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Jonathan Small of Oklahoma Council for Public Affairs applauds expanded tax-credit scholarship program
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Staff Report
OKLAHOMA CITY (May 20, 2021) — Jonathan Small, president of the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs, issued a statement praising lawmakers for voting to expand the Oklahoma Equal Opportunity Education Scholarship Act.
That program provides tax credits to individuals and entities that donate to organizations that provide low-income children with scholarships to private schools. Under current law, the program is limited to $3.5 million annually in tax credits for donations to scholarship-granting organizations. Senate Bill 1080, which received final passage in the Oklahoma Legislature this week, raises that cap to $25 million.
The text of Small’s statement, sent to CapitolBeatOK.com, The City Sentinel newspaper and other news organizations, follows:
“Decades from now, when today’s children are adults, thousands of them will look back and know they were able to achieve great things thanks to the education made possible by lawmakers with this vote today.
“A quality education opens the door to a better life for all children, but especially those whose current circumstances are mired in challenges few of us can comprehend. When those families are limited to only one local public school, many of those children wind up short-changed by a system that does not cater to their needs. By increasing school choice for those families, we are making Oklahoma better place — a place where families from all backgrounds have the opportunity to achieve and thrive.
"This is a great day for kids thanks to the leadership of Senate Pro Tempore Greg Treat, Governor Kevin Stitt, House Speaker Charles McCall, and the many lawmakers who supported this bill.”
Editor’s NOTE: According to its organizational literature, the "Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs is a free-market think tank that works to advance principles and policies that support free enterprise, limited government, individual initiative and personal responsibility."
Jonathan Small of Oklahoma Council for Public Affairs applauds expanded tax-credit scholarship program Click on the headline to read the full article at CapitolBeatOK
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Ray Carter, Center for Independent Journalism
The fallout from a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that declared a tribal reservation was never disestablished in Oklahoma has now led lawmakers to create a new fund to cover millions of dollars in anticipated state legal expenses.
“There will have to be a case that goes through the system that resolves the questions around McGirt,” said House Appropriations and Budget Chairman Kevin Wallace, R-Wellston. “The ruling said it was for major crimes and who had jurisdiction over major crimes. There’s a whole bunch of spinoff of uncertainty and unknown questions that still need to be answered that will take litigation to resolve.”
In 'McGirt v. Oklahoma', the U.S. Supreme Court held that the Muscogee Nation’s reservation was never disestablished. While the ruling applied only to Muscogee Nation land and questions of criminal prosecution under the federal Major Crimes Act, its precedent and basis are expected to result in application to numerous other issues, such as taxation and regulation, and also include the land of at least four other tribes — the Choctaw, Chickasaw, Cherokee, and Seminole nations — whose combined territory includes most of eastern Oklahoma.
Subsequent court rulings have steadily expanded the decision’s reach, as expected.
Rep. Wallace said the state is already dealing with cases where individuals or entities have claimed they do not owe state taxes because of the ruling.
While the attorney general represents state government in most cases, Wallace noted the state also contracts with private attorneys on cases that involve great complexity and specialization.
House Bill 2951 (http://webserver1.lsb.state.ok.us/cf_pdf/2021-22%20FLR/HFLR/HB2951%20HFLR.PDF) would create a new “State-Tribal Litigation Revolving Fund” within the Office of Management and Enterprise Services “for the purpose of hiring legal counsel and paying legal expenses of the State related to legal controversies between the State of Oklahoma and tribal governments.”
Under the bill, all expenditures from the fund would have to be authorized by the legislative Joint Committee on State-Tribal Relations.
Lawmakers are expected to deposit $10 million into the fund this year.
Rep. Merleyn Bell, D-Norman, suggested that may be only the tip of the financial iceberg, saying she wondered “if $10 million will be enough, based on how much we spent in the past.”
“Do you feel that this is just sort of a drop in the bucket, or will we need to be adding more money to this fund in the future?” Bell asked.
“Only time will tell,” Wallace responded.
