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Today In The News
Oklahoma Senate gives final OK to balanced budget convention: The Oklahoma Legislature has given final approval to a resolution formally asking Congress to call a national convention to consider adding a balanced budget amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The Senate voted 30-16 on Tuesday to approve the House-backed joint resolution despite concerns of some members that a national convention could be expanded to consider issues beyond the federal budget. The Florida-based Balanced Budget Amendment Task Force has targeted Oklahoma and six other statehouses this year to push the measure [KFOR]. We wrote last year that a convention could lead to far-reaching and radical changes to America’s time-tested constitution.
Budget crisis: Tulsa school board reduces 102 administrative positions: The Tulsa school board approved the elimination or defunding of 175 administrative positions and the creation of 73 new ones late Monday for a net reduction of 102 positions. It was the first time the Tulsa school board heard Superintendent Deborah Gist’s detailed proposal to reduce next year’s budget by reorganizing a host of administrative positions. “I recognize the decisions you have tonight affect people’s lives and services we provide to students,” Gist said [Tulsa World]. The Tulsa World Editorial Board wrote that the state is shirking its duty to fund schools. Deep cuts to school budgets are among the effects of our unprecedented budget crisis.
Gov. Mary Fallin signs bill clarifying court-ordered mental health treatment: Gov. Mary Fallin on Tuesday signed the Labor Commissioner Mark Costello Act, a new law that clarifies language regarding when a judge can court order an Oklahoman to outpatient mental health treatment. Under the new law, Oklahomans diagnosed with mental illnesses who have repeatedly been unable to follow their treatment plans could be court ordered to take their medicine, among other treatment options. It’s a process known as assisted outpatient treatment [NewsOK]. The Legislature is sending mixed signals on mental health and incarceration this year.
Tax incentives for Oklahoma wind farms are getting scrutiny: The ongoing state budget crisis and the rapid growth of wind energy in Oklahoma in the past decade has reached an inflection point at the state Capitol, with energy industry heavyweights debating the future of incentives for renewable energy. Both sides have dug in. Competing billboards dotting highways in Oklahoma City tout the benefits of wind energy or blast the cost of incentives to the state budget [NewsOK].
This program helps hungry kids and saves administrative costs, but participation lags in Oklahoma: Oklahoma is among the worst in the nation for uptake of a program that ensures low-income students have access to school meals, according to a new report. By not adopting this program, schools are passing up an effective way to reduce administrative costs while ensuring that more Oklahoma kids have reliable access to nutritious meals. The Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) allows high-poverty schools, groups of schools, or school districts to offer breakfast and lunch to all students at no charge [OK Policy].
Blue Cross official: Oklahoma lawmakers should increase tobacco tax: Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma (BCBSOK) is dedicated to the health and wellness of Oklahomans. Throughout our 76-year history, we have initiated and supported solutions for a healthier Oklahoma. Unfortunately, Oklahoma consistently scores low in the nation in terms of health rankings, and smoking greatly contributes to our poor health. As Oklahoma’s leading cause of preventable death, with a steady price tag estimated by the Oklahoma Turning Point Council (OTPC) to be $1.62 billion in annual health care costs, smoking is a costly problem that we must solve [Ted Haynes / NewsOK]. Health care workers pushed lawmakers for a cigarette tax hike at the Oklahoma Hospital Association’s annual advocacy day [Associated Press]. Increasing the cigarette tax is one of many balanced measures we recommend to address the budget emergency.
Gov. Mary Fallin signs bill clarifying court-ordered mental health treatment: Gov. Mary Fallin on Tuesday signed the Labor Commissioner Mark Costello Act, a new law that clarifies language regarding when a judge can court order an Oklahoman to outpatient mental health treatment. Under the new law, Oklahomans diagnosed with mental illnesses who have repeatedly been unable to follow their treatment plans could be court ordered to take their medicine, among other treatment options. It’s a process known as assisted outpatient treatment [NewsOK]. The Legislature is sending mixed signals on mental health and incarceration this year.
