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Food for body, mind and soul: Friends new and old celebrate Dr. Nyla Ali Khan’s new book. And, the celebration will continue
Click on the headline to read the full article at CapitolBeatOK
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Patrick B. McGuigan
Dr. Nyla Ali Khan, acclaimed author of previous academic works, reveled in the evening of substance and joy at Edmond’s Commonplace Books in May. The work of educational pedagogy is leavened with stirring personal memories of her youth in Kashmir, her development as a teacher, scholar, and mother. She obviously relished the evening with friends, new and old.
“Although some parts of Oklahoma got torrential rain and golf-ball sized hail” the evening of her event, the popular Edmond book nook “did not cancel my book event. I gave my first in-person public talk on the book that is dedicated to my father, Dr. Mohammad Ali Matto.
“The bookstore was beautifully lit with a carefully curated selection of general interest books, and exquisite flower arrangements all over the store. The seating arrangement for my guests and me was illuminated under the glow of fairy-lights. An array of delicious hors d'oeuvres was carefully selected and served to tempt our palates.”
For the all the pure joy of the evening, she wrote reflectively about the experience in an online posting shared with this writer and others via the worldwide web: “Writing a book is a journey on which I am accompanied by kindred souls. The power of the people who accompany me on that journey teaches me that relationships are the most valuable form of capital.”
Her reflections read like a tender love note to a notable life’s companions. Those, she said, “who braved the torrential rain to come out to hear me read. … my friends, who are of diverse political and ideological leanings, taught me about the power of empathetic listening. I owe my commitment to restorative work, in as well as outside the classroom, to some incredibly dedicated and insightful people in the Oklahoma community, who have not given up on building bridges even in politically threatening environments.”
A professor at Oklahoma City Community College (OCC), she looked back on the past year of educational challenge: “While the transition to online classes came with its set of challenges, my students did not throw in the towel. On the contrary, they adjusted to their new reality with a newfound confidence.”
In moments of frustration or even discouragement, she wrote, “My daughter Iman’s creative rebelliousness took me back to my adolescence. Every time I was on the verge of being demoralized by current political realities, she reminded me that life was full of purpose and meaning.”
Celebrating circulation of book dedicated to her father, she remembers “the example of my mother, Suraiya Ali née Abdullah, who has always displayed immense stoicism and fortitude.” Dr. Nyla deems herself grateful for her mother’s “ability to stand up to even the most challenging situations with dignity and quiet self-confidence.”
As for the book, it bears a title that distills provocative content: “Educational Strategies for Youth Empowerment in Conflict Zones: Transforming, not Transmitting, Trauma” (Palgrave Macmillan, 2021). The book is available both in hard cover and digital format.
She reflects, “As we learn to understand more and more about trauma and resilience, we grow by working through the challenges and give one another the gift of seeing strength in one another’s narrative.”
In an interview soon after the book event, Ben Nockels, owner of Commonplace Books in downtown Edmond (Oklahoma), said the gathering was a success despite the stormy weather: “We had a delightful, heartfelt and diligent discussion around the most important issues that face the world. This was true of the broad issues, and personally as well. Although this is a new relationship, at the event we plumbed the depths of important matters. We are new friends. The attendees found her academic and scholarly, yet accessible on this important subject matter.”
Rebecca Thompson posted she enjoyed listening to Dr. Khan’s reading of sections from the academic treatise, a reflection posted after: “It was a joy to hear you share your eloquent words of wisdom and truth. You have a way of painting clearly with words on a page. You are a treasure and we are blessed to have your contributions in Oklahoma.”
Joan Bravo Korenblit recalled, “She read about trauma resulting from political challenges in her native home of Kashmir, and from the Israeli/Palestinian conflict, and from political terrorism in South Africa and more. Dr. Khan spoke of the possibility of healing by telling one’s own story. She told how people from opposing regions of conflict have built common ground (even though they came from forces that have been sworn enemies). Professor Khan’s powerful readings inspired discussion that we left only because the hour was late.”
The eventful weather was no problem for Germaine Odenheimer: “ The torrential rain helped set the stage for an intimate evening. Dr. Kahn’s readings led to great discussion of restorative justice and rising up in the face of adversity. Although the book focuses on the trauma facing young people in Kashmir, the lessons are universal. It was a privilege to be included.”
