education Department to end its contract with the CTB/McGraw-Hill and proceed with litigation because of testing glitches, but Superintendent Janet Barresi’s  chief of staff said they may only pursue a 10-percent penalty against the company, which could be paid with curriculum materials instead of cash.

House Speaker TW Shannon will appear at fundraisers for the Republican National Committee with former Vice President Dick Cheney. The Number of the Day is how many payday loans the average borrower takes out over 12 months. In today’s Policy Note, Pro Publica investigates unethical business practices at World Finance, which sells high-interest installment loans in Oklahoma and other states.

continue reading In The Know: Governor signs tax cut, driver’s license fee hike

In The Know is a daily synopsis of Oklahoma policy-related news and blogs. Inclusion of a story does not necessarily mean endorsement by the Oklahoma Policy Institute. You can sign up here to receive In The Know by e-mail.

Today you should know that the state House passed and sent to the Senate a $7.1 billion general appropriations bill for FY 2014.  A bill that sought to use federal Medicaid money in Oklahoma while skirting some federal rules will not be considered by the legislature.  Meanwhile, a consultant hired by the state says that his firm’s ”Oklahoma Plan” alternative to Medicaid expansion won’t be ready until 2015.

The OK Policy Blog shows why the new budget plan continues the trend of underfunding education in Oklahoma; the state aid funding formula has not kept up with inflation or rising enrollment for half a decade. Legislators in the House scrambled to craft and pass a plan to raise state troopers’ pay, although it’s not immediately clear how the raise would be paid for.

The Pew Research Center reports on the record share of Hispanic high school graduates enrolling in college in 2012.  The Number of the Day is the amount below five years ago going into Oklahoma’s state aid school funding formula.

continue reading In The Know: Oklahoma House approves state budget plan

In The Know is a daily synopsis of Oklahoma policy-related news and blogs. Inclusion of a story does not necessarily mean endorsement by the Oklahoma Policy Institute. You can sign up here to receive In The Know by e-mail.

Today you should know that barely half of the citizen voting age population in Oklahoma cast ballots in the 2012 presidential election, the third worst turnout in the nation. An Oklahoma program that uses Medicaid funding to provide health insurance to 30,000 low-income Oklahomans must change in order to keep its funding, the federal government said this week, even as a legislative plan that tries to make those changes seems stalled.

Data released by the federal government shows huge variation in charges for the same procedures at different Oklahoma hospitals. Oklahoma Watch shared a database of the charges at Oklahoma hospitals. The OK Policy Blog explained what you need to know about the most recent state budget agreement. The Tulsa World writes that state troopers were stiffed in the budget. David Blatt’s Journal Record column discusses silver linings in the tax cut debate. A Tahlequah woman who says employers won’t hire her because of her back problems is concerned that a new bill creating work requirements for food stamps would prevent her from getting enough to eat. 

Oklahoma City is planning for stricter restrictions on lawn watering in case of a brutally dry summer. The Oklahoma City Council must soon decide if it wants to shrink its bus system coverage area to improve bus frequency, leaving some transit-dependent residents without a ride. Oklahoma Secretary of Energy Michael Ming announced that he will step down to assume leadership of GE’s new energy research center in Oklahoma. 

The Number of the Day is the number of homeless Oklahomans. In today’s Policy Note, a new report by the Government Accountability Office forecasts a gloomy outlook for state and local government budgets.

continue reading In The Know: Oklahoma voter turnout third lowest in 2012 election

In The Know is a daily synopsis of Oklahoma policy-related news and blogs. Inclusion of a story does not necessarily mean endorsement by the Oklahoma Policy Institute. You can sign up here to receive In The Know by e-mail.

Today you should know that State Department of Education officials acknowledged that 9,100 students across the state had standardized tests disrupted by the testing vendor’s computer problems last week – more than triple the initial estimates. A bill allowing new state employees to opt into a defined contribution pension plan was approved by the Legislature. More than 100 Oklahoma Highway Patrol troopers were at the Capitol on Tuesday asking lawmakers to reconsider a decision not to give them a pay raise.

The OK Policy Blog discussed how Oklahoma lawmakers are back to being more interested in posturing against criminals than considering even the most moderate criminal justice reforms. A consultant hired by Oklahoma to help create a plan for covering people without health insurance has delivered a draft report on its findings to state officials, but officials refuse to release the report. A Journal Record editorial argues that public funding for OETA is necessary and important.

