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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 a Senate panel approved a bill that would limit how much Oklahoma can borrow by issuing bonds, even as legislators face a crumbling Capitol and other infrastructure needs that could cost hundreds of millions of dollars. Bills to end Oklahoma’s ban on the slaughter of horses for human consumption have passed the House and Senate. The Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals threw out a conspiracy charge against former Rep. Randy Terrill, R-Moore and former Sen. Debbe Leftwich but allowed bribery charges to go forward.
The OK Policy Blog examines how the Affordable Care Act fits into the gun control and mental health debate. David Blatt’s Journal Record column discusses the push for better education funding. A Senate panel approved a bill to have the State Department of Health conduct unannounced inspections of Oklahoma veterans centers. In an internal investigation, Chesapeake Energy Corp. absolved itself and outgoing CEO Aubrey McClendon of any wrongdoing, but the company is still being investigated by at least four federal and state agencies.
Oklahoma and Arkansas agreed to conduct a study of phosphorus pollution in the Illinois River, with both states agreeing to be bound by the outcome. The OU Daily writes that Oklahoma should eliminate the stigma attached to sex education and contraception. The Number of the Day is the number of jobs created by new businesses in Oklahoma. In today’s Policy Note, the Washington Post reports that Florida Gov. Rick Scott has joined six other Republican governors who are accepting federal dollars to extend Medicaid.
In The News
Oklahoma Senate panel approves debt limit
An Oklahoma state senator convinced an appropriations committee Wednesday that the state should amend its constitution to limit how much it can borrow by issuing bonds, even as legislators face a crumbling Capitol and other potential state projects that could cost hundreds of millions of dollars. The Senate Committee on Appropriations approved a proposal from Sen. Josh Brecheen, R-Coalgate, that would cap each year’s debt service payments, which are essentially interest payments to people who hold state bonds. In practice, Brecheen’s plan would put a limit on how many bonds the state could sell each year to fund major public projects.
Legislature passes bills allowing horse meat processing in Oklahoma
Two separate bills to end Oklahoma’s ban on the slaughter of horses for human consumption have sailed through the House and Senate. The state Senate passed a bill 38-6 Wednesday, while the House measure was approved on an 82-14 vote. Senate Bill 375 and House Bill 1999 repeal the section of Oklahoma law prohibiting the slaughter of horses for human consumption. With their passage, horse meat can now be produced and packaged in Oklahoma, only if it is to be exported internationally and only if the horses are sold through a livestock auction and purchased by a livestock dealer. The bills were proposed with the intention of cutting the number of abused and neglected horses across the state.
Court stops conspiracy count in lawmaker bribery case
The Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals on Wednesday rejected Oklahoma County prosecutors’ attempt to add a conspiracy count against two former state lawmakers already charged with bribery. The five-member court voted 4-1 to uphold Special Judge Stephen Alcorn’s November 2011 decision disallowing conspiracy charges against former Rep. Randy Terrill, R-Moore, and former Sen. Debbe Leftwich, D-Oklahoma City. Following a preliminary hearing, Alcorn rejected the conspiracy charge while ruling there was sufficient evidence to try them on felony bribery charges. Prosecutors appealed to file the conspiracy charges. Although Alcorn’s ruling was affirmed, District Attorney David Prater said the appellate court’s decision will allow his office to move forward in the bribery case.
Read more from the Muskogee Phoenix.
Where the Affordable Care Act fits into the gun control debate
Since the tragic shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School, the debate surrounding gun violence, gun control, and mental health has gained renewed prominence. Last month, President Obama laid out proposals to reduce gun violence which include increasing access to mental health services. The affordable access to these services has been a constant barrier to some Americans in need of treatment. Starting January of 2014, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) will help to reduce barriers to mental health services by increasing access to mental health benefits. Embracing the implementation of the ACA will be one solution to preventing another tragic mass shooting.
Read more from the OK Policy Blog.
