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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 state revenue collections dipped in August when compared to the same month a year ago, mainly due to a dramatic drop in revenue from oil and gas production. A state prison official is organizing a pilot program to use inmate labor to harvest Eastern red cedar trees. An editorial in The Oklahoman warns that graduating more college students is critical to economic growth.
State Senator Judy Eason-McIntyre made an emotional appeal to state party members, accusing the organization of ignoring and under appreciating African-American activists. Governor Mary Fallin appealed to the federal government for more funding to help Oklahoma families in need after devastating wildfires.
The Lieutenant Governor met with business leaders in Durant to discuss regional economic development issues. A record number of Oklahoma high school students took the ACT this year, and officials say a state program for student planning and assessment may have contributed to the increase. The League of Women Voters of Oklahoma is sponsoring a public forum on education next Saturday.
In today’s Policy Note, the New England Journal of Medicine disputes the claim that Medicare and Medicaid spending are ‘out of control.’ The Number of the Day is the increase in profits this year for Oklahoma banks, compared to the previous year.
In The News
Oil, gas revenue putting drag on Okla. collections
Overall collections by the state treasury dipped in August when compared to the same month a year ago, mainly because of a dramatic drop in revenue from oil and gas production, Oklahoma Treasurer Ken Miller said Thursday. Figures show that, for the third time in the last six months, collections fell below those of the prior year. “As with the two prior negative months, markedly lower gross production tax collections are the primary cause,” Miller said.
Read more from the Muskogee Phoenix at http://muskogeephoenix.com/statenews/x72171322/Oil-gas-revenue-putting-drag-on-Okla-collections
Oklahoma legislators look at using inmates to harvest creeping menace: Eastern red cedar trees
A state prison official said Thursday the agency could put together a pilot program in which minimum security inmates would be used to harvest invasive Eastern red cedar trees, but received no assurances from a legislative panel that new funding would be available to pay for it. Rep. Steve Martin, chairman of the House of Representatives Public Safety Committee, said the Corrections Department likely would have to work with other agencies to find existing funds to pay for the pilot program. “It’s hard to get new money,” said Martin, R-Bartlesville.
Status quo approach won’t help Oklahoma shrink education gap
For years, there’s been talk and plans put in place to increase the number of college graduates in Oklahoma. But that’s not the only takeaway from this report or recent comments from a visiting speaker who talked about education as an economic growth tool. If Oklahoma continues to lag behind the nation in educational attainment, the struggle to grow our state’s economy will only get more difficult. Employers aren’t as likely to relocate or plan growth in a state without an adequate supply of highly educated workers.
Read more from NewsOK at http://newsok.com/status-quo-approach-wont-help-oklahoma-shrink-education-gap/article/3707464#ixzz25miP5mf5
Oklahoma Democrats faulted for treatment of blacks in state party
With four other black members of the Oklahoma Legislature standing silently behind her in a food tent at the state delegation’s hotel, Eason-McIntyre said there was “an invisible ceiling for African-Americans who have been the backbone of the Democratic Party.” She said the Oklahoma Democratic Party “has always asked us to be the workhorses,” but has not reciprocated in promoting blacks for leadership positions within the party or as candidates for higher office. Oklahoma Democratic Party Chairman Wallace Collins said after the speech that he was blindsided by the criticism and had worked hard to engage blacks. Collins has been chairman for the past year.
Read more from NewsOK at http://newsok.com/oklahoma-democrats-faulted-for-treatment-of-blacks-in-state-party/article/3707490#ixzz25mnASzl8
Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin appeals FEMA for more federal funding after wildfires
Gov. Mary Fallin formally appealed FEMA for more funding Thursday in the wake of the devastating wildfires that spread through much of Oklahoma earlier this summer. Fallin called for the agency to grant relief to victims in Cleveland, Oklahoma and Payne counties, a complaint the governor voiced since FEMA’s announcement of $3 million in Creek County donations in August. “Regardless of the county, those with wildfire damage to their homes or businesses should reach out to FEMA and report their losses,” Fallin said after receiving the news. “Doing so will help to support the case for additional federal assistance for the many Oklahoma families in need.”
Read more from KJRH at http://www.kjrh.com/dpp/news/state/oklahoma-governor-mary-fallin-appeals-fema-for-more-federal-funding-after-wildfires#ixzz25mphjZ7B
Business summit gathers ideas for legislation
Oklahoma’s Lieutenant Governor Todd Lamb led a Small Business & Small Manufacturer Regional Summit in Durant on Wednesday. The summit was the third of a six-summit campaign that Lamb along with the State Chamber, the Oklahoma Department of Commerce and the Oklahoma Manufacturing Alliance is hosting. Owners and management from small businesses and manufacturers gathered to discuss the top five issues impeding their growth in the region.
Read more from the Durant Daily Democrat http://www.durantdemocrat.com/view/full_story/20056916/article-Business-summit-gathers-ideas-for-legislation?instance=popular
Oklahoma program may have contributed to record number of ACT test-takers, official says
A record number of Oklahoma high school students took the ACT this year, and officials with the state’s higher education system think a state program may have contributed to the increase. State officials released Oklahoma high schools’ 2012 ACT scores August 29. Data showed 29,342 graduating high school seniors took the college entrance exam in 2012 — about 80 percent of the state’s seniors.
Read more from NewsOK at http://newsok.com/oklahoma-program-may-have-contributed-to-record-number-of-act-test-takers-official-says/article/3707550#ixzz25moIa6aV
Upcoming Event: Public Education in Oklahoma – Return on Investment
The League of Women Voters of Oklahoma is sponsoring a public education forum on Saturday, September 15th in Tulsa. The event will begin a citizen’s dialogue regarding Oklahoma’s public education system and its economic impact on the state’s future. Attendees will hear and discuss information and opinions from informed speakers and develop advocacy goals for public education. Speakers include Arnold Hamilton (Editor, Oklahoma Observer), David Blatt (Director, Oklahoma Policy Institute), Leigh Goodson (Tulsa School Board), Nancy McDonald (Retired Educator/Administrator), Dana Weber (President and CEO of Webco). Presenters will address the state of public education in Oklahoma, the importance of quality education to the state’s economy, and issues of poverty and diversity.
Read more from the OKPolicy Blog at https://okpolicy.org/upcoming-event-public-education-in-oklahoma-return-on-investment/
Quote of the Day
Woody Guthrie was a fine man. Will Rogers is a fine man. But where was Clara Luper? Where was Ralph Ellison?
State Sen. Judy Eason-McIntyre, in an emotional appeal to state Democratic party members, accusing the organization of ignoring and underappreciating African-American activists
Number of the Day
20 percent
Percentage increase in profits this year for Oklahoma banks, compared to the previous year.
See previous Numbers of the Day here.
Policy Note
Medicare and Medicaid Spending Trends and the Deficit Debate
Historically, U.S. health care spending has grown at rates exceeding the economy’s growth rate, often by at least 2 percentage points per year. It has therefore grown as a share of the gross domestic product (GDP), and proposals for reducing spending growth in Medicare and Medicaid have become prominent parts of the debate over the federal deficit. A commonly cited goal of such proposals is to reduce the spending growth rate to roughly the GDP growth rate.
Read more from the New England Journal of Medicine at http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp1204899
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