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Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt has sent a letter to public school superintendents across the state vowing to defend the distribution of Bibles on campus. Less than two weeks after a third-grade teacher in Duncan distributed Gideon Bibles to her students, a Satanist church in Oklahoma City has asked permission to distribute Satanist literature at Woodrow Wilson Elementary School. A statewide Second Amendment advocacy group said they plan to file a lawsuit seeking to prohibit enforcement of a “no guns policy” at the Norman Music Festival.
A lawyer representing the family of Eric Harris, who was killed when a volunteer deputy with the Tulsa County Sheriff’s office pulled a gun instead of a Taser, is asking to have an outside agency investigate the death. More than 100 protestors marched to the Tulsa County sheriff’s doorstep, demanding action against deputies who did not provide medical aid immediately after the shooting. A public forum tomorrow hosted by the nonprofit news organization Oklahoma Watch will discuss challenges in low-income neighborhoods in south Oklahoma City.
A Tulsa World op-ed by Suzanna de Baca examines the wage gap between men and women in Oklahoma and nationally. Oklahoma has been ranked 48th out of all 50 states for the well-being of women and last in the nation for women’s health. School districts throughout the state would be allowed to create charter schools under a bill approved by the Oklahoma House on Tuesday. The Tulsa World editorial board wrote that Oklahoma’s repeated income tax cuts have made it impossible to fund adequately the education and infrastructure that are needed for economic growth.
The Oklahoman editorial board wrote a tribute to Rep. David Dank, who passed away on Friday. Governor Fallin ordered flags on state property to be flown at half-staff in honor of Rep. Dank. A recent study by the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma and Feeding America shows that one in six, or an estimated 656,000, Oklahomans, turn to food pantries and meal service programs to feed themselves and their families. OK Policy has published a comprehensive overview of Oklahoma’s food security safety net.
Tulsa-resident Michelle Evans, who was crowned Mrs. America 2015, has traveled across Oklahoma and the U.S. to raise awareness about prescription drug abuse. As of yesterday, about one-third of Oklahomans still hadn’t filed a tax return. Citizens for Tax Justice shared five things you should know this tax day. The Number of the Day is 15.3 – the number of black students per thousand who were referred to police and courts by schools in 2011-2012, far higher than the national average for black students (9.8) and about 3 times Oklahoma’s rate for white students (4.2) and Hispanic students (6.3).
In The News
Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt defends Bible distribution in schools, says ‘religious freedoms are under attack’
Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt has sent a letter to public school superintendents across the state vowing to defend religious freedom amid “veiled legal threats” over the distribution of Bibles on campus. “Few things are as sacred and as fundamental to Oklahomans as the constitutional rights of free speech and the free exercise of religion,” Pruitt wrote Tuesday.
Read more from the Tulsa World.
Oklahoma Satanist church wants permission to distribute books in elementary school
Less than two weeks after a third-grade teacher in Duncan, Okla., distributed Gideon Bibles to her students, the Church of Ahriman, a Satanist church in Oklahoma City, has asked permission to distribute Satanist literature at Woodrow Wilson Elementary School. Adam Daniels, the church’s leader, said he wanted to give students a copy of “Ahrimani Enlightenment,” a primer and workbook normally given to new members of the church.
Read more from Religion News Service.
Advocacy group takes aim at Norman Music Festival’s ‘no guns’ policy
A statewide Second Amendment advocacy group said they plan to file a lawsuit Wednesday against the city of Norman regarding the legality of a “no guns policy” at the Norman Music Festival. The free music festival is scheduled for April 23-25 in downtown Norman. The Oklahoma Second Amendment Association is asking the court to either prohibit the enforcement of the “no gun” policy or prohibit the Norman Music Festival from taking place, according to the petition anticipated to be filed Wednesday.
Read more from the Norman Transcript.
Lawyers Square Off in Tulsa as Reserve Deputy Surrenders in Unarmed Man’s Death
The reserve sheriff’s deputy in Tulsa, Okla., who killed an unarmed suspect, apparently after mistaking his pistol for a Taser, probably would not have held that post if not for his long friendship with the county sheriff, a lawyer for the dead man’s family said Tuesday. “We’re demanding to have an outside agency” investigate the death of the unarmed man, Eric Harris, and examine the qualifications of the reserve deputy, said Dan Smolen, the lawyer.
Read more from The New York Times.
Protest rally draws crowd, ends at Tulsa County sheriff’s doorstep
More than 100 people turned out for a rally and march Tuesday night, demanding action against deputies who are seen and heard in a video showing the fatal shooting of an unarmed man by a Tulsa County reserve deputy. The rally began with a few dozen people in the plaza in front of the Tulsa County Courthouse and quickly grew to more than 100.
Read more from the Tulsa World.
