In the Media

Private school voucher proposals have moved through both the House and Senate over the last few weeks. Now we cannot be sure what final deal may come out of negotiations and whether it will stall or move forward to the governor’s desk.

With House and Senate Republicans in gridlock over education spending, Oklahoma's minority party Democrats have unveiled their plans for how to fund schools this year.

The joint plan issued by party leaders at the Capitol on Thursday calls for spending $800 million to reduce class sizes, give pay raises to teachers and support staff, and integrate more mental health professionals into the classroom. Helping parents pay for private or home schooling was not a part of their plan.

Senate Pro Tempore Greg Treat, R-Oklahoma City, yesterday (March 25) named the members of his previously announced senate economic development select committee and announced the first meeting date.

Senate Bill (SB) 147, authored by Sen. Carri Hicks, D-Oklahoma City, would allow school districts to stock glucagon, a hormone that raised blood glucose levels and is used to treat severe hypoglycemia.

A fourth measure, Senate Bill 332, proposing to modify the definition of career teacher, also has advanced to the House. Its author, state Sen. Jo Anna Dossett, D-Tulsa, said the bill would benefit younger teachers who might seek new opportunities early in their careers.

Senate Bill (SB) 509, authored by Sen. Kevin Matthews, D-Tulsa, and Sen. Bill Coleman, R-Ponca City, will connect all-Black towns and locations significant the civil rights movement, including many Native American sites of historical significance. The trail will help stimulate tourism, foster entrepreneurship, and promote economic development within these communities.

Sen. Carri Hicks (D) Oklahoma City responded directly to that comment.

"I'm struggling to find my words when utopia is used to describe six weeks of time home with an infant. Six weeks is the time at which it takes to heal from delivering a child and if you have a C-section that's 8 weeks," she said. "Utopia... that rocked me back on my heels."

In arguing against Bullard’s bill on Wednesday, Sen. Julia Kirt, D-Oklahoma City, said it “limits access to care and medical expertise for all ages of Oklahomans.”

“This limits the ability to serve patients effectively, and it limits the ability for people to receive the care they need,” Kirt said.

Sen. Carri Hicks, D-Oklahoma City, said the measure would further the physician shortage the state is experiencing.

The governor’s State of the State address made clear that cutting taxes is a priority this year. Tax cuts shortchange our future by failing to recognize our greatest needs. Again and again these proposals suggest that lower taxes will attract more businesses from out of state and retain our in-state businesses for the long term. These assumptions are incomplete.

“The legislature today injected itself into that process and basically told parents ‘we don’t have enough faith in you to make important decisions around your children,’” said Senator Kay Floyd (D).

Parents or healthcare providers who violate this, if this bill becomes law, could be facing felony charges and $100,000 or 10 years in prison.

Oklahoma should start making more use of its $3.9 billion in accumulated reserves, a panel of four state lawmakers agreed Friday, but whether that’s through tax cuts, expenditures or a proposed investment fund is unclear.

I have hesitated to respond to the latest incident of law enforcement acting outside of the bounds of their legal and designed responsibility (which in and of itself is problematic) because it occurred in Memphis, Tennessee.