Five Years Later...the Same Problems Are Back
Five years ago today, a group of strangers gathered in room 412-A of the Oklahoma State Capitol. Many had never been inside the building before and most weren’t sure what to expect. Some wore suits and seemed right at home in the halls of power; others were in jeans and t-shirts, glancing around furtively and wondering if they were in the right place.
The group shared a common purpose: to build relationships with their elected officials and with one another and, hopefully, do their part to nudge the state toward responsible policy decisions that would plug the state’s enormous $1.3 billion budget shortfall and prevent absolutely devastating cuts to core services.
The event was called “Let’s Fix This: A Day at the Capitol For Regular Folks,” and the description went like this:
This is a day for us regular folks who care about our state and our communities to take some time off of work and actually meet face-to-face with our state legislators about the state budget crisis. We've all been complaining about stuff on social media long enough; now let's have the conversations in person. The state may be broke, but we're not broken - there are a lot of totally reasonable, common-sense solutions for increasing revenue available. We just need to encourage our lawmakers toward them.
This isn't a rally...it's more of a group outing. If you've never been to the Capitol before, that's fine. I've never done this kind of thing before either, so we can hold hands or something. Maybe it'll be 50 of us that show up. Maybe it'll be 100 or 200. Or, heck, maybe this crazy idea of having face-to-face conversations with the men and women who are paid to represent us will catch fire and we'll have 1,000 people show up. That would be pretty amazing. (We can still all hold hands if you want.)
Remember: Decisions are made by people who show up. I hope you'll be one of them.
That $1.3 billion budget shortfall that sparked our first event in 2016 was caused, in large part, by the state legislature giving out tax cuts just as our state was starting to recover from the 2008-2009 financial crisis.
Five years later, here we are again—our economy is beginning to rebound from COVID-19, the federal government has pitched in some money to help out, and yet again our state legislators are talking about cutting taxes.
I mean, I get it—everybody likes a tax cut. But we’ve been down this road before and we know how it ends. If you want to know what Oklahoma would look like if we dramatically cut taxes, just look around—this is it, we’re living in it. Adjusted for inflation, the Oklahoma state budget is 25% smaller than it was 20 years ago. That means we spend 25% less on the things that matter most to Oklahomans—education, public health, roads, and public safety. Continuing to reduce our state revenue isn’t how we become a Top Ten State, especially not right now when we’re already in such a precarious position.
We can think of no better or more meaningful way to celebrate our fifth birthday than to ask you do the thing that started all this: Contact your state legislators, introduce yourself, and share with them your thoughts and feelings about the state budget. But don’t stop there—ask them about their thoughts, too. Find out why they hold that position, and even if you disagree, try to find common ground from which to work. Start building a relationship with them about this issue, and then keep it going throughout their term. That is how we fix this—by getting engaged and not giving up.
Besides, most of them—the good eggs, at least—care about this state just as much as you. But they need to hear from voices that aren’t inside the Capitol every day; they need to hear from the regular folks who live in their districts and are normally too busy or tired or jaded to take two minutes to send them an email or make a quick phone call. Doing that one little thing is something that tens of thousands of other people don’t do—and that means your voice is that much louder.
To make it super easy, head over to the Taxpayers for a Better Oklahoma website and they’ve got links to help you easily lookup and contact your state legislators (plus a ton more information about the current state of fiscal business for the state).
Thanks for reading to the end of this post and an even bigger THANK YOU for hanging with for our first five years of Let’s Fix This. I truly don’t have adequate words to express what this journey has been like and how much your support means to all of us.
We’re working on some stuff behind the scenes that I think you’re going to love; more details to come this summer. In the meantime: if you believe in building a better democracy, don’t mind hard work, and are looking for ways to dig in a little deeper in order to build long-term success, this is the place for you.
And, yes, your monetary donations are always appreciated. SO much.
Cheers,
Andy Moore
Executive Director
2020 Election Night Live Blog
We’ll start the conversation whenever we wake up, but the meat & potatoes will be served beginning at 6pm CT and will go until…well, it’s hard to say, really.