House Minority Leader Emily Virgin, D-Norman, urged lawmakers to oppose the bill, saying it could pay for legal counsel in state-tribal disputes other than McGirt-related conflicts, such as disputes over state-tribal compacts on gaming or tobacco.
“While we’re being told that this bill does one thing, the consequences could be much greater,” Virgin said.
H.B. 2951 passed the Oklahoma House of Representatives on an 80-18 vote (https://ift.tt/2QFNVEE) that broke along party lines, with Republicans in support. The bill now proceeds to the Oklahoma Senate.
NOTE: This story is reposted with permission. It first appeared here: https://ift.tt/3vcJhx0 . Ray Carter is director of the Center for Independent Journalism. He work is supported through the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs. Carter’s reports often appear at the CapitolBeatOK.com webiste, and at City-Sentinel.com, as well as in the pages of The City Sentinel newspaper. Both news organizations are independent, non-partisan and locally-owned.
Millions in ‘McGirt’ legal costs expected Click on the headline to read the full article at CapitolBeatOK ![]()
Pat McGuigan
https://ift.tt/3fcl6t3
Hopes for a fully operational Managed Care system for implementation of Medicaid Expansion in Oklahoma probably ended on Wednesday (May 19).
There are enough nuances in the legislation that it is difficult to discern fully what it really means – assuming the House approves the Senate changes (as seems likely) and the measure goes to Gov. Kevin Stitt.
Even then, if Stitt vetoes it, perhaps some or even many Republicans will vote to sustain his veto.
The bad news about Senate Bill 131 is that despite apparent improvements made in a Senate Conference Report, the measure passed 39-8.
The good news is that many provisions within this still-lousy bill have drawn the scrutiny of well-informed opponents.
The bad news is that in its present form, it essentially locks in for several years the guaranteed profits of the largest “nonprofit” entities in Oklahoma health care. Those are the status quo players who characterized Managed Care (a system operating in 40 states) a “Health Care Hold-Up.”
The good news is that some Medicaid recipients and some important parts of the new system will still evolve toward a Managed Care system, as health care reformers had hoped.
The bad news is that some Medicaid recipients will, for now, be outside any sort of Managed Care. Those folks will remain trapped within parts of the system which hide true costs (a problem that might have ameliorated by a reform that got spiked a few weeks ago).
Although the good news is that the governor might still veto, the bad news is that he would likely be overridden — although that is not quite certain.
The good news is that the work of those who criticized S.B. 131 after it became a method to erode Gov. Stitt’s executive authority did im- pact the debate. Their efforts caused some meaningful changes to the original bill.
The bad news is that it is still lousy, piece-of-crap legislation.
The further bad news is that S.B. 131 falls into that immortal category of legislation on which both sides (primarily, to be sure, those in the legislative majority) can declare victory, while not really advancing the interests of beneficiaries of health care.
HOW THE SENATORS VOTED ON MAY 19
Supporting Senate Bill 131 on Wednesday were Sens. Mark Allen, R-Spiro; Micheal Bergstrom, R-Adair; Mary Boren, D-Norman; Michael Brooks, D-Oklahoma City; David Bullard, R-Durant; George Burns, R-Pollard; Bill Coleman, R-Ponca City; Jo Anna Dossett, D-Tulsa; J.J. Dossett, D-Owasso; Tom Dugger, R-Stillwater; Kay Floyd, D-Oklahoma City; Jessica Garvin, R-Duncan; Chuck Hall, R-Perry; Warren Hamilton, R-McCurtain; John Haste, R-Broken Arrow; Carri Hicks, D-Oklahoma City; Brent Howard, R-Altus; Darcy Jech, R-Kingfisher; Chris Kidd, R-Waurika; Julia Kirt, D-Oklahoma City; James Leewright, R-Bristow; Kevin Matthews, D-Tulsa; Greg McCortney, R-Ada; and Jake Merrick, R-Yukon.