Upcoming Event: Oklahoma Watch forum on low-income neighborhoods
Nonprofit news organization Oklahoma Watch and the University of Oklahoma’s Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication will host a public forum about challenges in low-income neighborhoods in south Oklahoma City. The event is Thursday, April 16, 6-7 p.m. at the Capitol Hill United Methodist Church gymnasium, 123 S.W. 25th St., Oklahoma City.
Read more from the OK Policy Blog.
For Oklahoma women, more at stake than equal pay
Equal Pay Day this year is Tuesday, and it has never been more important to focus on the concept of pay equity. Why? Because, for a woman to be able to improve her overall personal circumstances, the ability control her or her family’s finances and other personal decisions are critical. In Oklahoma, the pay gap is even wider than the national average — a woman earns just 78 percent of what men make.
Read more from the Tulsa World.
See also: The State of Oklahoma Women (Part One): Economic security and leadership and The State of Oklahoma Women (Part Two): Healthy women, healthy families from the OK Policy Blog.
School districts throughout Oklahoma could create charter schools under bill
School districts throughout the state would be allowed to create charter schools under a bill approved by the Oklahoma House on Tuesday. These public schools, which operate under a specific plan, or charter, are now generally limited to Oklahoma and Tulsa counties. Backers of Senate Bill 782 said it will give parents and school boards greater opportunity to address educational needs. Opponents said it would dilute public school funding at a time when schools are in need of more money.
Tulsa World editorial: Have Oklahoma’s fractional tax cuts been worth the price?
While the income tax is topical, let’s think about the impact of recent Oklahoma tax policy choices. Beginning when Frank Keating was governor, continuing through Brad Henry’s administration and through the governorship of Mary Fallin — with Democrats and Republicans in control of the Legislature — Oklahoma has been undercutting its tax base by nickles and dimes.
Read more from the Tulsa World.
Oklahoma loses a fine public servant in state Rep. David Dank
The sudden passing Friday of state Rep. David Dank leaves the Legislature without its leading proponent for thorough reviews of tax credits, and the potential elimination of some. Dank was an unflinching bulldog on this important issue. Many conservatives at the Capitol want a continued reduction in the state’s personal income tax rate. Dank, R-Oklahoma City, had no great problem with that idea, but said it was irresponsible to cut the tax rate without reviewing whether tax credits were working as intended.
See also: Fallin orders flags at half-staff for late Oklahoma lawmaker from News9
Largest, most comprehensive analysis of charitable food assistance in Oklahoma
A recent study by the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma and Feeding America shows that one in six, or an estimated 656,000, Oklahomans turn to food pantries and meal service programs to feed themselves and their families. “The results of this study show us that the face of hunger may be closer than we think,” said Rodney Bivens, executive director of the Regional Food Bank.
Read more from the Daily Ardmorite.
See also: Policy Basics: Oklahoma’s Food Security Safety Net from OK Policy.
For Mrs. America 2015, a platform about prescription drugs is personal
Michelle Evans never expected to wear a crown. And really, she didn’t think she would make it past the judges with her platform. The 31-year-old Tulsa resident didn’t know how warm of a welcome she would get from the Mrs. America judges when she started talking about losing her older brother to prescription drug overdose. The judges, however, heard Evans’ personal story of loss and decided that she should serve as Mrs. America 2015.
See also: Oklahoma’s biggest drug problem isn’t what you think from the OK Policy Blog.
About one-third of Oklahomans still haven’t filed a tax return
If you’re not done with your income taxes, you’re not alone. Nearly 1.2 million tax returns have been filed with the Oklahoma Tax Commission so far, and another 600,000 or so returns are expected, agency spokeswoman Paula Ross said Tuesday. Wednesday at midnight is the official deadline to have taxes filed, but professional procrastinators probably know there are a couple of ways to stretch that for a few days or more.
Quote of the Day
“The results of this study show us that the face of hunger may be closer than we think. Many of our neighbors seeking food assistance have jobs, raise families and want to stand on their own two feet, just like the rest of us. Too often, they are forced to make difficult decisions in order to keep food on the table.”
– Rodney Bivens, executive director of the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma, speaking about a new study by the food bank showing that 1 in 6 Oklahomans turn to food pantries and meal service programs to feed themselves and their families (Source)
Number of the Day
15.3
Number of black students per thousand who were referred to police and courts by schools in 2011-2012, far higher than the national average for black students (9.8) and about 3 times Oklahoma’s rate for white students (4.2) and Hispanic students (6.3).
Source: Center for Public Integrity.
See previous Numbers of the Day here.
Policy Note
Five things you should know this tax day
A new CTJ analysis based on 2015 tax rates reveals that when federal, state and local taxes are tallied, the share of taxes paid by Americans across the economic spectrum is roughly equivalent to their total share of income. Although the federal income tax is progressive, state and local tax systems are highly regressive. A recent report from the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP) found that the poorest 20 percent of Americans on average pay 10.9 percent of their income in state and local taxes, while the top 1 percent pay half as much, only 5.4 percent.
Read more from Citizens for Tax Justice.
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