Author: Steve Lewis

A look at the incoming class of state legislators (Capitol Update)

This year’s elections have produced an interesting mix of new legislators. The incoming Senate class is unusually large, while the new House members form a somewhat average-sized class. There is always a degree of excitement in meeting the new members… Read more [More...]

New OJA director good fit to address needs for state youth (Capitol Update)

Timothy Tardibono, who was appointed last week by Gov. Kevin Stitt to be the new director of the Office of Juvenile Affairs (OJA), should prove to be a good appointment. His background, education and experience all point toward progress for troubled children, youth and families in Oklahoma. [More...]

Modernizing the Sales Tax Relief Credit: It’s never too late to do the right thing (Capitol Update)

The House Appropriations and Budget Subcommittee on Finance held a study about modernizing the state Sales Tax Relief Credit for low-income Oklahomans. [More...]

A look at the lawsuit filed challenging the purchases of classroom Bibles (Capitol Update)

One of the interesting things about living in these times is the re-litigation of matters long thought to be settled. Who would have thought that public school teachers could be required by the state to teach from Bibles that were purchased and delivered to schools with state tax dollars? [More...]

Working across the aisle to address Oklahoma’s needs (Capitol Update)

If you look closely, you can find good work being done by many legislators who are working across the aisle to address the state's many needs. [More...]

Lawmakers study state’s felony murder statute (Capitol Update)

The lengthy study on Oklahoma’s felony murder statute showed that our felony murder statute is not an outlier among the states. But, as witnesses pointed out in the hearing, it is fertile ground for what many would consider entirely legal but horribly unjust results. [More...]

Childcare a growing issue in Oklahoma (Capitol Update)

An issue that will likely be on the legislative agenda next year is childcare. As the economics and the makeup of families have changed, the need for out-of-home childcare has exploded. [More...]

Survey: Business leaders prioritize investment in infrastructure, education over tax cuts (Capitol Update)

Thoughtful legislators, like thoughtful businesspeople, understand you can't have quality education, infrastructure, and mental health programs without funding them properly. Hopefully, policymakers will take care to read the whole report. [More...]

Inadequate funding keeps Oklahoma at the bottom of the heap for health care (Capitol Update)

Due to inadequate health care funding, Oklahoma will continue to experience the economic and social outcomes caused by poor health, mental health, and addiction. [More...]

Will recommendations from immigrant-focused task force get traction this session? (Capitol Update)

While HB 4156 gave state law enforcement officers the authority to arrest people who are found in Oklahoma without legal authority to be in the U.S., the "Oklahoma State Work Permits and Visa Task Force” has issued recommendations towards a more balanced approach to the immigration issue.  [More...]