Also voting yes were: Joe Newhouse, R-Tulsa; Roland Pederson, R-Burlington; Dewayne Pemberton, R-Muskogee; Adam Pugh, R-Edmond; Marty Quinn, R-Claremore; Dave Rader, R-Tulsa; Paul Rosino, R-Oklahoma City; Frank Simpson, R-Springer; Rob Standridge, R-Norman; Brenda Stanley, R-Midwest City; Blake Stephens, R-Tahlequah; Zack Taylor, R-Seminole; Greg Treat, R-Oklahoma City; and Darrell Weaver, R-Moore.
Voting against passage were Sens. Nathan Dahm, R-Broken Arrow; Julie Daniels, R-Bartlesville; Kim David, R-Porter; Shane Jett, R-Oklahoma City; John Michael Montgomery, R-Lawton; Lonnie Paxton, R-Tuttle; Cody Rogers, R-Tulsa; and George Young, D-Oklahoma City.
Not voting on Senate Bill 131 was Sen. Casey Murdock, R-Felt.
NOTE: This analysis first appeared in The Southwest Ledger, May 20, 2021 print edition and online: https://ift.tt/3usqXPF . Southwest Ledger, 7602 US Highway 277, Elgin, OK 73538, (580) 350-1111. It is reposted here with permission. Oklahoma journalist Pat McGuigan is writing a series of reports, analyses and commentaries on Medicaid Expansion and Managed Care.
Good news and bad news on Managed Care: A Commentary Click on the headline to read the full article at CapitolBeatOK ![]()
Pat McGuigan
Oklahoma City – Just when you thought everything was gloom and doom … it’s not.
The new campaign from the Association of Oklahoma General Contractors (AOGC) deemed ‘Fast Money’ has a simple goal: protect funds set aside to build and maintain the state’s infrastructure, even as members of the State Legislature debate how to solve the state budget crunch flowing from the worldwide Pandemic.
A new fun-to-watch video explains light-heartedly the process that follows decisions to award contracts to companies, so they can start start rebuilding Oklahoma roads and bridges.
The ‘Fast Money’ video informs the viewer on how this positively affects the economy due to the hiring of people, ordering materials and purchasing and repairing equipment.
Here’s a secret: All characters in the video are played by AOGC Executive Director Bobby Stem, which makes it even more entertaining. Stem asserts that “no other tax dollar spurs Oklahoma's economy as FAST as the tax dollars allocated to repair, replace and maintain Oklahoma's roads and bridges.”
Hence the title.
Rarely has more good heart been brought to a public relations marketing campaign.
The final frames (is that the right term in the electronic age?) of the video, where Stem portrays himself, might actually accomplish something unusual and important: Make you believe that there are still places where tax dollars are spent honorably, ethically and for the intended purpose.
It’s not a ‘spoiler’ to inform you of that, dear reader: As someone who has known Stem for many years I can say his penchant for entertainment is no surprise.
The message of “Fast Money” is to represent how quickly these contracts can change the lives of the many people involved by giving them work.
AOGC contends (consistently, and has done so for many years) that no other tax dollar enters the Oklahoma economy as fast as the tax dollar spent on repairing and replacing roads and bridges. And, ultimately roads and bridges spending gives people who earn that money the ability to pay their rent, mortgage and put food on their table.
The Fast Money campaign also included a series of three postcards tied to the different key industries that are directly impacted by the "Fast Money" and which were signed by AOGC members and sent to legislators.
AOGC’s message is not complex: At the end of the day, Oklahomans are getting better, safer roads and bridges while also supporting one another.
Here’s what you’ve probably been waiting for:
Watch the video on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27jo6pTWrEE&t=3s
or on Facebook here: https://ift.tt/2S9Lt9S
Disclosure: No creatures, humanoid or other, were harmed in production of this video and this review story. Keep reading, Keep Watching and Keep Smiling.
Bobby Stem stars in ‘Fast Money’ – new video release and campaign from the Oklahoma Association of General Contractors Click on the headline to read the full article at CapitolBeatOK ![]()
Staff Report
OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma Senate President Pro Tempore Greg Treat, R-Oklahoma City, commended the full Senate for overwhelmingly passing Senate Bill 1080, which makes improvements to the Equal Opportunity Scholarship Act.