Suzette Vontell Chang characterized herself as “very grateful to be a part” of the gathering, and “extremely thankful there is a conscientious understanding to be an empathetic listener.” She was reflective, she told Khan in a posting, “for your choice to engage regarding uncomfortable yet necessary conversations.”
D. William Tabbernee, Executive Director Emeritus, Oklahoma Conference of Churches, did not attend, but his online review praised Khan’s volume as a “timely and much-needed book.” From her reflections and consultations with experts in trauma, Dr. Khan, he wrote, “presents practical tools for transforming, rather than perpetuating, such trauma. Dr. Khan rightly utilizes education as the means by which to provide not only contextual insights but helpful strategies to enable young people to deal with the trauma they encounter in some of the world’s greatest conflict zones.”
The personal and sometimes emotional memories laced into the book captured Tabbernee, as they did this writer. His comments: “The death of her beloved father during the writing of this volume adds a level of empathy and understanding rarely seen in a rigorously researched academic, yet practical monograph. I am convinced that Dr. Khan’s ground-breaking work will make an extremely positive difference to countless young people, their families, and communities in South Asia and beyond.:
Dr. Khan’s new journey is to blend academic discipline with kind, uniquely evangelical heart, in a journey of love to tell her story, and ours. She continues as an educator at Oklahoma City Community College, and occasional writer for world and state/local news publications. All this along with service on the Oklahoma Commission on the Status of Women, and the Governor’s International Team.
In addition to many personal meetings and small gatherings to spread her word, she is looking forward to a July 1 “by-invitation-only” event the evening of Thursday, July 1 at the beautiful Gaillardia venue in north Oklahoma City. Hosting will be Cindy and Lance Ruffell, with Ms. Pat Carr as co-host. For additional information, contact Carr via email: [email protected].
Food for body, mind and soul: Friends new and old celebrate Dr. Nyla Ali Khan’s new book. And, the celebration will continue Click on the headline to read the full article at CapitolBeatOK
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Pat McGuigan
Despite broad public support for continued criminal justice reform in Oklahoma, I believe that recommendations from the Criminal Justice Reclassification Coordination Council (a group reporting to the Legislature and to the new Oklahoma Attorney General) would, in present form, increase the state’s prison population in the coming decade.
Felicity Rose, a research and policy director for FWD.us, prepared a detailed analysis of the council’s recommendations which coincide with my reading of the available material.
In a recent interview with The City Sentinel, Ms. Rose was asked if the council had acted in good faith while preparing the report, submitted earlier this year.
Her measured reflection was: “I think the best case scenario is that they didn’t know or fully appreciate the impact of the recommendations.”
She continued, “The hope was that the Council’s recommendations would meet the mandate to hold neutral or reduce the prison population. We haven’t heard that kind of response. In the fall we sent the Council a statement of principles, but we’re not getting the feeling that they are trying to reach the goal of lower incarceration.”
Members of the A.G.’s council are awaiting a widely-anticipated response from the state Corrections Department before submitting the bulk of the existing draft or adapting it in response to critical comments.
Because no legislation in the regular 2021 session dealt with criminal justice reclassification per se, the Corrections agency response could be significant.
Rose observed that the A.G. council’s draft “did focus on the 85-percent-crimes, but that is only 15 percent of the imprisoned population.” The reference is to crimes which require, under existing law, that 85 percent of a sentence be served before a person becomes eligible for parole or “time-served” consideration.
Rose told The City Sentinel, “We hope [the reclassification council] will take a new look and decide not to retain their recommendations that have the effect of increasing the time served by those in the non-85-percent population. Our assumption is that doing even that would have at least some positive effect on the numbers.”
In a prepared analysis, Rose said, “Our analysis shows the Council’s recommendations would increase the prison population by nearly 1,000 people over the next decade and cost between $20 million to $83 million in additional prison expenses. Oklahomans want to safely reduce their incarceration rate and to make the most out of their taxpayer investments — these latest recommendations run counter to that.”
Summing up, a summary from Ms. Rose projected the recommendations “would significantly increase the time a person spends in prison in Oklahoma. Nearly half (48 percent) of people who serve time for a nonviolent offense with two or more priors would spend 39 percent longer in prison.” As the Rose analysis contends, “Oklahomans already serve longer in prison than the national average for nonviolent drug (79 percent longer) and property offenses (70 percent longer) despite a large body of research demonstrating that excessively long prison terms do not improve public safety.”
