OKPOLICY.ORG
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 Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt has refused to sign a memorandum of understanding designed to protect confidential information shared among states and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and he is planning to join a lawsuit against the agency. The Oklahoma District Attorneys Association voted unanimously to oppose a state question that would remove the governor from the parole process for nonviolent offenders. KOSU shared Oklahomans’ perspectives on the state question to ban affirmative action. Find more info on all the November ballot issues at our 2012 State Questions page.
The OK Policy Blog discusses new Census data showing that almost 1 in 4 Oklahoma children lived in families that fell below the poverty line in 2011, and the overall poverty rate was unchanged from 2010. Median household income and the poverty rate in Oklahoma and Tulsa County also remained basically unchanged in 2011 compared to the prior year. More than 200 school districts in Oklahoma have signed up to use free practice tests through a new program offered by the state Education Department.
EMS providers said at least 40 ambulance services — many in rural areas — have closed in recent years as revenue has declined and expenses have risen, and fully funding EMS services statewide is estimated to cost up to $40 million. A vote on the future of two state-run centers for the developmentally disabled was postponed as Governor Fallin meets with lawmakers from the area and parent-guardian groups. A new contract awarded to a public-private partnership will increase the number of inpatient beds for psychiatric care in Tulsa. A 17,000-member megachurch in Tulsa has been rattled by allegations that five employees waited two weeks to report the rape of a 13-year-old girl in a campus stairwell, allegedly by a church worker.
The Number of the Day is the total number of people through 2010 who’ve been diagnosed with AIDS in Oklahoma since the beginning of the epidemic in 1981. In today’s Policy Note, Matthew Yglesias rebuts the two biggest myths about the Federal Reserve’s quantitative easing plan.
In The News
Oklahoma AG resisting cooperation with Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
A group of Republican state attorneys general has declined to sign cooperation agreements with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, part of an escalating Republican revolt against the agency that began in the U.S. Congress. Richard Cordray, the agency’s director, asked all 50 states in March to sign a memorandum of understanding designed to protect confidential information shared among states and the bureau. To date, only 12 states — all but one with Democratic attorneys general — have signed, according to the bureau and documents obtained in a public records request. Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt said in an interview that he is declining to sign the agreement because of legal objections to the law that created the consumer bureau, the 2010 Dodd-Frank Act. Four attorneys general, led by Pruitt, plan to join an existing lawsuit that challenges the constitutionality of Dodd- Frank and the CFPB, according to a person briefed on the decision.
Oklahoma prosecutors oppose proposal to limit governor’s role in parole process
The Oklahoma District Attorneys Association voted unanimously Thursday to oppose a state question that would remove the governor from the parole process for nonviolent offenders. The association’s position on State Question 762 appeared to be in part a response to actions taken by the Pardon and Parole Board that have drawn the ire of prosecutors across the state. Oklahoma County District Attorney David Prater accused the Pardon and Parole Board last month of violating the Open Meeting Act for alleged failure to give initial notice of what offenders might be considered for clemency. His investigation is ongoing. The Pardon and Parole Board had approved consideration of clemency for an Oklahoma County woman who is required to serve at least 85 percent of a manslaughter sentence. The board said it has the constitutional authority to recommend clemency for so-called 85 percent crimes, adding that it does not consider such offenders for parole. A final clemency decision rests with the governor.
Read more from the Tulsa World.
State Question would end Affirmative Action in OK
In less than two months, Oklahomans are heading to the polls to decide on six state questions including whether to ban affirmative action in the state. Supporters say it eliminates special treatment in public employment, education and contracts. But opponents say it’s just veiled racism which will lead to further discrimination of women and minorities. State Question 759 banning affirmative action for state hiring, scholarships and contracts could have an impact on a number of students in the Oklahoma State student union. But, finding someone to talk about affirmative action was no easy task. Until we ran into Calvin Silmon. The Speech Pathology Junior says there are some good and some bad points in dealing with affirmative action. “It shouldn’t be banned but it shouldn’t be brought up as an excuse as well. I believe our society still has problems. I believe racism is still alive. We just don’t put it out there on the front end.”
New Census data shows many still left out of Oklahoma’s prosperity
Almost 1 in 4 Oklahoma children lived in families that fell below the poverty line in 2011, according to new Census Bureau data released today. The poverty rate for Oklahomans under 18 was estimated at 23.0 percent in 2011, an increase of 3.1 percentage points since 2001. The change in poverty rates among all Oklahomans was not statisically significant from 2010 to 2011, but it has increased significantly since 2009, going from 16.2 percent to 17.2 percent. The national poverty rate was 15.9 percent in 2011. Poverty continues to rise in Oklahoma, despite a dropping unemployment rate and other signs of economic recovery. Median household income also remained flat at $43,225 in 2011.
Read more from the OK Policy Blog.
Overall poverty rate in Tulsa County remained unchanged in 2011
Median household income and the poverty rate in Oklahoma and Tulsa County remained basically unchanged in 2011 compared to the prior year, according to new census data. The data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey also show state unemployment declined from 2010 to 2011, while income inequality increased during the same period in Oklahoma. The American Community Survey is an ongoing poll conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau. “The fact that poverty basically stayed the same even though the overall economy is improving shows that we are looking at a very uneven recovery,” said Gene Perry, policy analyst for the Oklahoma Policy Institute, a Tulsa-based think tank. “What that shows is we are seeing a good economy for some, but there are a whole lot of other people who are being left out,” Perry said.
