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Experts at an Economic Outlook Conference said Oklahoma’s economic growth Oklahoma in 2015 likely will go from bettering the nation to trailing it slightly, thanks to the slump in energy prices. The state’s General Revenue Fund collections in November flattened, dropping below last year’s revenue and the official estimate. The Justice Department released a memo implying that federal prosecutors will take a hands-off approach to prosecuting marijuana charges on any Indian lands when tribes vote to allow it, but an Oklahoma City U.S. Attorney said it will only apply in states that have already legalized marijuana.
A new “fracking scorecard” released by a coalition of shareholder advocates and environmental watchdogs found that major Oklahoma oil and gas companies are not being transparent about their fracking practices or their progress in reducing risks of the operations. Oklahoma City-based Continental Resources, Inc. was ranked last out of 30 major companies in the report with a score of ‘zero.’ You can read the full report here. In the Journal Record, Arnold Hamilton argued that Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt’s close collaboration with oil and gas companies to fight regulation of their industry has violated the spirit of his oath of office. Rep. Earl Sears says he will sponsor legislation that would put regulations on the wind industry in next year’s legislative session.
The Oklahoma Hospital Association president made the case to state lawmakers for why Oklahoma should accept federal funds to expand Insure Oklahoma. OK Policy previously discussed how the state’s negotiations with the federal government over Insure Oklahoma can pave the way for this long-term solution. There have 16,219 new Soonercare enrollees in the past six months. Monday is the last day to sign up for new individual coverage through the federal health insurance marketplace in order to be covered on Jan. 1, but Oklahomans can continue to sign up through Feb. 15. The Oklahoma Department of Health says influenza has taken the lives of two people in the state. OK Policy previously discussed why everyone should get a flu shot.
A federal judge denied the state’s request for a broad protective order to conceal information and block testimony in a lawsuit filed by Oklahoma death row inmates. On the OK Policy Blog, we look at who’s on the new leadership team appointed by House Speaker Jeff Hickman. Members of the State Capitol Repair Expenditure Oversight Committee asked the Legislature to delay the due date of its final plan by six months. Oklahoma County District Judge Bernard Jones said he would not overturn the results of Locust Grove’s contested 20-19 win over Douglass in 3A high school football quarterfinals.
Oklahoma’s drought continued to spread this week, and some parts of the state have gone more than a month without substantial rain. StateImpact Oklahoma reported that expanding residential development has increased the risks associated with dam failures, but the state has put little funding into safety efforts. The Number of the Day is how many babies were born to women incarcerated in Mabel Basset Correctional Center in 2013. In today’s Policy Note, PBS reported that domestic violence is as prevalent an issue among college students as sexual assault.
In The News
Oklahoma’s growth could trail nation in 2015
Economic growth in Tulsa and Oklahoma in 2015 likely will go from bettering the nation to trailing it slightly, thanks to the slump in energy prices. That’s the prediction offered by experts Thursday at the annual Economic Outlook Conference, sponsored by the Tulsa Regional Chamber and Oklahoma State University. the 2.2 percent expansion expected not long ago for the state in 2015 more realistically will turn out to be 1.6 percent to 1.8 percent, OSU economist Dan Rickman said.
Read more from the Tulsa World.
General Revenue Fund Collections Drop Below Prior Year, Report Estimates
General Revenue Fund collections in November flattened, dropping below prior year receipts and the official estimate, Secretary of Finance, Administration and Information Services Preston Doerflinger reported Thursday. According to Doerflinger’s report, November General Revenue Fund collections of $382.5 million were $0.6 million, or 0.2 percent, below prior year collections and $2.2 million, or 0.6 percent, below the official estimate upon which the FY2015 appropriated state budget is based.
No pot sales for Oklahoma tribes, official says
Oklahoma City U.S. Attorney Sanford C. Coats said Thursday that the U.S. Justice Department is not opening the door for the sale and cultivation of marijuana on Oklahoma Indian lands. The Justice Department released a memorandum Thursday that some are interpreting to mean that federal prosecutors will take a hands-off approach to prosecuting marijuana sale and cultivation charges on any Indian lands when tribes vote to allow it.
Oklahoma energy firms score badly in fracking report card
A new “fracking scorecard” on 30 of the nation’s major oil and gas companies, including those from Oklahoma shows only a handful, according to environmental groups, have improved their standing in analyzing whether they report their fracking practices and progress in reducing risks of the operations. Four majors from Oklahoma, Chesapeake Energy, Devon Energy, WPX Energy and Continental Resources rank in the middle to lower half of the 2014 scorecard issued by four environmental activist groups.
Read more from OK Energy Today.
Who is Pruitt’s puppeteer?
Attorney General Scott Pruitt is one clever politician. Caught in a breathtaking ethical lapse, Pruitt responded to Sunday’s New York Times expose by avoiding specifics and depicting himself as a valiant soldier in the war against federal overreach. Then, with the Times’ story still smoldering, he leapt back into the headlines with what he undoubtedly calculated to be more favorable in-state publicity: He charged an abortion doctor with fraud and signed Oklahoma onto a multistate lawsuit against President Barack Obama over immigration policy.
Read more from the Journal Record.
Legislator to offer bill for regulating wind farms
Rep. Earl Sears says he will sponsor legislation that would put regulations on the wind industry. Sears, R-Bartlesville, is the incoming chairman of the House Appropriations and Budget Committee. He said the proposed regulations will contain three key elements: siting and setbacks regarding location of wind farms; decommissioning; and public hearings that would allow residents of communities near planned wind farm projects to express their views.