Oklahoma, Mississipi, Ohio and Arizona are among a group of states with populations 13 percent higher than similarly situated states where criminal justice reforms have actually been implemented. Further, “Oklahoma has one of the highest imprisonment rates in the country and has been one of the leading incarcerators of women for the past three decades.”
“This high incarceration rate has done nothing but spend more than half a billion dollars on prisons a year, and ultimately hurt Oklahoma’s workforce, economy, and families,” said Rose in her formal response. Her summary asserts, “It is incumbent upon the Council to not only meet but exceed its statutory requirement by developing recommendations that will safely decrease the prison population and free up resources for victim services and mental health and drug treatment. As the Council moves forward, continued analysis of the human and fiscal impact of their proposals is needed.”
In her interview with The City Sentinel, Rose observed, “There is a lot of momentum across the country in a positive direction on incarceration issues. As you know, we are also working in Mississippi, which has made some changes that will expand the number of people who are parole-eligible. It is disappointing that these recommendations in Oklahoma stepped away from the earlier momentum. So, the next important step is we are hoping Oklahoma can begin, once again, to take the lead in criminal justice reform, as it had begun to do until the last couple of years.”
The impetus for reform emerged in 2012, when a variety of “justice reinvestment” proposals were enacted, only to fade over years of non-implementation. A pair of statutory citizen initiatives (State Questions 780 and 781) rebooted reform efforts, but a setback came with defeat of another citizen initiative (State Question 805) intended to lock reforms into the state constitution.
Despite the ups and downs of the past nine years, public opinion pollsters have found continued steady support for the incremental reforms intended in recent years.
FWD.us describes itself as “a bipartisan political organization that believes America’s families, communities, and economy thrive when more individuals are able to achieve their full potential. For too long, our broken immigration and criminal justice systems have locked too many people out of the American dream. Founded by leaders in the technology and business communities, we seek to grow and galvanize political support to break through partisan gridlock and achieve meaningful reforms. Together, we can move America forward.”
UPDATE: After the print deadline for The City Sentinel newspaper, where this analysis first appeared June 1, the group “Right-On-Crime” shared with allies (in discussions after conclusion of the recent legislative session) its own critical analysis of the reclassification coordination council’s draft recommendations. The group, which includes many conservatives who have advocated for prison reform and criminal justice sentencing changes, also is awaiting the response of the Corrections agency. And, in other criminal justice news, Oklahoma reformers across the political spectrum were encouraged that Senate Bill 334, a measure designed to undercut the history reform ballot initiative, State Question 780, did NOT advance at the Capitol for a final vote.
Biographical: Editor of The City Sentinel newspaper and founder of CapitolBeatOK.com, an online news service, Pat McGuigan is co-editor of “Crime and Punishment in Modern America” (University Press of America, 1985), a compilation of conservative and libertarian policy recommendations. He is the author of hundreds of news reports, analyses and commentaries on criminal justice issues and on other issues.
After disappointing draft from ‘reclassification coordination council,’ justice reformers hope for improvement Click on the headline to read the full article at CapitolBeatOK ![]()
The City Sentinel Endorsement
This newspaper supported Gentner Drummond for Attorney General in the GOP primary and runoff in 2018. We then endorsed the Democratic nominee in the general election. For 2022, we endorse Gentner Drummond from the git-go.
The City Sentinel – independent, non-partisan and locally-owned – was a critic of the soon-departing attorney general throughout his time in the office. His early departure creates a moment of opportunity, an unusual chance to raise the bar in the office.
Continuing to believe in the importance of Oklahoma-based reflection and reporting on important issues, in recent years The City Sentinel has supported members of both political parties, and others, for key offices.
Mike Hunter’s performance during a tumultuous tenure – often week and ineffectual -- was curiously emblematic of a ruling elitism that over the last couple of decades has, step-by-step, taken the state in the wrong direction.
Over the past year, this grand “land we belong to” has even edged to the brink of non-existence in the traditional meaning of “statehood.” But to be crystal clear: Governor Kevin Stitt is absolutely not the problem, and seems likely to be part of the solution.
Out-of-his-league from Day One, Hunter sought to carry the interests of those who would seek benefit from the state’s crossroads positions on water, opiods, and tribal treaty rights.
Hunter worked, it seemed, to benefit many, but not always those whose benefits are enshrined in law and tradition.
His decision to resign (effective June 1) for personal reasons was a surprise, but his poor performance – even when on the right side of issues -- was predictable.
