Podcast Ep. 89 | Let Bartlet Be Bartlet (live panel discussion)

Episode Description

Audio from the panel discussion following our "The West Wing" Watch Party, recorded live on May 15, 2019, featuring Donelle Harder (Gov. Stitt's spokesperson), Phil Bacharach (Chief of Staff to State Superintendent Joy Hofmeister), and Steve Hill (Chief of Staff to OKC Mayor David Holt).

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:

https://www.facesofthe47th.com/

https://www.deadcenterfilm.org/

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:

• “Who’s going to take care of these people?” (WaPo)

• Bill to update HIV/AIDS education vetoed (NewsOK)

• A target of Gov. Stitt's first executive orders, state airplane sells for $1.2 million (Tulsa World)

• Norman judge rules opioid trial can continue (NewsOK)

PruittWatch

• Inspector general: Scott Pruitt wasted nearly $124,000 on first- and business-class travel (KFOR)

BudgetWatch2019

• Appropriations advance, as does repeal of April 1 #oklaed deadline (NonDoc)

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:

1. OK House Dems release their budget proposal

   1. How does this stack up against the Governor’s proposal from February?

   2. Does it really matter? (Spoiler: No.)

2. 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?

1. Gov. Kevin Stitt rolls out new criminal justice reform package (Tulsa World)

   1. New funding structure for DAs and courts

   2. $10m to mental health

   3. Occupational licensing

   4. Expedited commutation for offenders convicted of drug possession crimes to other felonies that are now misdemeanors

   5. Expedited process for expungements

   6. HB1269: sentence modification by courts

2. Point of View: Moving on criminal justice reform (NewsOK)

3. Capitol Insider: Is Judicial Reform On Stitt's Agenda? (KGOU)

In other news...

1. Governor signs bill to make rib eye the ‘state steak of Oklahoma (KFOR)

2. Stitt vetoes bills on hunting, #oklaed, public workers

   1. No guides on publicly managed lands

   2. No mechanism to certify new police & fire unions

   3. No “instructional expenditure”

   4. 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. 1,079 per 100,000 vs 600 per 100,000

  2. 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