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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.
The U.S. Supreme Court declined to consider Oklahoma’s case against Affordable Care Act subsidies as part of the justices’ review of the issue. Attorney General Scott Pruitt’s office filed for stays of all of the state’s scheduled executions, pending a decision from the U.S. Supreme Court on the constitutionality of Oklahoma’s lethal drug cocktail. New State Superintendent Joy Hofmeister unveiled a new five-year plan to give Oklahoma teachers a $5,000 pay raise over the next five years, along with an additional five days of instruction to the school year.
In the Tulsa World, op-eds by a mental health professional and the head of the Oklahoma Health Care Authority make the case for why mental health and Medicaid should be higher state budget priorities. NewsOK examined nine bills that seek to boost voter turnout and encourage more competitive elections in Oklahoma. OK Policy discussed several of these ideas in our report on repairing Oklahoma’s broken democracy. On the OK Policy Blog, David Blatt warns about a proposal that could lead to far-reaching and radical changes to America’s time-tested constitution that is being pushed in states across the country this year.
The power of local communities to regulate oil and natural gas activities inside their city limits could be curtailed under several bills introduced at the Oklahoma Legislature. A gay-rights group vowed to fight back against a number of Oklahoma bills they feel target their members. While some law enforcement agencies in the state are rolling out or testing body cameras worn by their officers, numerous problems have the Tulsa Police Department years behind on an order to put a camera in every patrol vehicle.
Gov. Mary Fallin expressed confidence Monday in Preston Doerflinger and plans to keep him as her Cabinet secretary of finance despite his arrest Thursday night. State hospitals are reporting an increasing number of newborns who tested positive for drugs or alcohol at birth, according to the Oklahoma Department of Human Services. As many as 2,000 Oklahomans are expected to receive free dental care at the Oklahoma Mission of Mercy event in downtown Tulsa next month.
The U.S. Drought Monitor says more than 1.8 million Oklahomans are being affected by an ongoing, deepening drought. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has awarded more than $7.8 million in grants to 72 homeless housing and service programs in Oklahoma. The Number of the Day is the average number of autopsies per staff member per year performed by the Oklahoma Medical Examiners office in 2014, nearly double the recommended average of 250. In today’s Policy Note, Northwest Public Radio examines how local jails have ended human contact between inmates and visitors and allowed a private company to charge family members to do video calls with their loved ones.
In The News
High court declines to review Oklahoma case against Affordable Care Act
The U.S. Supreme Court declined on Monday to consider Oklahoma’s case against Affordable Care Act subsidies as part of the justices’ review of the issue. Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt had asked the court to pair the state’s case with one from Virginia. In that case, a federal appeals court ruled that the health insurance law allowed the U.S. government to subsidize insurance policies purchased on federal exchanges.
Attorney general asks to stay all scheduled Oklahoma executions
Attorney General Scott Pruitt’s office on Monday filed for stays of all of the state’s scheduled executions, pending a decision from the U.S. Supreme Court on the constitutionality of Oklahoma’s lethal drug cocktail. The U.S. Supreme Court agreed Friday to decide whether Oklahoma’s execution procedures violate the Constitution’s protection against cruel and unusual punishment.
Hofmeister Unveils Five-Year Education Plan
Oklahoma’s newly elected Superintendent of Public Instruction is unveiling a new five-year plan to give Oklahoma teachers a $5,000 pay raise over the next five years, along with an additional five days of instruction to the school year, also added over five years. Republican Joy Hofmeister announced the plan on Monday, saying increased teacher pay is critically important in addressing a significant teacher shortage in Oklahoma.
Why mental health and substance abuse treatment should be a higher state budget priority
As a longtime medical educator, I teach my students to not simply treat symptoms but to look for the root causes. Treating symptoms may offer temporary relief but often doesn’t address an underlying disease which might become increasingly worse without some form of direct intervention.
Read more from the Tulsa World.
Why Medicaid should be a higher state budget priority
Another ordinary Monday morning and before she has a chance to take a sip of coffee, one of our nurses is on the phone with a desperate and exhausted mom who is seeking a medical specialist for her child. Our nurse gets to work and a few phone calls later a mom finds relief and a child has a potentially life-changing medical appointment that they would not have been able to afford without SoonerCare.
Read more from the Tulsa World.
Oklahoma senator proposes nine measures to boost voter turnout
After an election cycle with some of the lowest voter turnouts in state history, state Sen. David Holt decided something needed to be done to turn things around. About 40 percent of registered voters participated on Nov. 4 when Gov. Mary Fallin won re-election over Democratic challenger Joe Dorman. But Holt, R-Oklahoma City, notes that the true participation rate is about 30 percent, considering how many eligible citizens are not registered to vote.