Prosperity Policy: Education first
Last week, the president pro tem and appropriations chairman of the state Senate received an open letter calling for education to receive a substantial funding boost of $75 million to $100 million in next year’s budget. Letter writers said that while there are many competing budget needs, “in our judgment the education of the children of Oklahoma must be paramount.” This letter came from three high-ranking members of the Senate Republican caucus. Finance Committee Chairman Mike Mazzei, R-Bixby, joined the chairmen of two education committees, state Sens. John Ford, R-Bartlesville, and James Halligan, R-Stillwater, to urge that top priority be given to public school funding.
Read more from the Journal Record.
Oklahoma veterans centers could expect unannounced visits if bill becomes law
The Oklahoma State Department of Health would conduct unannounced inspections of the state’s seven veterans centers if a measure that cleared the Senate Appropriations Committee on Wednesday becomes law. The measure comes after reports of neglect and abuse at Oklahoma veterans centers and an interim legislative study on the issue. Senate Bill 629 by Sen. Frank Simpson, R-Ardmore, passed by a vote of 18-0 and now heads to the full Senate for consideration.
Read more from the Tulsa World.
Chesapeake internal investigation absolves itself and outgoing CEO Aubrey McClendon
Chesapeake Energy Corp. on Wednesday absolved itself and outgoing CEO Aubrey McClendon of any wrongdoing in dealings that raised allegations of shoddy governance at the Oklahoma City-based oil and natural gas company. The announcement likely will not mark the end of the scrutiny facing Chesapeake, which is being investigated by at least four federal and state agencies. Its board also faces more than a dozen breach of fiduciary duty lawsuits filed by shareholders. Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette will continue his inquiry into collusion allegations against Chesapeake and Canadian rival Encana Corp., even though both companies have cleared themselves in internal investigations.
Oklahoma, Arkansas agree on pact to study Illinois River
A group dedicated to protecting the Illinois River is expressing guarded optimism over a water-quality pact that was hammered out in secret between the states of Oklahoma and Arkansas. Officials with the Tahlequah-based group Save the Illinois River Inc. said that after discussing terms of the agreement with Attorney General Scott Pruitt and his staff on Tuesday, they believe that the pact will “protect Oklahoma’s interests in the Illinois River watershed. The agreement provides for a new “best science” study of the phosphorus load for the Illinois River with both states, for the first time, agreeing to be bound by the outcome, according a statement from Pruitt’s office.
Read more from the Tulsa World.
In shadow of CDC report, Oklahoma gets an F in reproductive justice
One in nine sexually experienced women aged 15 to 44 have used the emergency contraception pill, Plan B, from 2006 to 2010, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Women’s health advocates celebrate these findings, especially considering the decade-long battle with the federal government to make emergency contraception available over the counter for all women. While the CDC study didn’t break the numbers down by state, we have to wonder how Oklahoma women fit in, considering the state’s conservative policies. Oklahoma should require sex education in all public schools and make emergency contraception more accessible. The state must eliminate the stigma attached to sex education and contraception to empower women to take control of their reproductive rights.
Quote of the Day
The Supreme Court made its decision We had an election in the fall, and the public made their decision. Now the president’s health-care law is the law.
-Florida Gov. Rick Scott, a Republican, announcing that he would reverse his earlier position and accept federal funds to extend Medicaid.
Number of the Day
1,850
The number of jobs created by new businesses in Oklahoma in 2012, compared to 11,320 jobs added by existing businesses
Source: Oklahoma Department of Commerce
See previous Numbers of the Day here.
Policy Note
Affordable Care Act clears another hurdle toward implementation
President Obama’s Affordable Care Act cleared another hurdle toward implementation Wednesday when one of its fiercest opponents, Florida Gov. Rick Scott, embraced a key pillar of the law by voicing support for its critical Medicaid expansion component. Scott joins six other Republican governors who have recently come to back a provision meant to extend coverage to 17 million Americans nationwide. “I believe in a different approach,” Scott told reporters at a news conference Wednesday. “But it doesn’t matter what I believe. The Supreme Court made its decision We had an election in the fall, and the public made their decision. Now the president’s health-care law is the law.”
Read more from the Washington Post.
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