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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. You can sign up here to receive In The Know by e-mail.
Today you should know that the DHS commission voted to close Oklahoma’s two residential centers for adults with developmental disabilities, located in Enid and Pauls Valley. The Enid News and Eagle reported that the Commission denied an Enid senator the opportunity to speak and has not given alternatives to closure full consideration.
Hobby Lobby asked a federal judge to block a new requirement that insurance plans cover emergency contraception. The Oklahoma Farm Bureau endorsed State Question 766. The OKPolicy Blog has highlighted concerns about the impact of SQ 766 here and here. Oklahoma City Police answered frequently asked questions about the new open carry law.
Veteran’s Affairs unveiled new driver’s licenses, designed to honor and identify the state’s veterans. Governor Fallin met with an Israeli ambassador to discuss how Oklahoma energy companies could help develop natural gas in the Mediterranean Sea. The Tulsa World Editorial Board urged the legislature to sufficiently fund the Department of Corrections, or already productive investments in fledgling reform initiatives won’t be effective.
In today’s Policy Note, a factsheet from the International Federation of Gynecology & Obstetrics outlined over a decade of scientific research behind growing expert consensus that emergency contraception cannot interrupt an established pregnancy, harm a developing embryo, or prevent implantation of a fertilized egg. The Number of the Day is the amount allocated to the state’s general revenue fund in the first quarter of the current fiscal year.
In The News
Families angry at DHS vote to close two residential centers for adults with developmental disabilities
DHS commissioners voted Thursday to close Oklahoma’s two residential centers for adults with developmental disabilities at a heated meeting in which Commission Chairman Wes Lane threatened to have a state senator escorted out of the packed meeting room. The commission voted 6-3 to close the Northern Oklahoma Resource Center in Enid and the Southern Oklahoma Resource Center in Pauls Valley. Commissioners set an April 30, 2014, deadline for the closure of the Pauls Valley center and an Aug. 31, 2015, deadline for the closure of the Enid institution. There are 123 residents at the Pauls Valley center and 108 at the center in Enid.
Read more from NewsOK at http://newsok.com/families-angry-at-dhs-vote-to-close-two-residential-centers-for-adults-with-developmental-disabilities/article/3724436
Anderson denied opportunity to speak at commission meeting
The Oklahoma Commission for Human Services denied an Enid senator the opportunity to speak and refused to consider an alternative plan by Enid member Mike Peck, before voting to close Northern Oklahoma Resource Center of Enid in 2015 and Southern Oklahoma Resource Center in Pauls Valley in 2014. The commission refused to hear public comments from the standing-room-only crowd, and Chairman Wes Lane shut down state Sen. Patrick Anderson, R-Enid, as he attempted to address the panel. Anderson accused Lane of making “a mockery” of the process.
Read more from the Enid News and Eagle at http://enidnews.com/localnews/x880884539/Anderson-not-heard-by-DHS-commission
Hobby Lobby asks judge to stop health care provision requiring coverage for morning-after pill
An arts and craft supply company owned by a Christian family asked a judge Thursday to block a portion of the new federal health care law, claiming that mandated coverage for certain birth control violates its religious freedom rights. Hobby Lobby Stores Inc.’s owners believe the use of morning-after and week-after birth control pills are tantamount to abortion because they prevent a fertilized egg from implanting in a woman’s womb. At a federal court hearing Thursday, a government lawyer said the drugs do not cause abortions and that the U.S. has compelling interest in mandating insurance coverage for them.
Read more from the Associated Press at http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/hobby-lobby-seeks-to-block-health-care-provision-that-requires-coverage-for-morning-after-pill/2012/11/01/0adee970-2419-11e2-92f8-7f9c4daf276a_story.html
Farm Bureau supports State Question 766
Passage of State Question 766 is vital to Oklahoma farmers and ranchers, who could end up paying new property and business taxes if the voters were to reject it. “Our state’s farmers have been hit hard in recent years with drought and the economic downturn,” said Oklahoma Farm Bureau President Mike Spradling. “The prospect of numerous new property taxes would make it difficult to recover from these difficult times.”
