Quotes of the Day

“Schools have maybe more money than they’ve ever had before, and that’s what the state will tell you, but what they don’t tell you is that they don’t match the increasing enrollment.”

– Jenks Public Schools spokesperson Rob Loeber, on news that the district will cut between 10 and 20 teachers due to the state funding crisis (Source). 

“We’re opening the door to a kind of Wild West atmosphere where districts can do what they want to do.”

-Ed Allen, vice president of the Oklahoma City American Federation of Teachers, on SB 1187 (Source)

Every Oklahoman has a stake in this plan. If Medicaid crumbles into unsustainable ashes, the displaced patients will flood into emergency rooms. Hospitals will try to transfer those uncompensated costs to their insured patients. Those hospitals that can’t find a new balance will simply close, undermining the state’s care network. Similar scenarios would play out among doctors, nursing homes and other care providers.

-The Tulsa World Editorial Board, voicing their support for a plan to accept federal funds for expanding health coverage. Read our statement on the plan (Source)

Many well-intentioned Oklahoma politicians believe that delaying the tax cut amounts to a so-called “revenue” bill and would require a 3/4ths vote of the Legislature. However, changes made to tax law items such as incentive criteria, termination of credits and trigger adjustments, which have incidentally raised revenue, have not been successfully challenged or interpreted as revenue bills. For this reason, I believe delaying the tax cut only requires a majority vote of both the House and Senate. Furthermore, our conservative constituents from all across the state overwhelmingly support this financially pragmatic adjustment.

-Sen. Mike Mazzei, R-Tulsa, arguing that Oklahoma should delay this year’s cut to the top income tax rate amid a massive budget shortfall (Source)

“Here’s an idea: Be bold. Set aside concerns about political advantage or power. Do what’s right for Oklahoma. For the least among us. For our school kids and teachers. Build whatever coalitions are necessary to raise the income tax – the fairest tax of all, since it is based on ability to pay – and eliminate corporate welfare. Those willing to make the tough public policy choices – the ones that put Oklahoma’s future on solid footing – will be real heroes.”

– The Oklahoma Observer’s Arnold Hamilton, in the Journal Record (Source)

“There is a better solution available, if Oklahoma would only look to the east. Arkansas has proven that states can accept available enhanced federal Medicaid reimbursement funding and use it to underwrite private health insurance for its poorest citizens. The infusion of federal money has spurred the Arkansas economy, cut state costs, increased state tax revenues and produced a more robust insurance market.”

– The Tulsa World’s Editorial Board, urging state leadership to accept an infusion of federal dollars to expand health coverage for low-income Oklahomans (Source). Other states’ experiences show that expanding coverage for low-income residents would be a good deal for Oklahoma.

“I worry about the infrastructure of our health care system in light of these cuts. From a business standpoint, I’m afraid many providers will close their doors to our patients. In some cases, especially in rural parts of our state, health care professionals will have to move their business to larger communities in order to survive financially.”

-Oklahoma Health Care Authority CEO Nico Gomez, on 25 percent cuts to provider rates for Fiscal Year 2017 (Source)

“Today’s report shows that Medicaid expansion is an important step Oklahoma can take to address behavioral health needs, including serious mental illness and opioid and other substance use disorders.”

-Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia M. Burwell, whose agency released a report that shows 71,000 Oklahomans will receive improved access to mental health services if the state accepts Medicaid expansion funding (Source)

“I think there are some members who are waiting to see if they draw an opponent during filing in April. They’re slow playing things.”

-Governor Mary Fallin, speaking about why Oklahoma lawmakers have made little progress in coming up with a plan to solve Oklahoma’s $1.3 billion budget shortfall (Source)

“The worst is yet to come and we have another $22 million to go.” 

– Rob Neu, Superintendent of Oklahoma City Public Schools, on $30 million in budget cuts. OKCPS announced on Wednesday that more than 200 classroom teaching positions would be eliminated, generating $8 million in savings (Source)