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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 an Oklahoma County judge set a hearing date to consider a reproductive rights group challenge to a new state law that restricts access to emergency contraception. The Republican National Committee has included Oklahoma House Speaker Shannon in its “Rising Stars” program, a slate of new spokespeople who are young or non-white or female, designed to help the party shed the image that it is too old and white.
A judge threw out a legislator’s lawsuit that challenged $2 million of state funds going to a private group that puts on an annual junior livestock show in Oklahoma City. Gov. Fallin named Col. Michael Teague, former Tulsa District commander of the Army Corps of Engineers, as secretary of energy and environment.
Southwest Oklahoma has been inundated with destructive grasshoppers. An OSU psychology professor is seeking funding from a crowdfunding site for research on the unintended consequences of racial profiling.
The Number of the Day is the amount of state sales, property & income taxes paid annually by undocumented immigrants in Oklahoma. In today’s Policy Note, Oklahoma Watch answers common consumer questions about the state’s online health care marketplace.
In The News
NY-based Center for Reproductive Rights petitions Oklahoma court over morning-after pill restriction
A reproductive rights group plans to ask an Oklahoma County judge to block a new state law that restricts access to the morning-after emergency contraception pill. A hearing is scheduled Monday on a lawsuit filed by the New York-based Center for Reproductive Rights. The lawsuit alleges the law is unconstitutional and discriminates against women.
The GOP Goes in Search of Non-White Faces
The GOP is launching a “Rising Stars” program, a slate of new spokespeople who have young or non-white or female faces that look nothing like those who make up the party’s current base. Marilinda Garcia is a 30-year-old Hispanic state representative in New Hampshire. T.W. Shannon is the first African American speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives and an enrolled member of the Chickasaw Nation. Karin Agness is the founder and president of the Network of enlightened Women (NeW), a conservative organization she launched while in college a decade ago.
Legal challenge to Oklahoma funds going to livestock show tossed
An Oklahoma County judge threw out a legislator’s lawsuit Friday that challenged $2 million of state funds going to a private group that puts on an annual junior livestock show in Oklahoma City. District Judge Bryan Dixon issued a summary judgment in favor of the state Agriculture, Food and Forestry Department and the Oklahoma Youth Expo. The judge in April dismissed several legislators and state officials, including Gov. Mary Fallin, from the case.
Gov. Mary Fallin names secretary of energy and environment
Gov. Mary Fallin on Friday named former Tulsa District commander of the Army Corps of Engineers Col. Michael Teague as secretary of energy and environment. The appointment drew concern from some in the state’s oil and natural gas industry. Teague will fill the positions held by former Energy Secretary Michael Ming and former Environment Secretary Gary Sherrer. Teague will begin his new position Sept. 3.
Hungry ‘hoppers chow down
Like a Biblical plague, thousands of grasshoppers have swarmed Southwest Oklahoma, munching on anything they can get their mouths around. They are out there, coming in all colors brown, green, yellow and others. They can’t be bargained with. They can’t be reasoned with. They don’t feel pity or remorse or fear. And they absolutely will not stop, ever, until there is nothing more to eat or they are dead. “They have been a problem this year,” said Chattanooga farmer Arthur Oschner. “We’ve had them in the cotton fields around the creeks and they’ve eaten any of the plants they can get.”
Read more from The Lawton Constitution
Oklahoma State University researcher turns to Internet to fund project
A researcher in OSU’s psychology department, Bradley is looking at the psychological processes that are at play in cases where police mistakenly shoot unarmed black men. He is one of a growing number of researchers to seek funding from the public, a few dollars at a time. Bradley listed his project proposal on Microryza, a crowdfunding site geared toward academic researchers. The site allows donors to give money to research projects that interest them. Bradley’s project, titled “Unintended Consequences of Racial Profiling and the Jury’s Response,” has a goal amount of $15,000.
Quote of the Day
“Requiring a woman to show her identification before purchasing the pill seems designed to intimidate or humiliate consumers. State legislation requires everyone to show identification to purchase over-the-counter medications that include pseudoephedrine. That’s because it is a key component in making methamphetamine. Requiring consumers to show ID for pseudoephedrine is designed to curtail criminal activity. State legislation seems to equate the two — contraception and manufacturing drugs.”
Number of the Day
$70.7M
Amount of state sales, property & income taxes paid annually by undocumented immigrants in Oklahoma
Source: Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, 2010
See previous Numbers of the Day here.
Policy Note
Q&A about health care marketplace
Where do I go for information? Is this government insurance? Who can participate?
When does it start? Which insurance companies are offering plans?
What kinds of plans are being offered? Will the government pay the premiums, or will I?
Who gets the tax credits? What if my income is less than that?
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