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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.
Voter turnout in Oklahoma’s election Tuesday was possibly the lowest on record in a state gubernatorial election, according to an analysis of state voting data by Oklahoma Watch. Ervin Yen, the newly elected State Senator for District 40, will become the first Asian-American in the Oklahoma state legislature. David Blatt’s Journal Record column suggests an agenda for Gov. Mary Fallin’s second term, following a reelection campaign in which she said almost nothing about what she would do. Oklahoma’s Congressional delegation said they are ready to work with President Barack Obama on issues such as road building, the Keystone pipeline, foreign trade, financial reform and U.S. military actions in Syria.
A group home for juvenile offenders in Custer County will close after four years because runaways are causing concerns in the community. The deadline for a threatened takeover of the Oklahoma County jail passed Wednesday without a word from the U.S. Department of Justice. A 2009 agreement had given the jail five years to make changes to end civil rights abuses. Oklahoma’s Secretary of Veterans Affairs Rita Aragon suffered a “mini stroke” Tuesday and has been hospitalized. Oklahoma’s state treasurer says falling crude oil prices could darken an otherwise bright revenue picture for the state.
On the OK Policy Blog, we discussed why Oklahomans should get flu shots. Now that the election’s over, Tulsa’s Metropolitan Environmental Trust Director Michael Patton discussed the best way to dispose of campaign signs. OK Policy’s David Blatt will be among the honorees at the inaugural Dan Allen Social Justice Awards tonight. The city of Denton, Texas voted to ban fracking on Tuesday due to concerns about pollution of drinking water, but a state agency is attempting to override the ban.
The Number of the Day is the average amount of money saved, in medical expenses and lost productivity, for each suicide prevented in Oklahoma. In today’s Policy Note, the New York Times reports that only 11 percent of uninsured Americans know about the Affordable Care Act’s next open enrollment period beginning November 15.
In The News
Oklahoma Voter Turnout May Be Lowest Recorded
Voter turnout in Oklahoma’s election Tuesday was possibly the lowest on record in a state gubernatorial election, according to an analysis of state voting data by Oklahoma Watch. Statewide, 40.7 percent of registered voters showed up, the lowest recorded rate since 1962. Oklahoma started tracking voter registration at the state level in 1960.
Read more from Oklahoma Watch.
First Asian-American Elected To Oklahoma Legislature
The winner of the State Senate District 40 seat made history Tuesday night. Ervin Yen is believed to be the first Asian-American in the Oklahoma state legislature. Yen, a Republican won the open seat with 54% of the vote. “I did not do this to be the first Asian-American in the State Legislature, but I think it’s huge,” said Yen on Wednesday. “My parents have both passed away, but I think they would be very, very proud.”
Four more years – for what?
As expected, Oklahoma voters have re-elected Gov. Mary Fallin to a second term. Backed by a strong Republican majority in the Legislature, the governor will have another four years to put her policies in place. Yet even those voters who were paying attention during the campaign can be forgiven for lacking a clear sense of the governor’s second-term agenda. Last month, the Tulsa World provided Fallin space for 600 words to make the case for her re-election. She wrote at length in praise of her accomplishments in her first term and against her opponent’s policies. Yet she devoted just one sentence to the future, promising to invest more in education.
Read more from the Journal Record.
Oklahoma Republicans say they are ready to work with President Obama
Oklahoma Republicans said Wednesday they are ready to work with President Barack Obama on issues such as road building, the Keystone pipeline, foreign trade, financial reform and U.S. military actions in Syria. The question, they said, is how far the president will move toward their positions. A day after Republicans captured the majority of the U.S. Senate, giving them control of both houses of Congress, Oklahoma lawmakers expressed optimism that Washington gridlock could be broken, at least for a few months next year.
Oklahoma juvenile offender group home to close
A group home for juvenile offenders will close after four years because runaways are causing concerns in the community, the president of Southwestern Oklahoma State University said. The Butler Skills Development Center in Custer County is one of four such residential facilities overseen by the university through agreements with the Office of Juvenile Affairs, SWOSU President Randy Beutler said. The Butler facility houses 16 males ages 16 to 18 and provides them general education and skills training in welding, he said.