Many in the state’s recent political elite -- including Democratic leaders who until last decade governed the state – backed Hunter and opposed their own party’s 2018 nominee. However, that was less an example of traditional bipartisanship than a confluence of shared interests.
Capable and intelligent, Gentner Drummond is a Tulsa attorney. It seems appropriate to share this right now and without confusion: The newspaper’s leadership wants readers to know we support Drummond for attorney general.
Memorial Day [was] an apt moment to do so: Drummond served our country in the U.S. Air Force (winner of the Distinguished Flying Cross). He will fight for all of Oklahoma, not just political elites.
Hunter fumbled the state’s case in ‘Murphy v. Oklahoma,’ which ultimately undermined a stronger argument in ‘McGirt v. Oklahoma.’
He took a path separate from other states in controversial litigation against makers of pain-killers (Opioids) and refused to disclose to the public outside counsel working with the law firm he chose to assist on that litigation.
Even prior to Hunter’s tenure, the state had entered a water settlement which gave 25 percent of all excess surface water rights in Southeast Oklahoma to two tribes who may have owned 1-2 percent of those surface rights.
This settlement set up a perverse incentive to sell water to Texas and further compromise Oklahoma's future even though Supreme Court precedent only allowed priority rights for the amount of arable acre feet needed per acre owned.
That settlement ignored the rights of upper-river smaller tribes in western Oklahoma whose water flows into the same Red River as the down-river wealthier tribes who benefited from the elite-oriented accord.
Hunter himself undermined Governor Kevin Stitt’s laudable efforts to forge revitalized ties with smaller Native American nations based in Oklahoma. Throughout his time in the office (to which he was first appointed by former Governor Mary Fallin), Hunter acted in diverse ways to undercut efforts to protect the state’s interests in discussions with the most wealthy tribal nations.
Gentner Drummond will work as an independent voice, an advocate and not an adversary.
He waged an effective campaign for the job in 2018, barely losing to the appointed incumbent. Drummond is professional, competent, effective in court and passionate about Oklahoma and the future. After his defeat, he graciously did his part for Republican unity, endorsing the appointed incumbent.
And now, it’s a new day, and a new opportunity.
A patriot, Drummond is proud of the state he calls home, but he wants to make it better. The governor will soon name an interim to the post, as is his prerogative.
Having supported Kevin Stitt in most of his gubernatorial initiatives and inclined to advocate his reelection in 2022, we support Gentner Drummond for Attorney General.
Note: This endorsement (https://ift.tt/3p6qyRq) was posted Monday, May 31, 2021 at the website of The City Sentinel newspaper. The newspaper is an independent, locally-owned and non-partisan news organization, with '24/7' presence online and a monthly print edition.
Right from the Git-Go: Gentner Drummond for Oklahoma Attorney General Click on the headline to read the full article at CapitolBeatOK ![]()
Pat McGuigan
Oklahoma City – Advocates for robust programs of school choice were happy with enactment of Senate Bill 1080, deemed the Oklahoma Equal Opportunity Education Scholarship Act.
A press release from the advocacy group Choice Matters described S.B. 1080 as “a landmark achievement for those looking to give parents more options when it comes to where and how to educate their children.”
Robert Ruiz, executive director of Choice Matters, said in comments sent to CapitolBeatOK.com, “As a parent, nothing is more important than ensuring your kids are receiving a great education. And nothing is more dispiriting than feeling trapped in a school that isn’t a good fit for your child. Equal Opportunity Scholarships help to ensure that parents and children are never trapped; regardless of their income level, they can still pursue options and find the best fit. That is especially important for children with special needs or children coping with bullying.
“Our lawmakers took a stand today on behalf of giving parents and students more choices and more pathways to success. We are grateful to see that kind of leadership and positive vision at the State Capitol,” Ruiz concluded
Jonathan Small of the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs was effusive after the proposal passed the Legislature and Governor Stitt affixed his signature. In a statement, Small said, “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 a 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, Gov. Kevin Stitt, House Speaker Charles McCall, and the many lawmakers who supported this bill.”
As for Treat, his statement stressed, “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.”
Senate Bill 1080 increases the amount of tax credits within the program to $50 million, with half for private school students and half for public school students. Treat said the program already “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.
The Oklahoma City Republican said, “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.”
