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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.
Gay and lesbian couples began marrying in Oklahoma after a surprise announcement from the U.S. Supreme Court that could quickly expand same-sex marriage to nearly two-thirds of the states. Among the first to get married were two Tulsa women who filed the lawsuit against Oklahoma’s same-sex marriage ban nearly ten years ago. SCOTUSBlog examined the implications of the Supreme Court’s action across the country.
Oklahoma Treasurer Ken Miller says Oklahoma’s gross revenue collections in September grew by more than 8 percent over receipts from the same month last year and that the growth was the highest monthly growth rate since April 2013. Gross revenue is everything the state brings in before paying back tax refunds and diverting revenue to mandatory programs. Treasurer Miller argued against an idea suggested by both Gov. Fallin and her challenger Rep. Joe Dorman to move Oklahoma to a two-year budget.
On the OK Policy Blog, we discussed warning signs that state leaders may overreact to a recent killing in Moore in ways that harm all of us. Curtis McCarty, who spent 19 years on Oklahoma’s death row before being exonerated by DNA evidence, spoke with Wichita Public Radio about his wrongful conviction and life behind bars.
Flu season is beginning and health officials recommend everyone older than 6 months get the flu vaccine. Debates and forums involving candidates for U.S. Senate, state superintendent of public instruction and Tulsa County district judge will be held this evening. The Together Tuesday tour by Together Oklahoma, a coalition led by OK Policy, is coming to Woodward this evening. The tour is a series of forums on the state of democracy in Oklahoma and how we can develop a state budget and tax system that better reflects our values. The City of Duncan, which is already facing a severe drought, is now dealing with contamination of its drinking water that violates federal standards.
The Number of the Day is the number of endangered species in Oklahoma. In today’s Policy Note, John Oliver offers a revealing look at civil forfeitures, a process which allows state and federal government to seize individuals’ property without convicting them of a crime.
In The News
Same-sex marriage now is legal in Oklahoma
Gay and lesbian couples began marrying in Oklahoma on Monday after a surprise announcement from the U.S. Supreme Court that could quickly expand same-sex marriage to nearly two-thirds of the states. Mary Bishop and Sharon Baldwin, of Tulsa County, who challenged Oklahoma’s same-sex marriage ban just after it was passed overwhelmingly by state voters a decade ago, were among the first to get a license and wed. In Oklahoma City, male and female couples headed to the courthouse and the altar. In the more rural Garfield County, a male couple got a license at the courthouse in Enid.
See also: Plaintiffs in Oklahoma’s same-sex marriage lawsuit marry after nearly decade-long struggle from the Tulsa World; Many more same-sex marriages soon, but where? from SCOTUSblog
Oklahoma revenue reaches new heights in September
Oklahoma Treasurer Ken Miller says state revenue collections in September grew by more than 8 percent over receipts from the same month last year and that the growth was the highest monthly growth rate since April 2013. September gross receipts topped $1 billion, and are more than $80 million, or 8.2 percent, higher than collections in September 2013. Gross receipts from the last 12 months pushed further into record high territory, surpassing $11.9 billion at a growth rate of more than 5 percent.
Oklahoma treasurer finds fault with two-year budget idea of Gov. Mary Fallin and her opponent, Joe Dorman
At their debate last week, Gov. Mary Fallin and her Democratic opponent, Joe Dorman, had a rare moment of agreement in their opinion that the Oklahoma Legislature should set the state’s budget on a two-year cycle, instead of the current annual basis. Monday, state Treasurer Ken Miller, who holds a doctorate in economics, called that a really bad idea. “I’m completely against going to a two-year budget,” Miller said in his monthly news conference. “With the volatility of our revenue sources, that would be very difficult to do.”