The Equal Opportunity Scholarship program provides tax credits to donors who voluntarily donate funds to support education. The grants can be used by private schools to support low-income families and by public schools for innovation or classroom support.
Treat’s Senate Bill 1080 increases to $50 million the amount of tax credits available for the program, with $25 million for public schools and $25 million for private schools. Additionally, the bill adds transparency by increasing reporting requirements of the private schools’ scholarship granting organizations.
“The Equal Opportunity Scholarship Act is a life-changing program. The program has benefited homeless children and low-income families. The changes we are making to the program will help deserving students receive a high-quality education they otherwise could not afford," Treat said.
Continuing: “The changes also will generate more funding for public schools by giving their supporters more ways to donate. This is a tremendous bill for students, families and Oklahoma education overall. I appreciate the overwhelming support of my Senate colleagues and look forward to the Oklahoma House passing the bill,” Treat said in his statement, sent to The City Sentinel newspaper, CapitolBeatOK.com (an online news service) and other news organizations..
S.B. 1080 on Tuesday passed by a vote of 36-11 and now goes to the Oklahoma House of Representatives for consideration.
Senate leader Greg Treat comments on passage of education scholarship program Click on the headline to read the full article at CapitolBeatOK ![]()
Staff Report
OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma State Legislature has settled on Legislative district lines for the 2022 elections in both the House and Senate, subject to review after finalized U.S. Census data is released later this year.
Senate Democratic Leader Kay Floyd, D-Oklahoma City, released the following statement after the Senate passed Senate Bill 1066, the Senate’s redistricting bill, in early May:
“Oklahoma Senate Democrats continue to believe the redrawing of legislative districts should be handled by an independent redistricting commission. Since this option is not currently possible, we chose to engage with the existing process led by the Senate Select Committee on Redistricting. Our caucus had three members on the committee, Sen. Kevin Matthews, D-Tulsa, Sen. Julia Kirt, D-Oklahoma City, and Sen. Michael Brooks, D-Oklahoma City, who served as a vice chair of the committee.
“While the new map produced by the committee and approved by the Senate today is not perfect, members of our caucus were able to vote for it because the redistricting process included input from our caucus and from the communities we represent. The redistricting bill passed by the Senate Tuesday also includes an amendment authored by Sen. Kirt, which will ensure the district lines are adjusted if necessary when final population data is received from the United States Census Bureau later this year.
“As the redistricting process moves forward, Oklahoma Senate Democrats will continue communicating with our constituents to make sure they are aware of the new districts and have an opportunity to make their voices heard.”
In related news, state Senator Lonnie Paxton, R-Tuttle, said in a recent release sent to The City Sentinel, CapitolBeatOK.com and other news organizations, “At the outset, we pledged to have an open and transparent redistricting process and we delivered. At every turn, we engaged with the public and sought their input in the redistricting process as part of our commitment to transparency. The results were maps that are more compact and better than the current legislative boundaries.” (https://ift.tt/3hvSBaX)
Note: Every 10 years, the Oklahoma Legislature is constitutionally required to redraw legislative and congressional district boundaries using the latest U.S. Census data. The requirement is stated in the U.S. Constitution, at Article I, section 2, clause 3. Pat McGuigan, editor of The City Sentinel newspaper and founder of CapitolBeatOK.com, an online news service, contributed to this report.
Oklahoma Senate Democrats comment on passage of Senate Redistricting Bill Click on the headline to read the full article at CapitolBeatOK House Senate redistricting chairs comment on final passage of legislative redistricting plans5/16/2021 ![]()
Staff Report
OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma House of Representatives and the Oklahoma Senate each in bipartisan and overwhelming votes on May 12 approved new legislative district maps.
By law, the Legislature must redraw its legislative and congressional district boundaries to reflect changes in population every 10 years immediately following the decennial Census. Under the Oklahoma Constitution, redistricting plans for state legislative districts must be completed by the end of this year’s regular session.