State Sen. Carri Hicks, D-Oklahoma City, is a persistent critic of school choice programs, although many of her urban constituents rely on them for access to better schools. She asserted, “I am increasingly disappointed the Legislature chooses to ignore the will of their constituents. Handing our tax dollars over to private schools, that have their own sources of revenue and that only a fraction of Oklahoma’s families utilize, is not equitable. The fact is that 90 percent of Oklahoma’s families choose public schools. That is where our dollars should stay.”
Sen. Hicks’s perspective was overwhelmingly rejected in the Senate on May 18, when the upper chamber gave 36-11 consent to the law (with one member not voting). In the House, the Equal Opportunity Education Scholarship Act garnered 63-36 support (with two members not voting).
Governor Kevin Stitt enthusiastically signed the legislation into law.
The state’s chief executive, “Over the past year, it’s become even more clear that education is not one-size-fits-all. Parents and students across Oklahoma want more options, and this program helps create more opportunities for kids to attend the school that best fits their needs.”
A sketch of the legislation from Choice Matters rebuffed the often-repeated assertions of Hicks and other critics of S.B. 1080: “Equal Opportunity Scholarships help children in low and modest income households attend private schools. Two-thirds of Opportunity Scholarships go to students with incomes at or below 185 percent of the federal poverty level.
“The average income of a scholarship recipient is $45,000 for a family of four. Over 2,500 students receive scholarship dollars each year. In addition to serving students in lower-income families, some are coping with homelessness, addiction, autism, physical disabilities, bullying and other situations which are difficult for public schools to manage.”
The group’s analysis continued, “Equal Opportunity Scholarships also help public schools. Currently, any public school district with a student population under 4,500 (there are 166 districts that meet that qualification) can apply for funds to support ‘innovative educational programs.’ For example, Chickasha public school has used funds to support robotics and STEM programs.
“Tax credits drive the success of this program, which is supported by private dollars. Donors to both public-school programs and private school scholarships receive a 50 percent tax credit on their donations (75 percent tax credit if the donor is willing to donate the same or greater amount for two consecutive years.) However, the $5 million cap had been reached in recent years, discouraging growth and future donations. S.B. 1080 raises that cap to $50 million, which will encourage more donations and more growth in the Equal Opportunity Scholarship program.”
www.CapitolBeatOK.com
Equal Opportunity Education Scholarship Act becomes law in Oklahoma Click on the headline to read the full article at CapitolBeatOK ![]() Pat McGuigan
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Oklahoma City -- As newspapers like The Southwest Ledger and The City Sentinel went to press this week, the widespread assumption in Oklahoma state government circles was that Gov. Kevin Stitt would allow Senate Bill 131 to go into effect without any action on his part.
As the Legislature left town, that was indeed the case.
The new law, aiming to stymie Stitt’s plans to create Managed Care for the Medicaid Expansion process, was advanced by state Rep. Marcus McEntire and Sen. Jessica Garvin, both Duncan Republicans.
The result is a disappointment for Stitt and his hopes to bring burgeoning health care costs under some kind of control.
Compounding the disappointment, S,B. 131 assures that mixed results for patients will continue.
The governor and the Managed Care Organizations he chose last winter will be able to bring some patients into managed care, but the profitable “nonprofit” hospitals will retain their massive financial returns for at least the next four years.
As reflected in last week’s column (‘Good News and Bad News on Managed Care: A Commentary'), 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.”
NOTE: Pat McGuigan crafted a series of commentaries, analyses and reports on Medicaid Expansion and Managed Care. To study the issue from Pat’s perspective, visit www.City-Sentinel.com or https://ift.tt/3c3Sujp.
Not-so-random thoughts on Managed Care Click on the headline to read the full article at CapitolBeatOK ![]()
Angela Monson
In late May, many individuals across the state mourned the death of Senator Bob Cullison, a statesman extraordinaire.
His passing affords those of us who knew him and worked with him an opportunity to remember and reflect upon his tenacity, his style, his demeanor and his friendship. I am one of the fortunate folks who had an opportunity to work with Cullison for many years and in several capacities, and I am pleased to share thoughts about his life and his contributions to the State Senate – and to Oklahoma.
I met Sen. Cullison in 1981 when I started a job -- a newly created position for the Oklahoma Legislature.
As one of only two joint employees (the Legislative Service Bureau had recently been reorganized and the House of Representatives and the Senate employed their own individual staff), I had the good fortune to work with members of both Houses.
