Tag: COVID-19

Legislature rebuilds barriers to voting immediately after the Supreme Court knocked them down

The Legislature should be serving Oklahomans, not making it harder for them to exercise their fundamental right to vote. The requirements enacted by SB 210 can and should be reversed with alternatives that require less risk to our citizens. Oklahomans deserve better. [More...]

SNAP is a critical piece of our pandemic response, and Congress needs to give it a boost

SNAP can help to stabilize a declining economy, and making the program as effective as possible is in everyone’s best interest right now. Food security is economic security — when people have adequate nutritious food, they are healthier, better able to fight off illness, and able to work as soon as good jobs are available.  [More...]

Medical parole is necessary to help protect Oklahoma prisons and hospitals from COVID-19 

Spread of the virus within Oklahoma’s incarceration system will remain an ongoing threat to vulnerable inmates, corrections staff and rural hospitals. Without decisive action from state leaders to reduce its transmission, the virus has very real potential to make both prisons and our communities less safe in the long run.  [More...]

Broadband is more important than ever — here is how Oklahoma can respond (Guest Post: Dr. Brian Whitacre)

Broadband connectivity will be an important part of our society both during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. The Oklahoma Legislature should take advantage of the attention drawn to this issue and develop policies that will set us up for the increasingly digital future. [More...]

Four reasons to finish the job on retiree cost of living adjustment

By putting money into the pockets of Oklahoma’s retirees, the Legislature can help the economy without impacting the state’s budget. There’s no reason that Oklahoma should fall behind the region in benefit levels. [More...]

County jails in Oklahoma face immense risk from COVID-19

As the state grapples with this pandemic, overcrowded and under-resourced jails present enormous risk to rural hospitals and to the state’s most vulnerable communities who are typically jailed at disproportionate rates. [More...]

‘Safe at Home’ slows virus outbreak, but endangers domestic violence survivors (Guest Post: Molly Bryant)

As Oklahoma families hunker down in their homes because of the COVID-19 outbreak, many domestic violence advocates are bracing for the increase in family violence. While essential for public health, the so-called “safe at home” policies have isolated domestic violence survivors with their abusers under tense conditions making them, ironically, less safe at home. [More...]

Cash is a pressing need right now — economic recovery payments will help many, but not all

Relief packages that don’t reach everyone in need will result in increased need and a slower recovery, and that’s bad for all of us.  [More...]

Oklahoma’s working families need a tax cut. Here’s why

Contrary to talking points from state boosters, Oklahoma is not a low tax state for all Oklahomans. Our regressive tax system ensures that low-income Oklahomans pay more in taxes, as a share of their income, than high-income taxpayers. [More...]

Emergency relief, policy changes urgently needed for child care in Oklahoma

Child care providers cannot sustain this critical resource, and families will struggle to keep their children safe, without urgent emergency relief and critical policy changes. Ten state organizations crafted a series of recommendations for how to address child care in Oklahoma. [More...]