This could be a weird night. Hold on to your butts.
Podcast Ep. 81 | BudgetWatch 2019
Description
With less than a month 'til the end of session, we discuss rumors about the budget, the status of criminal justice reform, and Governor Stitt's use of the veto. We also curse more than usual. Earmuffs, kids. #SSGOTV.
Announcements
A Night to Remember! May 4 letsfixthisok.org/prom
Capitol Days: May 8th is Child Advocacy Day with OICA. Register at oica.org.
Episode Notes
Overview:
Most bills thru both House & Senate. Those with issues headed to conference committee.
Which means it’s time for...JCAB!
Budget Watch 2019:
OK House Dems release their budget proposal
How does this stack up against the Governor’s proposal from February?
Does it really matter? (Spoiler: No.)
Rumor has it that the House & Senate reportedly in agreement...which means the Governor is now the issue. (Dun dun DUUUUUN)
But also...where are we on Criminal Justice Reform?
Gov. Kevin Stitt rolls out new criminal justice reform package (Tulsa World)
New funding structure for DAs and courts
$10m to mental health
Occupational licensing
Expedited commutation for offenders convicted of drug possession crimes to other felonies that are now misdemeanors
Expedited process for expungements
HB1269: sentence modification by courts
Capitol Insider: Is Judicial Reform On Stitt's Agenda? (KGOU)
In other news...
Governor signs bill to make rib eye the ‘state steak of Oklahoma (KFOR)
Stitt vetoes bills on hunting, #oklaed, public workers
No guides on publicly managed lands
No mechanism to certify new police & fire unions
No “instructional expenditure”
No overtime for low-paid state employees
Open Primaries: A Primer
Many thanks to our intern, Megan Funderburk, for researching and writing this post.
This is the second post in an ongoing series about the issues in our legislative agenda.
A primary election is an election in which a party decides who they will nominate to run for a particular office. Democrats have a Democratic primary to decide who the Democratic nominee will be, and Republicans have a Republican primary to decide who the Republican nominee will be.
Sounds pretty simple, right? Well…not so much. Many states are struggling to address concerns about their primary election system by answering questions such as:
Who gets to vote in these elections?
Should only Republicans vote for Republicans and Democrats for Democrats?
What about Independent voters or those that are unaffiliated?
Should voters be forced to simply forfeit their voice until the general election when the choices are considerably more limited?
Primaries are either open or closed, with variations within each of these models. States may use one type of primary for their state and local elections and a different type for their presidential elections. The basic types of primary elections are:
An open primary is a primary in which voters are not asked to declare a party affiliation on their voter registration form. At the polls, voters can choose which party’s ballot they receive regardless of party affiliation (or lack thereof).
A partially open primary asks voters to publicly declare which party’s ballot they would like on the day of voting which then registers the voter with that party. In most states with partially open primaries, voters may change their party affiliation on the day of voting.
A closed primary means that only those who have previously registered with a party may vote for that party’s nominees. In most states with closed primaries, you can’t change your party affiliation in the months surrounding the election.
In a partially closed primary, it is up to political parties to decide whether to allow unaffiliated voters to vote in their primaries while still excluding members of the opposing party.
A few states, like California, have adopted a “top two” primary system in which all candidates are listed together on the ballot and the top two, regardless of party affiliation move on to the general election.
Oklahoma currently uses a partially closed primary system. According to state law, party leaders are given the authority to allow unaffiliated voters or voters not registered with a party to vote in their nominating primaries. Parties make this decision every two years. The Oklahoma Democratic Party currently allows Independent voters to vote in the Democratic primaries. Voters must be registered with the Republican party to vote in the Republican primaries. Voters may choose to change their party affiliation but cannot do so between April 1 and August 31 in even-numbered years.
Advocates for an open-primary system argue that if everybody is given a voice at primary elections then it will increase the likelihood of more moderate candidates. According to the Oklahoma State Election Board, nearly 16% of Oklahoman voters are registered as Independent, and that number has increased nearly 35% over the past decade. With an increasing pool of Independent voters and a general dissatisfaction with hyper-partisan practices, moderation seems to be just what we need. Primaries are paid for with our tax dollars, yet we allow the parties get to tell us who gets to vote. There are pros and cons to each system, but an open system works under the assumption that everyone deserves a vote, even in a primary.