It was also the first time I worked with Sen. Cullison. Although his participation on the Joint Committee on Federal Funds (the committee I staffed) was limited, he clearly knew and understood the implications of the substantial loss of federal funding for state and community-based services. He chose to be an advocate for programs dependent upon federal dollars, encouraging and debating in favor of the replacement of lost federal funds with state dollars. As a result, many services, such as those provided by community health centers, continued without major disruption.
In the late 1980s, I began working for a small not-for-profit focused on expanding health care coverage in Oklahoma. Sen. Cullison had not yet become President Pro Tempore, but he was definitely a leader in the state Senate.
We became close allies, advocating for children and mothers who had very limited access to health care services. I am not sure what might have occurred in his life before entering the Legislature, but Bob Cullison had a heart and compassion for those who were in need; and he was willing to use his influence to make life better for them.
In 1988, shortly after Sen. Cullison was elected President Pro Tempore, for the first time in any substantial way, Oklahoma made a substantial expansion of enrollees in the Medicaid program. Coverage was extended to children and pregnant women. It is possible that such a dramatic change could have occurred under other Senate leadership, but resistance from several members on the other side of the aisle was quickly put to bed by Sen. Cullison. I am grateful to him and his leadership to ensure the passage of a key policy reform.
As President Pro Tempore, Senator Cullison served with three different House Speakers: Jim Barker, Steve Lewis and finally, Glen Johnson. As I observed his interactions with leaders of the “Lower House”, Sen. Cullison always seemed to be somewhat reserved, soft spoken, always much more willing to listen than to speak.
However, it did not take long to realize, as the old saying goes, “still water runs deep”. By no means was he a wimp (please excuse the use of such jargon, but there is no better descriptive word that I can use here)! Throughout his term as President of the Senate, Sen. Cullison was the constant.
As leadership in the House changed rather rapidly (three Speakers in about 3 years (1989-91), I contend that the progress made by the Legislature, including House Bill 1017, the legendary education reform bill, occurred largely because of the stability provided by Cullison.
In 1993, I became a member of the Oklahoma State Senate.
Sen. Cullison was President of the Senate when I was elected. After serving for three years as a member of the Oklahoma House, I knew first-hand the importance of the Leader.
During the few years Sen. Cullison and I served together, my respect and admiration for him grew. My earlier assessment of his demeanor and style still held true. His door was open to everyone, he listened, he sought input, he encouraged. Without question, Bob Cullison was a Senator’s Senator.
A few years after Sen. Cullison departed the Oklahoma Legislature to become a member of the Oklahoma Tax Commission, I became chair of the Senate Finance Committee. That is the panel that heard the bills that impacted the collection of state tax revenue in Oklahoma and other bills guiding the Commission as an agency.
Both of us were then in new roles, and quite different in the dynamics of the positions, yet nothing changed: His willingness to help, candor and genuine desire to make things better was as clear as ever.
He and the other Commissioners made great strides to improve Oklahoma tax systems, and to advocate for a tax structure that was fair and equitable – especially for working families in Oklahoma.
Sen. Cullison will be missed by many. The things that he accomplished in Oklahoma will impact the lives of those who live here for many generations to come, if not for all times.
I can not end these brief reflections without also expressing appreciation to Sen. Bernice Shedrick, Sen. Cullison’s partner for many years. Their collective desire to improve education in Oklahoma, and their recognition of the value and worth of Oklahoma’s working families, strengthened their individual influence.
Many shared many things with Sen. Cullison – including a great love for the State of Oklahoma. I am fortunate to be included in that number.
Note: This tribute was composed for The City Sentinel newspaper, June 2021 print edition. https://ift.tt/3oZWyXn . Angela Monson is a former state Senator, who served with Robert V. Cullison. He died in late May.
Tribute: Mourning the death of Bob Cullison, a statesman extraordinaire Click on the headline to read the full article at CapitolBeatOK ![]()
Pat McGuigan
Julius Jones is innocent. He must never be executed.
He merits not only commutation in the short term, but a finding of actual innocence in the long run.
His hearing before the Pardon and Parole (P&P) Board is set for September 13 at 10 a.m.. Some dramatics connected with the efforts of former Attorney General Mike Hunter and Oklahoma County District Attorney David Prater (who is not seeking reelection) must not detract from the strong case for actual innocence in the case of Julius Jones.
Last year, state Rep. Kevin McDugle, R-Broken Arrow, laid out the case for permanent reforms in Oklahoma’s death penalty provisions.
He contributed wisdom in supporting an Interim Study that included serious examination of recommendations first made in the Oklahoma Death Penalty Review Commission’s historic report.