See also: Repairing Oklahoma’s Broken Democracy.
The con-con con
A proposal that could lead to far-reaching and radical changes to America’s time-tested constitution is being pushed in states across the country this year. Oklahoma would be well-advised to resist jumping aboard this particular train. In Oklahoma and other states, bills have been introduced calling for a constitutional convention, or “con-con,” to amend the U.S. Constitution in order to approve a federal Balanced Budget Amendment, among other possible constitutional changes.
Read more from the OK Policy Blog.
Ban on local drilling bans subject of several Oklahoma bills
The power of local communities to regulate oil and natural gas activities inside their city limits could be curtailed under several bills introduced at the Oklahoma Legislature. At least eight bills have been filed that would stop cities and counties from banning drilling operations, including proposals from top leaders in the House and Senate.
LGBT community forms group to battle 10 bills proposed for Oklahoma
A gay-rights group vowed to fight back Monday against a number of bills they feel target their members. “The LGBT community is under attack,” said Troy Stevenson, executive director of newly formed Freedom Oklahoma. “We are here to tell you that we plan on fighting back.” Freedom Oklahoma is focusing on 10 measures proposed for the upcoming legislative session. The group held a Capitol press conference Monday to announce it is planning town hall meetings and will lobby at the Capitol against the measures.
Read more from the Tulsa World.
Police cams: Why is the Tulsa Police Department still not fully equipped?
While some law enforcement agencies in the state are rolling out or testing body cameras worn by their officers, numerous problems have the Tulsa Police Department years behind on an order to put a camera in every patrol vehicle. In 2010, when the city of Tulsa agreed to pay more than $4 million to buy and install cameras in all patrol cars as part of the settlement of a long-running racial discrimination lawsuit, the hope was to have the process completed by now, Capt. Van Ellis said.
Read more from the Tulsa World.
Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin backs Preston Doerflinger, despite arrest
Gov. Mary Fallin expressed confidence Monday in Preston Doerflinger and plans to keep him as her Cabinet secretary of finance despite his arrest Thursday night. “Preston has apologized to Governor Fallin and assured her nothing like this will ever happen again,” Alex Weintz, the governor’s communications director, said Monday in a statement.
Babies born addicted to drugs: DHS report shows more newborns testing positive in Oklahoma
When a baby is born addicted to drugs, their tiny body often suffers seizures and they cry uncontrollably. These infants often suffer lasting health problems, and state hospitals are reporting an increasing number of newborns who tested positive for drugs or alcohol at birth, according to the Oklahoma Department of Human Services.
Free dental clinic set Feb. 6-7 in downtown Tulsa
As many as 2,000 Oklahomans are expected to receive free dental care at the Oklahoma Mission of Mercy event in downtown Tulsa next month. Set for Feb. 6 and 7 at the Cox Convention Center, the sixth annual event will be in Tulsa for the first time since 2010.
Read more from the Tulsa World.
1.8 Million Oklahomans Affected By Drought
The U.S. Drought Monitor says more than 1.8 million Oklahomans are being affected by an ongoing, deepening drought. The Oklahoma Water Resources Board says that in the past month, the percentage of Oklahoma classified as being in exceptional drought has decreased slightly, but more than 60% of the state still remains classified in moderate drought or worse.
Federal Grant Awards $7.8 Million To Homeless Programs
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has awarded more than $7.8 million in grants to 72 homeless housing and service programs in Oklahoma. The funding announced Monday is an increase of $356,155 over the previous year. HUD’s Continuum of Care grants help agencies provide housing and support services to people and families experiencing homelessness.
Quote of the Day
“When you’ve gotten to that point when seven out of 10 are not participating, I think you have a crisis on your hands.”
– State Sen. David Holt (R-Oklahoma City), on why he introduced electoral reform bills this session that would, among other measures, allow online voter registration and move the state to a vote-by-mail system (Source: bit.ly/15FCZsC)
Number of the Day
450
Average number of autopsies per staff member per year performed by the Oklahoma Medical Examiners office in 2014, nearly double the recommended limit of 250.
Source: NewsOK.
See previous Numbers of the Day here.
Policy Note
Visit A Loved One In Jail? It’ll Cost You
Over the years, local governments have turned to private companies to manage more and more of the American penal system. Sometimes prisons themselves, but also probation and drug treatment services, transportation, and phone systems. Now, add jail visitation to the list. Until this past fall, Joel Goff had never set foot in the Lewis County Jail. Then his son was arrested. When he planned a visit, Goff says, “I was really expecting to go, empty my pockets, go into a room, glass area and stuff, you know, have a chair, just like you see on TV and stuff. And, uh, no!”
Read more from Northwest Public Radio.
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