Read more from the Tulsa World.
State Education Department will offer free practice tests
More than 200 school districts in Oklahoma have signed up to use free practice tests through a new program offered by the state Education Department. The state agency hired a company — CTB/McGraw-Hill — to administer state exams this year. When state workers asked for contract proposals, testing companies had to lump in practice benchmark exams, said Maridyth McBee, assistant state superintendent for accountability and assessments. “The purpose will be to give a snapshot of how well students are mastering the course content,” McBee said. If students are doing well, teachers can stay on course. If they’re doing poorly, teachers can backtrack.
Oklahoma lawmakers, emergency medical operators explore improving statewide ambulance services
Oklahoma lawmakers and emergency medical service providers met Thursday to explore ways to improve the funding and availability of ambulance services that operators said are disappearing across the state. EMS providers said at least 40 ambulance services — many in rural areas — have closed in recent years as revenue has declined and expenses have risen. An aging population and low population density makes it hard for ambulance services to recover their costs when they respond to a call, they said. “The principle issue is sustainability,” Owasso Fire Department Chief Chris Garrett told members of the House Public Health Committee. “The community is going to grow and call volume is going to grow. The dollars just are harder to find.” Rodney Johnson of the Medic Institute estimated that fully funding EMS services statewide will cost up to $40 million.
Read more from the Associated Press.
Vote on future of state centers for developmentally disabled postponed
A vote on the future of two state-run centers for the developmentally disabled will not happen as had been expected Tuesday. The agenda for the Oklahoma Commission for Human Services meeting does not include a vote on Northern Oklahoma Resource Center of Enid and Southern Oklahoma Resource Center in Pauls Valley. State Sen. Patrick Anderson, R-Enid, said Thursday he had not heard the centers would not be on Tuesday’s OCHS agenda. Anderson, Rep. Mike Jackson, R-Enid, Sen. Susan Paddack, D-Ada, and Rep. Lisa Billy, R-Purcell, are scheduled to meet this morning with Gov. Mary Fallin. The districts represented by Paddack and Billy include Pauls Valley. Anderson previously had said he expected Fallin would “announce her decision on how she is going to direct (OCHS) to vote on the issue” at Friday’s meeting. Fallin also will meet at 2 p.m. today at the state Capitol with representatives of the parent-guardian associations of NORCE and SORC.
Read more from the Enid News & Eagle.
Partnership will expand mental health services in Tulsa
The capacity to treat mental health patients in Tulsa will soon grow significantly thanks to a new contract awarded to a public-private partnership, officials announced Thursday. The contract will increase the number of inpatient beds for psychiatric care in Tulsa, add a crisis stabilization unit and offer a better system of getting the patient to the care that is most appropriate. Sixteen permanent psychiatric beds will be added, and the stabilization center will help people who may not need a permanent bed but may need a place to stabilize. It will add to the 56 inpatient beds currently operating in Tulsa. The location of the outpatient stabilization center is still being determined. The partnership between Family & Children’s Services, Hillcrest Medical Center and Tulsa Center for Behavioral Health hopes to have the services in place by January.
Read more from the Tulsa World.
Oklahoma megachurch rocked by sex abuse allegations
A 17,000-member megachurch in Tulsa has been rattled by allegations that five employees waited two weeks to report the rape of a 13-year-old girl in a campus stairwell, allegedly by a church worker. Tulsa police say the girl is among at least three victims of alleged sex crimes by two former employees of Victory Christian Center who face criminal charges. A child crimes investigator says more victims could surface as police continue to investigate. Det. Cpl. Greg Smith said police are pursuing cases involving at least two more victims and another suspect. In one of the cases, the alleged victim’s parents aren’t cooperating, Smith said, “They made a comment that the church is handling the situation and they’re going to continue to pray about it,” Smith said Thursday. Police said the worldwide ministry’s pastor and co-founder, Sharon Daugherty, whose daily broadcasts are beamed via satellite to more than 200 countries, knew about the abuse allegations, but trusted ministry employees to follow in-house policies on reporting such incidents.
Read more from the Austin-American Statesman.
Quote of the Day
The fact that poverty basically stayed the same even though the overall economy is improving shows that we are looking at a very uneven recovery. What that shows is we are seeing a good economy for some, but there are a whole lot of other people who are being left out.
–OK Policy analyst Gene Perry, speaking about new Census numbers showing that the poverty rate in Oklahoma was unchanged from 2010 to 2011 and remains above the national average
Number of the Day
5,708
Total number of people through 2010 who’ve been diagnosed with AIDS in Oklahoma since the beginning of the epidemic in 1981 – less than one-quarter of one percent of the population
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
See previous Numbers of the Day here.
Policy Note
The two biggest myths about quantitative easing
The third round of quantitative easing announced by Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke last week gives the economy a great chance of strengthening in the months to come. But predictably, new moves from the Fed gave rise to new criticisms—contradictory ones, one generally coming from the right and one generally coming from the left—that highlight the two biggest myths about monetary policy around today. The first is the idea that loose money “punishes savers,” a myth Mitt Romney himself seemed to subscribe to in remarks made at a fundraiser. But does a loose money supply actually erode the value of your savings?
Read more from Matthew Yglesias.
You can sign up here to receive In The Know by e-mail.