“At the outset, we pledged to have an open and transparent redistricting process and we delivered. At every turn, we engaged with the public and sought their input in the redistricting process as part of our commitment to transparency. The results were maps that are more compact and better than the current legislative boundaries,” said Sen. Lonnie Paxton, R-Tuttle and chair of the Senate Select Committee on Redistricting.
“The new redistricting boundaries ensure each Oklahoman has an equal voice in state and national government for the next ten years,” said. Rep. Ryan Martinez, R-Edmond and chair of the House Redistricting committee. “This year, every member of the House served on a redistricting committee, and over 20 public meetings, including virtual, were held to get as much input as possible into this important process. I’m glad to send these plans to the governor’s desk so they can be signed into law and fully implemented.”
The House and Senate, from December to March held 22 town hall meetings – 18 in person and four virtual – to solicit input from the public. All Oklahomans were invited to attend, ask questions, submit testimony and talk to lawmakers and staff about what makes the most sense for their community.
Meetings were live-streamed, when possible, and recorded and archived on the House and Senate websites. Redistricting maps and all related materials are available for review on the redistricting websites of the House and the Senate. The public can submit questions to the Senate at any time via email at [email protected] and to the House via email at [email protected].
Congressional redistricting has no deadline. The Legislature plans to reconvene in a special session in the fall to complete congressional redistricting and make any necessary adjustments to legislative districts upon the release of final Census data. The U.S. Census Bureau failed to meet the April 1 deadline to release final data to the states and has announced the data will be released in September.
Details will be announced soon on town hall meetings regarding congressional redistricting.
Note: Every 10 years, the Oklahoma Legislature is constitutionally required to redraw legislative and congressional district boundaries using the latest U.S. Census data. The requirement is stated in the U.S. Constitution, at Article I, section 2, clause 3.
House, Senate redistricting chairs comment on final passage of legislative redistricting plans Click on the headline to read the full article at CapitolBeatOK ![]()
Staff Report
OKLAHOMA CITY – The House of Representatives today (Friday, May 14) adopted a resolution stating members’ support of Israel.
House Resolution 1037 is authored by Rep. Mark McBride, R-Moore; House Speaker Pro Tempore Terry O’Donnell, R-Catoosa; and Majority Floor Leader Jon Echols, R-Oklahoma City.
“As a Christian, I simply must stand on the biblical foundation that Israel is the apple of God’s eye – His chosen people,” McBride said in a press release sent to The City Sentinel, CapitolBeatOK.com and other news organizations.
“Under the Abrahamic covenant, those who bless Israel will be blessed, those who curse her will bring a curse upon themselves. This resolution states that Israel has a right to exist, and the Jewish people themselves have a right to exist, and it condemns terrorism. I’m thankful for the support of my fellow co-authors and all those who voted in favor of this resolution. I feel the majority of Oklahomans are in favor of this as well.”
The resolution will be sent to the members of Oklahoma’s congressional delegation asking them to sign on to the statements it contains and to support the nation of Israel during a time of adversity and hostile actions by a foreign power. It should be noted that this resolution was passed on the day in history when Israel declared statehood in 1948, fulfilling a 3,000-year-old prophecy from the Book of Amos that God would bring his people, Israel, out of captivity.
The resolution in part reads: "We must stand united with Israel in this latest attack against their sovereignty and their right to exist as a nation and for the Jewish people to exist. Israel is one of the United States' staunchest allies. We must stand firm in condemning the hatred against this people that has led to their expulsion from countries across the globe for centuries and to their massacre, including the more than 6 million Jews killed in the Holocaust under the Nazis."
McBride said he and the other authors of the legislation were spurred to action by the latest attacks against Israel and Jerusalem that began May 10, Jerusalem Day – a national holiday that commemorates the reunification of Jerusalem after the Six-Day War in 1967. Rocket attacks and fires have left multiple dead in Israel and surrounding areas.
The resolution states that the Oklahoma House of Representatives calls for a restoration of peace in Israel and asks for prayers for the Jewish people and others involved in the latest escalation of fighting.
