Author: Steve Lewis

Current events demonstrate need for task force reviewing community policing standards (Capitol Update)

Rep. Monroe Nichols, D-Tulsa, has announced he will introduce three measures next session dealing with police use of deadly force. The bills will be:  establish a state task force to review and recommend community policing standards in Oklahoma regarding use… Read more [More...]

Building a new momentum (Capitol Update)

State Treasurer Randy McDaniel announced that gross receipts to the state in May were down 14.1 percent from the previous May, a drop of $150.5 million following a drop of 30 percent in April. Presumably, these declines were already accounted… Read more [More...]

State obligated to address systemic racism through legislative action (Capitol Update)

One victim of the abbreviated 2020 Legislative session was criminal justice reform. In the 2019 session, numerous reform bills made their way through the legislative process only to stall at the end. Kudos to the authors who carried those measures.… Read more [More...]

Examining the rift between legislators, Governor (Capitol Update)

It looks like a lot of work will need to be done if the relationship between the Legislature and Gov. Stitt is to be repaired. What began as a lovefest in 2019 deteriorated to a slugfest by the closing days… Read more [More...]

Legislature takes action to fund Medicaid expansion (Capitol Update)

The complicated picture of Medicaid expansion in Oklahoma is beginning to clear as a result of actions taken by the Legislature last week. The Affordable Care Act was signed into law in March 2010. As passed, it guaranteed health care… Read more [More...]

Drafting a budget during uncertain times (Capitol Update)

Given the substantial information gap under which legislators were operating, they did a good job of writing and passing the state budget last week. The budget reflects tremendous work by the appropriations committee members — especially the respective chairmen, Sen.… Read more [More...]

Current economic situation creates uncharted territory for state budget process (Capitol Update)

It seems a new conflict develops weekly now between the Governor and legislative leaders. This week the conflict again relates to the budget. Previously, the Governor had refused to sign a stopgap appropriations bill using money from the Rainy Day… Read more [More...]

Finding an upside of recent budget battle (Capitol Update)

Other than budget measures, how much legislative action will occur between now and the end of May is still uncertain. [More...]

Politics at the center of recent budget empasse (Capitol Update)

Thus, began one of those standoffs the public finds distasteful. Without knowing exactly what's going on behind the scenes, we usually just blame both sides and consider it politics as usual. Yes, this is politics, but it's also the way our democracy works. [More...]

Legislature to address upcoming budget issues (Capitol Update)

The Legislature's action during Monday’s special session will be aimed at approving the expanded health emergency declared by Gov. Stitt and dealing with the budget issues created by the economic crisis resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. [More...]