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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. Click here to subscribe to In The Know and see past editions.
A letter from Corporation Commission Vice Chair Dana Murphy said state budget cuts put at risk the agency’s efforts to deal with man-made earthquakes linked to oil and gas activity. Record-smashing rainfall and flooding that hammered Oklahoma this month has likely caused millions of dollars’ worth of damage to roads and bridges across the state. President Obama has signed a disaster declaration for three Oklahoma counties affected by severe storms, tornadoes, and flooding.
Flooded and washed-out train tracks across Oklahoma have put the Amtrak route between Oklahoma City and Texas out of service and disrupted numerous freight trains. Lawmakers nearly raided a fund earmarked for railroad maintenance in this year’s budget deal, but stopped after a state Senator asked the attorney general if it was legal. With a robust 22 percent return on investments last year, Oklahoma’s teachers pension fund is reducing its unfunded liabilities, but it still faces pressure as schools report record retirements and lawmakers have been tempted to raid the fund to help with other budget problems.
On the OK Policy Blog, Michael Leachman discusses how a new study further undermines claims that states can improve their economies by cutting taxes. The Oklahoman editorial board wrote that Oklahoma’s ambitious efforts to reform criminal justice and promote economic development outside the energy sector have faltered because lawmakers did not sustain investments in the reforms. The Oklahoma Corrections Department has released findings on the deaths of two inmates who were murdered by their cellmates.
Two high-ranking members of the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office will pull in tens of thousands of dollars annually in retirement benefits despite being terminated in the wake of the Eric Harris shooting. Support is growing among Oklahoma Democratic Party leaders to allow independents to vote in the party’s primaries. State parties can allow independents to vote in their primaries if they notify the State Election Board between November 1 and 30 this year. Oklahoma Democratic leaders blasted tax and budget decisions made by the Republican majority this session.
Oklahoma Watch shared video of its forum on mental health challenges for Oklahoma women. The Number of the Day is 9.7 million – the total barrels of crude oil produced in Oklahoma in 2015, 6th highest in the nation. In today’s Policy Note, CityLab debunks the myth that only drivers pay for roads.
In The News
Budget cuts may jeopardize Oklahoma’s earthquake response, corporation commissioner says
Budget cuts at the Oklahoma Corporation Commission risk future progress from the agency’s efforts to deal with man-made earthquakes linked to oil and gas activity, a commissioner has warned lawmakers and Gov. Mary Fallin. A letter from Vice Chairman Dana Murphy said lower appropriations and withdrawals from several agency revolving funds could mean a 10 percent cut to the commission’s total operating budget.
Record rainfall, flooding take toll on Oklahoma roads
Record-smashing rainfall and torrential flooding that hammered Oklahoma this month has likely caused millions of dollars’ worth of damage to roads and bridges across the state, although official estimates won’t be available for weeks. While the visual image of powerful tornadoes may be more eye-catching, officials say widespread flooding takes a far bigger toll on roads, bridges and other public infrastructure.
Read more from the Associated Press.
President Obama signs disaster declaration for three Oklahoma counties
President Barack Obama has signed a disaster declaration for areas of Oklahoma affected by severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds and flooding in early May. The declaration signed Tuesday makes federal funding available to individuals whose property was damaged in storms in Cleveland, Grady and Oklahoma counties May 5-10.
Heavy rains make return of rail service uncertain
Flooded and washed-out train tracks across Oklahoma had transportation officials hoping for less rain so the ground could dry out and repairs could begin. As rail operators surveyed damage incurred over the last two weeks, passengers with tickets for the Amtrak Heartland Flyer line between Oklahoma City and Fort Worth, Texas, were instead being placed on buses over the last few weeks.
Read more from the Journal Record (subscription required).
Lawmaker’s question helped protect railroad funding
To help fill a gap in revenue this year, lawmakers nearly raided a fund earmarked for railroad maintenance. State Sen. Jason Smalley, R-Stroud, said he heard rumblings in the Capitol that millions of dollars from the Oklahoma Department of Transportation’s Railroad Maintenance Revolving Fund could be used to help cover a $611 million shortfall in revenue. Smalley said he believes budget negotiators took more money from the County Improvements for Roads and Bridges program fund after he questioned the legality of raiding railroad maintenance.
Read more from the Journal Record (subscription required).
Teacher pension sees huge returns but remains far behind
Warning bells sounded just a few years ago. Oklahoma’s largest pension, for teachers, was on shaky ground. Things had gotten so bad, the state faced a certain credit downgrade. Years of mismanagement were catching up with lawmakers. For years they sweetened teacher retirements with popular benefits like cost-of-living adjustments and enhanced death benefits – but hadn’t set aside enough money to pay for them.