The resolution further states: “We stand today united in our support of Israel and the Jewish people and we bless them, and we pray for the peace of Jerusalem.”
The resolution passed the House 61-15, with 25 members not voting.
Copies will be distributed to each member of the Oklahoma congressional delegation.
NOTE: State Rep. Mark McBride, a Republican, serves District 53 in the Oklahoma House of Representatives, which includes parts of Moore, Norman and Oklahoma City.
Oklahoma House of Representatives Passes Resolution Supporting Israel Click on the headline to read the full article at CapitolBeatOK ![]()
Staff Report
Oklahomans who save and invest using OK STABLE, the state-sponsored ABLE Act program for people with disabilities, will now be able to deduct contributions from their state taxes, State Treasurer Randy McDaniel announced Thursday (May 14).
The tax deduction is identical to the one offered for contributions to the Oklahoma 529 College Savings Plan and will be in effect starting with 2021 income tax filing. The new law allows couples to deduct up to $20,000 in contributions per year from their state taxable income. Single taxpayers can deduct contributions of up to $10,000 per year.
Federal law allows states to sponsor savings and investment programs for people with disabilities. Under OK STABLE, Oklahomans with disabilities can save and invest money without jeopardizing need-based benefit programs such as Medicaid and Supplemental Security Income. Funds in an account can be used for qualified expenses, including housing, transportation, education, employment training, assistive technology, and many other expenses.
“People with disabilities face many challenges in life,” Treasurer McDaniel said, in a press release sent to Oklahoma news organizations.
“We should do all we can to ease the burden and support efforts to save for a brighter future.”
The tax deduction for OK STABLE is not only available to individuals with disabilities, it can also be used by friends and family who contribute to an account. As with college savings and IRA deductions, contributions made by the tax filing deadline can be claimed on the previous year’s income tax returns.
House Bill 2178, creating the tax deduction, was requested by Treasurer McDaniel and authored by Rep. Kyle Hilbert of Bristow and Sen. John Michael Montgomery of Lawton. It garnered strong bi-partisan support in the final votes in both the House and Senate.
Governor Kevin Stitt signed the legislation into law on May 7.
Ellyn Novak Hefner, a special care advocate in Oklahoma City, has been an ardent supporter of the program throughout its existence. She has written on the program regularly for The City Sentinel, an independent, locally-owned, non-partisan newspaper based in Oklahoma City. In a commentary for The City Sentinel newspaper this week, she applauded “all Oklahoma law makers for helping to create equality between people with and without disabilities.”
Oklahomans with disabilities can look online to see if they are eligible to open an account by going to OKSTABLE.org. The program was launched in May 2018 and currently contains more than 750 active accounts with $3.7 million.
OK STABLE Program Tax Deduction Enacted Click on the headline to read the full article at CapitolBeatOK ![]()
Staff Report
OKLAHOMA CITY – State Rep. Mickey Dollens, D-Oklahoma City, released the following statement today urging Governor Kevin Stitt not to pull Oklahoma out of the federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program.
“Ending federal pandemic unemployment benefits before they expire in September is shortsighted and punitive to Oklahomans who still require aid. This federal money, intended to stimulate the economy and support our workforce, has already been allocated.
These federal benefits have greatly contributed to Oklahoma’s economic recovery because recipients infuse those dollars back into their local economies.
“Before we rush to end federal pandemic unemployment benefits, we need to take a hard look at the reality facing many Oklahomans today. More than 1 in 7 Oklahomans live below the federal poverty line. For a family of four, that means the household is bringing in less than $26,200.
“The majority of Oklahomans receiving unemployment benefits aren’t scamming the system, they’re trying to get back on their feet. The ones scamming the system are the big corporations who believe they can pay their employees poverty wages while they line their own pockets. We need to do better if we want our state to prosper.
“I urge the governor to consider the current and past hardships over the last year that Oklahomans have faced. Do not prematurely end this needed safety net for our citizens.”
Dollens Issues Statement on Oklahoma PUA (Pandemic Unemployment Assistance) Decision Click on the headline to read the full article at CapitolBeatOK |
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