Don’t let fear make us dumb
Recently a terrible crime has made the headlines in Oklahoma. Shortly after being fired from a food processing plant in Moore, Alton Nolen attacked two of his co-workers with a knife, beheading one and seriously injuring another. The details of the crime are awful, and the perpetrator should be punished to the full extent of the law. However, our reaction to this incident could have repercussions far beyond Alton Nolen, his victims, and their families. There are already signs that state leaders may overreact in ways that harm all of us.
Read more from the OK Policy Blog.
Capital Punishment in Kansas and Memories From an Oklahoma Death Row Exoneree
Oklahoma death row exoneree Curtis McCarty recently sat down with Wichita Public Radio to discuss his wrongful conviction and life behind bars for a segment that focused on capital punishment in Kansas. Despite capital punishment being legal in the state, Kansas hasn’t executed an inmate since 1965. In 1972, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the death penalty was unconstitutional. Four years later, the high court reversed the ruling and allowed states to carry out executions under certain guidelines. Since Kansas reinstated the death penalty a decade ago, there have since been 85 charges of capital murder and 13 convictions, nine of which still stand.
Read more from the Innocence Project.
Shots recommended as flu season starts
Flu season is beginning and health officials recommend everyone older than 6 months get the flu vaccine. Local doctors have not yet reported many cases of flu, but it is expected to ramp up in the coming months. There is no way to know yet how severe flu will be this year, said Nicole Schlaefli, epidemiologist with the Tulsa Health Department. “At this point we don’t know what kind of season we’re going to have,” she said.
Read more from the Tulsa World.
Three debates scheduled for Tuesday night
Debates and forums involving candidates for U.S. Senate, state superintendent of public instruction and Tulsa County district judge will be held Tuesday evening. Democrat Connie Johnson and Republican James Lankford will square off for the only time in their race for U.S. Senate at 7 p.m. at Oklahoma State University’s Student Union Theater. The debate is not televised but will be streamed live at ostate.tv.
Read more from the Tulsa World.
Together Oklahoma Tour coming to Woodward
Is democracy broken in Oklahoma? Our state is far too often ranked near the bottom for participation in the political process and the health and well-being of Oklahomans. How do we develop a state budget that reflects our priorities and a tax system that allows us to meet our needs? What’s holding Oklahomans back, and how can we fix it? That’s the focus of this fall’s Together Tuesdays statewide tour sponsored by the Together Oklahoma coalition.
Drought leads to contamination in Duncan’s water supply
If you’re spending time in Duncan soon, consider packing bottled water. Officials notified residents that the city’s drinking water had violated federal purity standards. City officials say the problem is the result of a prolonged drought that has left city reservoirs several feet below normal. Results of water quality tests in Duncan between July 2013 and July 2014 showed elevated levels of trihalomethanes, a type of contaminant that appears as a byproduct when water is chlorinated. Although the contaminant levels exceeded standards set by the federal Environmental Protection Agency, the city’s water is safe to drink for most people, said Scott Vaughn, the city’s public works director.
Quote of the Day
“The first thing I thought was ‘Yay.’ The second thought I had was ‘We have so much to do!’”
– Mary Bishop, one of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit that resulted in the legalization of same-sex marriage in Oklahoma, who married her long-time partner yesterday after judges ended a stay on the ruling (Source: http://bit.ly/1EoT5Vn)
Number of the Day
22
Number of threatened or endangered species in Oklahoma.
Source: Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation.
See previous Numbers of the Day here.
Policy Note
John Oliver Amplifies the Absurdity of Civil Forfeitures
In the latest episode of HBO’s Last Week Tonight, John Oliver offers a revealing and horrifying look at civil forfeitures, a process which allows state and federal government to seize individuals’ property without convicting them of a crime. “Public trust in the police is one of the most vital elements in a civilized society,” Oliver says. “But for many Americans, that trust has been undermined.” Oliver references a September report from The Washington Post, which states that, since 9/11, police have seized $2.5 billion in 61,998 cash seizures from people “who were not charged with a crime.” “Under civil forfeiture laws, your property is guilty until you prove it innocent,” says Scott Bullock, senior attorney for Institute for Justice.
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