U.S. Justice Department deadline passes, no word on possible federal takeover of Oklahoma County jail
Did the feds blink? The deadline for a threatened takeover of the Oklahoma County jail passed Wednesday without a word from the U.S. Department of Justice. In 2003, the department began investigating jail conditions for civil rights violations. A “memorandum of understanding” followed in 2009. The document gave county officials five years to make about 60 changes to operations, training, and mental health and medical services. The federal investigation detailed excessive inmate-on-inmate violence and use of force by jail staff, an unsanitary kitchen with birds and insects, lack of clothing and showers, and fire hazards. Investigators said the jail provided virtually no mental health treatment.
State VA Secretary Suffers ‘Mini-Stroke’
Oklahoma’s Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Rita Aragon, suffered a “mini stroke” Tuesday, a spokesman for Gov. Mary Fallin confirmed Wednesday afternoon. Aragon, who has served as state VA Secretary for four years, has been hospitalized due to the health issue, Alex Weintz, Fallin’s Director of Communications, said. “They are still doing tests,” Weintz said. “Governor Fallin has visited her in the hospital and is in communication with her family to monitor her progress.”
Read more from Oklahoma Watch.
Oklahoma Treasurer Says Revenue Grew In October But Oil & Gas Revenues Lagging
Oklahoma’s state treasurer says falling crude oil prices could darken an otherwise bright revenue picture for the state. Treasurer Ken Miller said Wednesday that state revenue was up almost 4 percent in October compared to the same month a year ago. Revenue during the past 12 months shows growth of almost 5 percent.
Go get your flu shot. Yes, you. Now.
What’s highly contagious, put over 1,000 people in the hospital and killed nearly 60 people in Oklahoma last year alone? It’s certainly not Ebola. It is, in fact, the flu – and flu season is upon us. The state recently announced its first confirmed cases this year. That means it’s time for your reminder that the flu is easily transmitted, miserably uncomfortable at best, and deadly at worst.
Read more from the OK Policy Blog.
Recycle Those Campaign Signs the Right Way
Now that the election is over, it’s time to get rid of all those campaign signs. Metropolitan Environmental Trust Director Michael Patton said don’t put them in your recycling cart, though. “The metal wires really mess up the automated sorting equipment, so clearly, do not put them in the blue bins,” Patton said. “You can bring them to any of the M.e.t. centers, we’re open seven days a week. We recycle the paper, the plastic and the metal.”
Read more from Public Radio Tulsa.
David Blatt to be honored with Dan Allen Social Justice Award
The event is at the Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma in Tulsa, and seating is limited. There are five honorees. Father Bill Skeehan will be recognized for his lifelong commitment to justice for all; the Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma and director Eileen Bradshaw, for their services to needy families and David Blatt, executive director of the Oklahoma Policy Institute, for his work educating Oklahomans about social justice issues.
Texas moves to challenge Denton fracking ban
A State agency moved quickly the day after election day in Texas following the voter-approved fracking ban in the north Texas city of Denton and filed court action to stop implementation of the ban. The General Land Office went to District Court seeking an injunction. Opponents of the ban fear there could be a domino effect in oil and gas rich Texas. But they also contend the city of Denton didn’t have the power to ban further hydraulic fracturing. He says the courts have to give an authoritative answer as quickly as possible. The city of Denton sits atop a natural gas reserve but environmentalists and some residents who initiated a petition drive for the city vote contend the fracking is endangering and polluting their drinking water.
Read more from OK Energy Today.
Quote of the Day
“We encourage people to clean up the town. There’s a lot of campaign signs this time, and, you know, they’re ugly. We call them ‘litter on a stick’.”
– Metropolitan Environmental Trust Director Michael Patton, urging Tulsans to bring their campaign yard signs to any of the M.e.t.’s recycling centers post-election (Source: bit.ly/1qqCVBw)
Number of the Day
$1,097,763
The average amount of money saved, in medical expenses and lost productivity, for each suicide prevented in Oklahoma.
Source: State of the State’s Heathcare 2014.
See previous Numbers of the Day here.
Policy Note
Only 11 Percent of Uninsured Know About Obamacare’s Next Open Enrollment
This year, the big challenge for officials behind the Affordable Care Act may not be making the website work but getting customers to come shop in the first place. A new survey of people without health insurance highlights the challenge: It found that 89 percent of the people surveyed were unaware that open enrollment begins in November, or any time soon. That’s a big deal because, unlike last year, the enrollment period for marketplace plans is only three months long. Most people who want to buy policies on new state marketplaces need to pick their plan between Nov. 15 and Feb. 15, or they’ll have to wait another year.
Read more from the New York Times.
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