Read more from the Tulsa World.
Hospital official seeks expansion of Insure Oklahoma eligibility
Oklahoma leaders should consider expanding Insure Oklahoma, which thousands of Oklahomans use to afford insurance, to include more low-income adults, a hospital official told state health officials Thursday. Craig Jones, the Oklahoma Hospital Association president, said at Thursday’s Oklahoma Health Care Authority meeting that state leaders should consider increasing Insure Oklahoma’s eligibility limits, using federal money that would have gone to Medicaid expansion.
See also: Insure Oklahoma extension paves way for longer-term solution from the OK Policy Blog.
SoonerCare Department Tackles Complex Health Issues
Overall enrollment in SoonerCare programs increased in October, Population Care Management Director Marlene Asmussen said Thursday during a meeting of the Oklahoma Health Care Authority board. The net enrollee count change from the previous month was 842. There are 16,219 new enrollees – members that have not been enrolled in the past six months.
Monday is last day to get health insurance before start of year
Monday is an important deadline for people seeking health insurance through the Affordable Care Act’s exchange, but it is not THE deadline. Monday is the last day to sign up for new individual coverage through the federal health insurance marketplace in order to be covered on Jan. 1. The sign-up period continues, however, through Feb. 15. That’s the latest date to enroll in an approved plan without being subject to penalties stemming from the ACA’s coverage mandates.
Read more from the Tulsa World.
Oklahoma health officials record first flu deaths of the season
The Oklahoma Department of Health says influenza has taken the lives of two people in the state. Health officials said Thursday the flu-related deaths are the first recorded during the flu season that began on Sept. 28. One was a resident of Carter County and the other a resident of Oklahoma County.
Read more from the Tulsa World.
See also: Go get your flu shot. Yes, you. Now. from the OK Policy Blog.
Death row inmates’ lawsuit: Judge denies Oklahoma officials’ request for protective order
A federal judge on Wednesday denied the state’s request for a broad protective order to conceal information and block testimony in a lawsuit filed by Oklahoma death row inmates. The Attorney General’s Office filed a motion this week requesting a protective order to prevent the inmates’ attorneys from “inquiring into matters protected by the attorney-client privilege and work-product” doctrine.
Read more from the Tulsa World.
A look at the new House leadership team
House Speaker Jeff Hickman began naming leadership positions last week. The top leadership position named directly by the Speaker is the Majority Floor Leader who is usually considered his right hand person. From the standpoint of actual power, floor leader is the number two position in the House.
Read more from the OK Policy Blog.
Repair Oversight Committee Seeks Delay For Final Plan
Members of the State Capitol Repair Expenditure Oversight Committee voted Thursday to ask the Legislature to delay the due date of its final plan by six months. Office of Management and Enterprise Services Capitol Restoration Project Manager Trait Thompson said the extension will allow the vendor that will be selected to do the Capitol’s interior work more time to investigate what needs to be done to the building and to develop more accurate cost estimates.
Oklahoma judge rules against replaying Douglass-Locust Grove game
OKC Douglass apparently will not appeal a judge’s ruling that puts the Trojans out of the Class 3A football playoffs. On Thursday morning, Oklahoma County District Judge Bernard Jones said he would not overturn the results of Locust Grove’s contested 20-19 win over the Trojans in the 3A quarterfinals on Nov. 28.
Read more from the Tulsa World.
Oklahoma’s drought continues to worsen, but weekend rains could help improve conditions
Oklahoma’s drought continued to spread this week, and some parts of the state have gone more than a month without substantial rain. The situation could change this weekend. Forecasters predict most of the state will receive rain, with totals of an inch or more in certain areas.
Risk Associated With Dam Failures Grows in Oklahoma, But Safety Funding Lags
Oklahoma has nearly 5,000 dams, more than most other states. When they were built, they were classified based on the risk their failure would pose to people and property. But for many dams, it’s been decades since that risk was evaluated, and the potential hazard has changed because Oklahoma has changed. There are houses, roads and people where there weren’t before.
Quote of the Day
“Public controversy about fracking will continue unless companies can prove that they are actively working to reduce toxic chemical use, water consumption, methane leakage and the other negative impacts of fracking that damage the environment and local communities.”
-Lucia von Reusner, shareholder advocate for Green Century Capital Management, speaking about a new report which found that oil and gas companies across the industry, including major firms in Oklahoma, are relying on sweeping statements that fracking is safe while still failing to provide the data to demonstrate improved practices (Source: http://bit.ly/1AqxibN)
Number of the Day
24
Number of babies born to women incarcerated in Mabel Basset Correctional Center in 2013.
Source: Oklahoma Department of Corrections.
See previous Numbers of the Day here.
Policy Note
Domestic violence as prevalent for college students as sexual assault
On Black Friday, Nadia Ezaldein, a University of Chicago student, was working at a Chicago Nordstrom when her ex-boyfriend entered the store, found her in the accessories department, and shot her to death. It was her 22nd birthday. A day earlier, on Thanksgiving, Shannon Jones, a student at Cornell University, was allegedly strangled to death by her boyfriend during an argument. Police described the murder as a “domestic incident.” The two cases are not the only abusive relationships to end in the death of a college student in recent months.
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