Inter-Tribal Council endorses ballot measures: The Inter-Tribal Council of the Five Civilized Tribes endorsed State Questions 780 and 781, two ballot initiatives related to changes in the criminal justice system. The ITC’s Resolution No. 16-12 calls for supporting State Questions 780 and 781 to “allow Oklahoma to invest tax dollars in local communities to rehabilitate citizens, which is a more effective approach to crime reduction and keeping communities safe” [Journal Record]. Oklahomans for Criminal Justice Reform, a coalition of state organizations that includes OK Policy, is collecting signatures to put the two state questions on the ballot this November.
Drama: Three vie to be next leader of Oklahoma Senate: Republican members of the Oklahoma Senate will gather this afternoon in Room 535 of the State Capitol to select a successor to President Pro Tempore Brian Bingman — the leader of the Legislature’s upper chamber. Bingman (R-Sapulpa) will be term-limited out of office this year, having held the Pro Temp position for the past six years after former Sen. Glenn Coffee was forced out via term limits. Multiple conversations with Republican senators helped paint a picture for NonDoc of how today’s proceedings — and what is at stake — might unfold [NonDoc].
Oklahoma lawmakers disagree on changes to judicial nominating panel: Lawmakers want to reduce the duties of a commission that has helped prevent judicial corruption for decades. But the House and the Senate disagree on specifics of the proposal. Each chamber has passed its own version of legislation to ask voters to revise the responsibilities of the Judicial Nominating Commission. It’s not clear whether they can agree on wording for a ballot measure [NewsOK].
Three New Energy Bills Signed into Law: Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin put her name to three more energy bills on Monday, creating new laws pertaining to underground facilities damage, the state plugging fund and solid waste disposal. The Underground Facilities Damage Prevention Act, better known as House Bill 1951 by Rep. Weldon Watson, R-Tulsa and Sen. A.J. Griffin, R-Guthrie updates the statutory citation and requires operators of underground facilities to participate in the statewide one-call notification center. It also removes language that allowed municipalities to opt out of participation [OK Energy Today].
Will readers pay for local news? A digital startup in Tulsa bets that they will: About 500 subscribers over the course of eight months: If your reference point is Facebook-fueled pageviews, or even a typical newspaper’s print circulation, it might not sound like a lot. But for the leaders of The Frontier, an investigative journalism startup in Tulsa, Oklahoma, that number is reason for encouragement—a sign that some people will spend real money on local news online, and that their unique business model may yet pay off [Columbia Journalism Review].
Oklahoma voters to decide on return of Ten Commandments: Oklahoma voters will decide in November whether to abolish an article of the state constitution so that a Ten Commandments monument can be returned to the Capitol grounds. The House has voted 65-7 for a resolution calling for a statewide vote on whether to remove a constitutional prohibition on the use of state funds to support a religion. The state Supreme Court relied on that section of the constitution in June when it ordered a 6-foot-tall granite Ten Commandments monument moved from the Capitol grounds [Associated Press].
Oklahoma City Council approves development fees for streets, parks: The Oklahoma City Council reached a deal Tuesday to offset costs of new development, agreeing to reduce proposed “impact” fees for streets and parks as part of a compromise that was expected to head off a legal fight with developers. The deal cuts proposed fees on new residential and commercial projects by nearly half [NewsOK].
Quote of the Day
“More and deeper cuts will follow if the state continues to ignore its school funding responsibilities. With each round of reductions, the cuts will be more painful and closer to the school district’s essential mission.”
-Tulsa World Editorial Board, writing on the continuing fallout of budget cuts at Tulsa Public Schools (Source)
Number of the Day
$3,412,858,517
Total retail sales for prescription drugs filled at Oklahoma pharmacies in 2015
Source: Kaiser Family Foundation
See previous Numbers of the Day here.
Policy Note
Beyond North Carolina’s LGBT Battle: States’ War on Cities: St. Louis can’t get a break from its own state. Last year, Missouri enacted a law preventing St. Louis and other cities from setting their own minimum-wage rates and from banning plastic grocery bags. This year, state lawmakers have spent a considerable amount of time debating whether to prohibit the city from taxing the income of its residents and workers. The state, which took control of the St. Louis police force during the Civil War, didn’t give it back until 2013, when it was forced to by a voter-approved ballot measure [Governing].
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