A central Oklahoma transportation official wrote that inadequate public transit is a blemish on Oklahoma City. A proposal by Oklahoma Congressman Frank Lucas would cut food stamp nutrition assistance by $20 billion over 10 years. The Number of the Day is the percentage of jobs lost in the state’s educational services sector that were held by women. In today’s Policy Note, a study by Demos finds that due to low-paying government contractors, U.S. taxpayers employ more low-wage workers than Wal-Mart and McDonald’s combined.

continue reading In The Know: Standardized testing problems affect 9,100 Oklahoma students

In The Know is a daily synopsis of Oklahoma policy-related news and blogs. Inclusion of a story does not necessarily mean endorsement by the Oklahoma Policy Institute. You can sign up here to receive In The Know by e-mail.

Today you should know that Native American tribal leaders are asking for an explanation of why Governor Fallin is participating in the tobacco compact negotiations or allowing the extension of existing compacts set to expire June 30. A letter by Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt and his counterparts in 12 other states is asking the EPA not to regulate fracking, while six northeastern states are threatening to sue the agency if it does not. Bloomberg reports that George Kaiser is exploiting a loophole in IRS regulations that allows his for-profit businesses to benefit from activities of his charity.

The Legislature approved an extended tax credit for converting cars to hydrogen and compressed natural gas. The Oklahoman writes that this year’s state budget deal puts Capitol office space ahead of public safety. The Tulsa County Commission on Monday approved the purchase of 200 new portable beds to ease crowding at the Tulsa Jail.

A guest post on the OK Policy Blog discusses a new study out of Oregon which shows that extending Medicaid coverage greatly improves economic security and access to preventive care for low-income Americans. The Tulsa World writes that the Oklahoma plan being developed by two Republican legislators to accept federal funds for health care is a decent compromise.

The Number of the Day is the number of households in Oklahoma who rent, about 33 percent of the state’s households. In today’s Policy Note, the Tulsa Initiative Blog discusses a new paper showing that common Payday loan industry practices put consumers at long-term financial risk and often serve as “debt traps.”

continue reading In The Know: Tribes protest Gov. Fallin’s handling of tobacco compacts

In The Know is a daily synopsis of Oklahoma policy-related news and blogs. Inclusion of a story does not necessarily mean endorsement by the Oklahoma Policy Institute. You can sign up here to receive In The Know by e-mail.

Today you should know that this year’s state budget agreement provides boosts for Medicaid, DHS, mental health, and the Legislature, but it leaves the Department of Corrections with flat funding and provides no pay increase for state workers. Education advocates had limited praise for the proposed small increase in education funding after years of big cuts. The okeducationtruths blog writes that even as overall state revenue recovers, funding for education has not. The budget agreement doesn’t address a possible hundreds of millions in lost revenue due to a court ruling on capital-gains tax deduction

Nearly $3.5 million is available to implement the Justice Reinvestment Act in the state budget agreement, but support for reform is faltering without any champions in the Legislature or Governor’s office. Former DHS Commissioner Steven Dow was among the first appointees to the new citizen advisory panels being set up to replace the Commission. Proposed legislation to overhaul state pension plans into one will not be taken up this session. OK Policy discussed why a last-minute push to overhaul pensions without time for public debate would be reckless.

KFOR examined the increase of suburban poverty in Oklahoma, much of which is caused by going bankrupt due to medical problems. The number of Oklahomans on federal disability programs has grown to nearly 8 percent of the working-age population. CBS News reported on how Oklahoma offers a universal pre-K model for the nation.

The Number of the Day is the percentage of households in communities of color in Oklahoma who don’t have access to a vehicle. In today’s Policy Note, the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities shares five strategies to smooth out the ups and downs of state tax dollars.

continue reading In The Know: Oklahoma’s budget agreement has winners and losers

In The Know is a daily synopsis of Oklahoma policy-related news and blogs. Inclusion of a story does not necessarily mean endorsement by the Oklahoma Policy Institute. You can sign up here to receive In The Know by e-mail.

Today you should know that lawmakers reached a deal on the state budget, which includes an increase for education, but not enough of an increase to offset several years of budget cuts and growth in student enrollment.  State and school leaders approved of the increase, but reiterated their calls for full funding of common education.  OK Policy previously published a fact sheet on critical funding shortfalls, showing Oklahoma with the deepest cuts to funding for local schools of any state in the country over the last five years.

The budget deal does not include a pay raise for state workers, who haven’t seen a wage increase since 2006.  The OK Policy Blog responded to legislators‘ criticism of a recent lecture on racial disparities in access to opportunity given by one of our policy analysts.  Health officials are warning about the Hantavirus, a rare and deadly virus that has shown up in Oklahoma in recent weeks.

The Number of the Day is the number of Oklahomans who walk or use public transit to get to work.  In today’s Policy Note, Pew Charitable Trusts reports on how the mortgage interest deduction, widely viewed as a broad tax benefit for the middle-class, benefits the residents of some states far more than others.

continue reading In The Know: Governor, GOP leadership reach budget deal