Podcast Ep. 88 | The Politics of Pride (w/ James Cooper & David White)
Episode Description
We're joined by two members of OKC's LGBTQ community - one a Republican and the other a Democrat - to talk about how they got involved in politics, what Pride means to them, and how they navigate the waters that contain those two things.
Podcast Ep. 87 | 2019 Predict-o-Rama Results (with Rep. Zack Taylor)
Episode Description
We review the results of our 2019 #okleg Predict-o-Rama game and visit with one of the winners, Rep. Zack Taylor from Seminole.
News Roundup / Article Links
Who missed the most votes during the legislative session? | Government & Politics | tulsaworld.com (Tulsa World)
Does this even matter? Spoiler alert: No
2019 Scorecard on State Health System Performance (The Commonwealth Fund)
Quick quiz: Where does OK rank? (Hint: You already know.)
A Closer at Oklahoma’s Recent Brain Drain (Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City)
Where are all the college grads going?
Members appoint to new criminal justice reform task force (The Journal Record)
A Boon For The Uninsured Or A Path To Financial Crisis? (KGOU)
Oklahoma Decides Health, SQ 802
Oklahoma Supreme Court arguments to be heard on Tuesday 6/18
McFerron polling results indicate…
Announcements
Civic Saturday postponed to the fall due to a family emergency for one of the organizers.
Podcast Ep. 86 | Can we run OKDHS like a business?
Episode Description
We discuss the pros & cons of Governor Stitt replacing the veteran director of DHS with a young venture capitalist, Justin Brown. Special guest: attorney Brian Ted Jones.
News & Links
'He served humbly': Former Sen. Jonathan Nichols has died at age 53 (NonDoc)
Auditors find overpayments in Okmulgee County (The Oklahoman)
Redistricting Guru's Hard Drives Could Mean Legal, Political Woes For GOP (KGOU)
FY 2020 Budget Highlights - Oklahoma Policy Institute (Oklahoma Policy Institute)
Announcements
Podcast Ep. 85 | The Art of Activism
Episode Description
We're joined by Oklahoma state Senator Carri Hicks and local actress/producer/activist Cacky Poarch to get their perspective on the 2019 legislative session and learn about "Faces of the 47th: The Art of Activism," a documentary feature film debuting at the deadCenter Film Festival next week.
Important Links:
Podcast Ep. 84 | Sine Die (with Rep. Josh West and Rep. Marcus McEntire)
Episode Description
Both chambers of #okleg have effectively adjourned, but did they complete all their work? We talk about what was left on the table and also visit with Representatives Josh West and Marcus McEntire about their experience in the legislature.
News Roundup
One criminal justice reform moves before sine die, others stall (NonDoc)
Attorney 'unable to substantiate' allegation against Kannady, McDugle (NonDoc)
After opioid settlement, lawmakers seek to clarify AG's power (NewsOK)
Gov. Stitt tells Tulsa Republicans he 'has to get in front' of Medicaid initiative (Tulsa World)
Announcements
Podcast Ep. 83 | "I Stand With Pruitt!"
Episode Description
The #okleg reaches a budget agreement, the Governor sold his airplane, Andy's bill was vetoed, and we have not one but TWO Pruitt Watches. The end of session must be near!
News Roundup:
A target of Gov. Stitt's first executive orders, state airplane sells for $1.2 million (Tulsa World)
PruittWatch
BudgetWatch2019
Announcements/Upcoming Events
Civic Saturday - June 15th @ 10:30am at Paramount Theater on Film Row.
Podcast Ep. 82 | Mo Money, Mo Problems (w/ Jonathan Dodson)
Episode Description
As #okleg nears a budget agreement (or ARE they??), we turn to the municipal level and discuss designing safer, "complete" streets with guest Jonathan Dodson.
Articles, Links, and Show Notes
News Roundup:
As State Government Goes More Digital, Tag Agencies Endure (Oklahoma Watch)
Donations to Lawmakers Keep Flowing Even As They Vote on Bills (Oklahoma Watch)
Oklahoma conservative group challenges Medicaid expansion petition (NewsOK)
Special counsel to investigate allegations against state House member (Tulsa World)
BudgetWatch 2019
May 2: Compromise on teacher pay raise floated in #okleg (NonDoc)
May 8: Lawmakers remain divided over education budget (Journal Record)
May 8: Governor Avoids Questions On Transparency After Senate Committee Meeting (News9)
May 10: Stitt expects to announce a budget early next week (Tulsa World)
Announcements & Upcoming Events
Wed 5/15: The West Wing Weekly Watch Party - “Let Bartlet Be Bartlet.”
Panelists will be Steve Hill (Chief of Staff to the Mayor of OKC) and Donelle Harder (former deputy campaign manager and current chief spokesperson for Governor Stitt).
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
Podcast Ep. 80 | Government overreach!
Episode description
From map data to prison data, from county government feuds to former legislators back in the news, from Medicaid expansion plans to a ban on bans, we've got a little something for everyone this week!
News, Articles, & Show Notes
Stitt would absolutely oppose Medicaid expansion ballot initiative (NewsOK)
But he can’t veto it…
The people are for it
Wayne Greene does the math on...everything (Tulsa World)
Series where he goes through agencies budget proposals
Most recently on the prison system
1,079 per 100,000 vs 600 per 100,000
National average would put us at 15,327 fewer people in prison and save (conservatively) $100 million a year
Gov. Stitt signs bill to prohibit cities from banning or taxing plastic bags and other containers (Tulsa World)
“Over regulation, manufacturing jobs and consumer freedom”
Michigan must redraw congressional and legislative maps (Detroit Free Press)
Coming soon to an Oklahoma ballot near you…
Two Oklahoma County officials trade accusations (NewsOK)
What part of the county SHOULD sheriff's patrol
Lawsuit claims Oklahoma FSAA director threatened farmers (NewsOK)
When the hell did he get back in OK??
Pruitt Watch
Scott Pruitt left the EPA mired in scandal. Now he is lobbying Indiana lawmakers
Scott Pruitt hired to lobby to keep coal fired power plants open in IN
Ex-EPA chief Scott Pruitt’s lobbying bid has likely filed
It was over before it began
CD5 Race
State Sen Stephanie Bice
Terry Neese
Mick Cornett??
Bueller….Bueller??
Legislative Recap
HIV Education
HB1018
Passed
Consent as part of sex ed
Passed
Environmental self-policing (HB1003)
Passed
Optometrists?
The budget…still pending
Announcements
A Night to Remember! May 4 letsfixthisok.org/prom
Capitol Days: May 8th with OICA
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.
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Media Contact:
Tracey Zeeck
405.501.2700 – mobile
OK Policy Contact:
Gene Perry
918.794.3944 – office