Two bills related to primary elections were filed this year in the Oklahoma legislature: Bill HB1026 by Rep. Tadlock sought to make county sheriff elections nonpartisan in an attempt to remove some politics from law enforcement. Bill HB1153 by Rep. Grego sought to authorize counties to vote to make county elections nonpartisan, including county officers and district attorney. Both bills were assigned to the House Rules Committee, but neither were heard, and thus they are dead…for this year, at least.
Helpful links
Click here to view the Election Board’s “Online Voter Tool,” where you can confirm your registration, find your polling place, view sample ballots for upcoming elections, and track your absentee ballot. (Speaking of which, if you’re not already registered to vote absentee (aka “vote by mail"), you should, and you can do it online right here.)
Podcast Ep. 79 | Rally for Coverage (with Sabine Brown & Carly Putnam)
Episode Description
Sabine Brown (Together Oklahoma) and Carly Putnam (Oklahoma Policy Institute) join us to review the current state of healthcare in Oklahoma and their upcoming "Rally for Coverage."
Press release
COALITION TO EXPAND COVERAGE HOSTS RALLY AT STATE CAPITOL WEDNESDAY, APRIL 24, 10 A.M.
TULSA, OK — A broad coalition of Oklahomans are holding a rally day at the state Capitol to call on lawmakers to expand health coverage for more than 100,000 currently uninsured Oklahomans. This coverage expansion can be paid for using 90 percent federal dollars.
The rally is set for Wednesday, April 24 at 10 a.m. It will focus on Oklahoma’s opportunity to extend SoonerCare or private health coverage to Oklahomans making below the poverty level. Free buses to the rally will be available from cities across the state.
“Expanding care will help ensure that over 100,000 Oklahomans have access to the care they need while boosting hospitals and other health care providers in our communities across the state,” said Carly Putnam, Policy Director of Oklahoma Policy Institute, a state policy organization that is coordinating the rally. “It’s time we brought Oklahomans’ tax dollars back home to take care of Oklahomans.”
The rally is organized by the Coalition to Expand Coverage, a broad coalition of Oklahoma groups and individuals, including Oklahoma Policy Institute, Together Oklahoma, ACLU of Oklahoma, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, American Heart Association, CAIR Oklahoma, Coalition of Oklahoma Breastfeeding Advocates, E.B Consulting OKC, Evolution Foundation, Family & Children’s Services, Fellowship Congregational Church UCC, Guiding Right, Inc., Indivisible Stillwater, Improving Lives, Inc, League of Women Voters of Oklahoma, Mental Health Association Oklahoma, Morton Comprehensive Health Services, NAACP Oklahoma City, National Multiple Sclerosis Society, National Psoriasis Foundation, NASW Oklahoma Chapter, O.B. Hearne DDS, Oklahoma AFL-CIO, Oklahoma Conference of Churches, Oklahoma Heart Association, Oklahoma Hospital Association, Oklahoma Lawyers for Children, Oklahoma Primary Care Association, Oklahoma State Conference NAACP, Oklahoma State Medical Association, Oklahoma Women’s Coalition, Planned Parenthood Great Plains, Potts Family Foundation, Rock Whisperer LLC, St. John Health System, Take Control Initiative, TARC, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, The Oklahoma Academy, and Tulsa CARES. Additional members are joining the coalition on an ongoing basis.
“If we don’t expand coverage, Oklahoma will only fall further behind in health and economic competitiveness,” said Sabine Brown, outreach and advocacy coordinator for Oklahoma Policy Institute and Together Oklahoma. “All Oklahomans are invited to join this effort to make sure we can all see a doctor and get treatment when we need it.” To get information as it's released, learn more about the campaign, or sign on to the coalition, visit coverok.org.