Read more from the Pryor Daily Times at http://pryordailytimes.com/statenews/x688465845/Farm-Bureau-supports-State-Question-766
Questions, answers from Oklahoma City Police about ‘Open Carry’
Among other things, the new law will allow a person with a handgun license to carry a loaded pistol either concealed or unconcealed (open), subject to numerous restrictions. The Legislature and Governor also enacted several laws that recognize the right of residents from other states to carry loaded handguns while visiting in Oklahoma. Those laws will also go into effect on November 1, 2012. The following general information to frequently asked questions is provided to assist the public in understanding the new firearm laws.
Read more from KOCO at http://www.koco.com/news/oklahomanews/okc/Questions-answers-from-Oklahoma-City-Police-about-Open-Carry/-/11777584/17208614/-/ueisiy/-/index.html
State unveils veteran driver’s license
Veterans in Oklahoma can now get a special driver’s license identifying them as veterans. Oklahoma Secretary of Veterans Affairs Rita Aragon unveiled the new license Thursday at the State Capital. “We owe [our veterans] a great deal,” Aragon said. “Freedom is not free and it costs the lives and limbs and bodies of a lot of our veterans and many of them are now on fixed incomes. This is a way that the people and businesses of Oklahoma can recognize them.” Aragon said many businesses in Oklahoma already give discounts to veterans. She said part of the reason for the updated driver’s license is to make it easier for veterans to identify themselves and take advantage of benefits.
Read more from KAUT at http://freedom43tv.com/2012/11/01/state-unveils-veteran-drivers-license/
Oklahoma governor meets with Israeli ambassador
An Israeli ambassador met Thursday with Gov. Mary Fallin to discuss how Oklahoma energy companies could help develop its natural gas field in the Mediterranean Sea and to thank her for her pro-Israel votes while she was in Congress. “We would like to have some major companies in Oklahoma come and take part in that and maybe explore some new possibilities, maybe try to get a little bit of knowledge because we are new in the energy business,” Meir Shlomo, consul general of Israel to the Southwest, said after meeting with the governor. “What a better place to learn energy than Oklahoma.”
Read more from NewsOK at http://newsok.com/oklahoma-governor-meets-with-israeli-ambassador/article/3724651
Prison budget increase worth the money
No one likes to hear that the Oklahoma Department of Corrections will ask the Legislature next session for millions of extra dollars. Usually these requests are made to get the system through – just routine expenses for personnel costs, inmate room and board and medical care, support of existing programs, inmate growth, upkeep of facilities. But $4.2 million of a $67 million increase in the 2014 budget request of $531 million would go beyond basics.
Read more from the Tulsa World at http://www.tulsaworld.com/opinion/article.aspx?subjectid=61&articleid=20121102_61_A18_Noonel608442&allcom=1
Quote of the Day
“We owe our veterans a great deal. Freedom is not free and it costs the lives and limbs and bodies of a lot of our veterans and many of them are now on fixed incomes. This is a way that the people and businesses of Oklahoma can recognize them.”
Rita Aragon, Oklahoma Secretary of Veterans Affairs, about special new driver’s licenses designed to honor and identify the state’s veterans
Number of the Day
Amount allocated to the state’s General Revenue Fund (GRF) in the first quarter of FY 2013, exceeding estimated collections by 1.7 percent
Source: Office of the State Treasurer
See previous Numbers of the Day here.
Policy Note
Mechanism of action: How do levonorgestrel-only emergency contraceptive pills (LNG ECPs) prevent pregnancy?
Review of the evidence suggests that LNG ECPs cannot prevent implantation of a fertilized egg. Language on implantation should not be included in LNG ECP product labeling. The fact that LNG ECPs have no demonstrated effect on implantation explains why they are not 100% effective in preventing pregnancy, and are less effective the later they are taken. Women should be given a clear message that LNG ECPs are more effective the sooner they are taken. LNG ECPs do not interrupt a pregnancy (by any definition of the beginning of pregnancy). However, LNG ECPs can prevent abortions by reducing unwanted pregnancies.
Read more from the International Federation of Gynecology & Obstetrics http://www.emergencycontraception.org/publications/PDFs/policy/MOA_ENG_2011.pdf
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