Read more from the Tahlequah Daily Press.
Economic argument for state tax cuts weakens further (Guest Post: Michael Leachman)
A new study by William Gale, Aaron Krupkin, and Kim Rueben at the Tax Policy Center (TPC) further undermines claims that states can improve their economies by cutting taxes. To make their case, tax-cut proponents often point to a 2008 paper by economist Robert Reed, which seemed to produce clear evidence that tax cuts promote growth. But when the TPC researchers replicated Reed’s statistical analysis and extended it for another ten years, his results fell apart.
Read more from the OK Policy Blog.
Sweeping legislation in Oklahoma can be difficult to sustain
The 2015 legislative session featured mostly small accomplishments. Perhaps that was to be expected given the budget realities — lawmakers had $611 million less to spend than a year ago — but it’s also true that sweeping legislation, especially if there’s a price tag attached, can be tough to come by and to sustain. The most recent example is the Justice Reinvestment Initiative, approved in 2012 and signed into law.
Oklahoma officials investigate death of two inmates
The Oklahoma Corrections Department has released findings on the deaths of two inmates —one who was bludgeoned to death with a food tray and another found strangled to death in his bunk. The reports were released last week. Bryan K. Blackburn, 30, died April 12 at the Davis Correctional Facility in Holdenville. Shawn B. Moore, 36, died March 28 at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary in McAlester.
Two high-ranking members of Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office resign in scandal
Two departed high-ranking members of the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office will pull in tens of thousands of dollars annually in retirement benefits despite their being terminated in the wake of the Eric Harris shooting. Former undersheriff Tim Albin and Maj. Tom Huckeby have each resigned following Harris’ death – both were named extensively in a leaked 2009 internal affairs report surrounding the treatment of reserve deputy Robert Bates, who shot Harris April 2.
Support builds to include Independent voters in Democratic primaries and runoffs
Strong support continues to build among organizations and Democrats to invite registered Independents to vote in Democratic primaries. Governors Brad Henry and David Walters are on board, as are Attorney General Drew Edmondson, Democratic State Senate Leader Randy Bass of Lawton, Democratic State House Leader Scott Inman of Del City, and Reps. George Young of Oklahoma City, Emily Virgin of Norman, and Shane Stone of Oklahoma City.
See also: Should State Democrats Embrace Independents In Primary, Runoff Elections? from Okie Funk
Oklahoma Democratic leaders blast 2015 Legislature’s final budget, Republican agenda
State Sen. Randy Bass, D-Lawton, led a chorus of Democrats decrying most results of the 2015 legislative session, starting with the budget sent to Gov. Mary Fallin last Friday night. “The most important thing we needed to do this year was fully fund our schools. But, yet again, we didn’t do that. We’re still kicking the can down the road when it comes to funding our schools appropriately,” Sen. Bass said in a statement sent to CapitolBeatOK.
Video: Oklahoma Watch forum on mental health of women
Women in Oklahoma face often unique mental-health challenges. At an Oklahoma Watch-Out forum in Tulsa May 21, three experts talked about issues ranging from incarcerated women and trauma to postpartum depression and both the cultural and biological factors of mental health. The featured guests were Janet Cizek, Center for Therapeutic Interventions managing partner and CEO; Roxanne Hinther, Women in Recovery clinical director; and Dr. Nicole Washington, Family and Children’s Services psychiatrist.
See the video from Oklahoma Watch.
Quote of the Day
“We smashed both the wettest May and the wettest month. Not just broke it, but absolutely smashed it. And the forecast calls for another good dousing by the end of the month. I don’t know if people realize the history they’re seeing here.”
-State climatologist Gary McManus, speaking about torrential rainfall and flooding that has likely caused millions of dollars’ worth of damage to roads and bridges across the state (Source)
Number of the Day
9.7 million
Barrels of crude oil produced in Oklahoma in 2015, 6th highest in the nation.
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration
See previous Numbers of the Day here.
Policy Note
Debunking the Myth That Only Drivers Pay for Roads
It’s perfectly reasonable for American drivers to believe they pay for the roads they use. They’re aware that they pay gas taxes, but those costs are typically concealed in the total price of fuel, and there’s no sign at the pump explaining that U.S. gas taxes are laughably low compared to other countries and haven’t been raised in more than 20 years. Sure enough, when you ask people how much they pay in gas taxes, most either don’t know or think they pay much more than they really do.
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