###
Media Contact:
Tracey Zeeck
405.501.2700 – mobile
OK Policy Contact:
Gene Perry
918.794.3944 – office
Podcast Ep. 74 | Dead Candidates Society (with Megan Funderburk & Bo Broadwater)
Episode Description
Should deceased candidates be allowed to remain on the ballot? We discuss the implications of that situation along with independent redistricting and the structure & finances of the Office of Management and Enterprise Services (OMES).
Articles & Links
Legislators to study cost of living adjustments for Oklahoma state retirees (Tulsa World)
Edmond mayoral election and Edmond Sun poll
Our blog post on Independent Redistricting
Will you go to prom with us?
Attend our spring fundraiser and have the prom experience you wish you had back in high school.
Independent Redistricting: A Primer
Many thanks to our intern, Megan Funderburk, for researching and writing this post.
This is our first post in what will be an ongoing series about the issues in our legislative agenda. We’re starting with Independent Redistricting because it’s the most pressing - the census is next year and then redistricting will occur the year after that.
Overview
The United States Constitution mandates that a census be taken every 10 years. States then must begin the process of redrawing both the congressional, state, and municipal districts. This process will begin again after the next census in 2020. District lines group different sets of voters in different ways. This process of redistricting is necessary to accurately reflect population changes and the community represented within the lines. District lines should attempt to keep together “communities of interest,” which can be things like people who hold similar beliefs, eat at the same places, and walk their dogs at the same park. The way district lines are drawn and how voters are grouped together powerfully impacts the representatives that are elected and what policies they will fight for.
Who is in charge of this important process?
Each state decides for themselves, often outlined in their state constitution, but most states put this responsibility solely in the hands of the legislature. Twenty two states use a separate commission to help with the process or to take over the process entirely. Alaska, Arizona, California, Idaho, Montana, and Washington have commissions that take over the redistricting process entirely using an independent commission. These commissions are made up of individuals who are not themselves a part of the state legislature. For these states, the legislature may have a part in choosing the members of the commission but won’t have a hand in drawing the lines themselves.
Why do some states feel the need to remove legislature from the process, either partially or completely?
When the legislature is in charge of redrawing the districts in which they run for office, it leaves the opportunity to manipulate the lines to keep incumbents in power or to dilute the voice of their opposition. When one party controls the legislature, that party then has the ability to serve their own interests by redrawing the lines in their favor. Representatives can then, essentially, choose their own voters. This is called partisan gerrymandering. This can be done by drawing lines to exclude potential opposition or by packing multiple voters of a party into one district or diluting the voters across multiple districts.
What does this mean for Oklahoma?
Oklahoma law allows the party in power to draw the district lines. With the coming 2020 census, we have to ask ourselves if this is our best option? Is there a better alternative to draw state lines to best represent the people?
Although there are criticisms for every redistricting process, there are many advocates for the independent commission. An independent commission is currently used by six states with multiple other states moving in that direction. If created well, an independent commission creates a third party that can mitigate the issues that come with the ability of incumbent legislators to draw lines to keep themselves in power. Independent commissions may be the best way to reduce the drawing of lines motivated by self-interest.
The above images are examples of four Oklahoma legislative districts - two House, two Senate, and one of each from each party - that, at least at a glance, appear to be gerrymandered. We’re not saying they necessarily are, but they do serve as a good example of why we need to pay attention to redistricting and push for an independent commission to handle it. The screenshots were taken from the OAEC Digital Legislative Guide app - a free & handy resource for anyone interested in Oklahoma politics.
Redistricting is complicated. There’s no doubt about it. The redrawing of district lines is a long, tedious process that is tough for whomever is in charge, but it’s also necessary. Our democracy relies on our voices being heard and heard equally. But it’s easy to understand that a change is necessary. Leaving the redistricting process in the hands of the very people who stand to directly benefit just doesn’t make sense. Independent commissions provide a realistic alternative that allows for transparency, accountability, and removes heavy and direct partisan involvement.
The Brennan Center for Justice provides a great resource about redistricting that attempts to make all the complicated details manageable.
If you want to try your own hand at the tough job of drawing district line, you can play this online Redistricting Game.