In the course of that Interim Study, McDugle made a strong case for the actual innocence of Richard Glossip.
Somehow, I had missed his March 3 letter to Governor Kevin Stitt and members of the Pardon and Parole Board. He strongly encouraged commutation of the death sentence facing Julius Jones. McDugle wrote that with commutation Oklahoma could “avoid a grave miscarriage of justice.”
He reflected, “I have often said that, if Oklahoma is going to carry out executions, it must do them right. At a minimum, that means ensuring that every prisoner on death row has received a fair trial and that no compelling evidence exists to call into question their guilt.”
Rep. McDugle’s well-sustained argument is worth quoting at length:
“In the case of Julius Jones, I believe we are falling short of that threshold on both fronts. Regarding his trial, an under-prepared and overwhelmed defense team failed to present Mr. Jones’ alibi and failed to show the jury photographs that indicate Mr. Jones did not fit the eyewitness description of the shooter. Meanwhile, the jury was never told that the prosecution’s star witness, co-defendant Christopher Jordan, was being offered a reduced sentence to testify against Mr. Jones. Each one of these developments may have offered the ‘reasonable doubt’ Mr. Jones needed to avoid conviction if they had been presented to a jury.
“Furthermore, new evidence uncovered by Mr. Jones’ defense team and documented by both ‘The Frontier’ and the ‘Washington Post’ supports the possibility that Mr. Jones is innocent and has been wrongfully imprisoned by the state for nearly two decades. The fact that multiple men, with no knowledge of each other and no ties to Mr. Jones, have individually come forward to disclose that Christopher Jordan has openly bragged about killing Paul Howell and framing his co-defendant, is a revelation that cannot be ignored. However one feels about the death penalty, it seems impossible to support the execution of one man for murder when another man has confessed on multiple occasions to committing that same murder.
“For all these reasons, I urge you to conduct a serious and fair-minded review of Mr. Jones’ case. Having reviewed the evidence available in the public record, I am confident that you will see fit to commute his sentence and avoid a grave miscarriage of justice.”
The McDugle letter should be studied by those who still support Oklahoma executions, but particularly by those who consider the Jones case “Exhibit A” in the case against the process as practiced in Oklahoma.
Dale Baich and his colleague Amanda Bass have battled long and hard for Jones.
In a May 11 letter to Tom Bates, now the executive director at the P&P Board, Baich argued against Hunter’s attempt to intervene against Jones. (Engaging in reasonable speculation, it would not be surprising if Jones’ lawyers move to strike a protest letter Hunter, now former A.G., entered in the Jones commutation process.)
Baich vigorously opposes a plan to prevent Julius Jones from addressing the P&P Board on September 13, explicitly confronting the assertion Jones had two “misconducts”.
Baich relates that in 2020, “we sent a letter to Scott Crowe, Director of the Oklahoma Department of Corrections explaining why the allegations of misconduct are unfounded. … [T]he two incidents concerned the alleged possession of a cell phone charger and an alleged unauthorized conference call.”
From Baich: “March 6, 2020: Mr. Jones was strip-searched and placed semi-naked in a shower while his property was confiscated, and his cell searched. He was written up for allegedly having a cell phone charger in his possession (but no cell phone). The phone charger was never shown to Mr. Jones despite his request. Instead, he was shown a grainy photocopy of a photograph of the alleged cell phone charger that is completely indiscernible. We requested all documentation pertaining to this incident, including a video of the search. Our request was essentially ignored. We were given only another copy of the same undecipherable photocopy, and the video of the search was not provided to us. Under the circumstances, we do not believe there is any evidence or basis to characterize this unsupported allegation as a misconduct.”
Continuing, for April 22, 2020: “Mr. Jones was written up for allegedly participating in an ‘unauthorized conference call on February 28, 2020 (with no explanation as to why the write-up happened almost two months later). That assertion is not true. To the contrary, Mr. Jones had an authorized call with his sister, during which she put him on speaker phone so he could be heard by other people who were in the room with Mr. Jones’ sister.”
Baich contends – and I agree – neither asserted event “is based on any actual evidence. The timing, lack of transparency, and the Department of Corrections’ refusal to respond to our reasonable requests is troubling. If those alleged misconducts are going to be considered by the Board, it should only be based on a full consideration of all alleged evidence, which, to date, has been withheld from us.”
(Corrections has also asserted Jones had bad results in a drug screening – but the case for that is so weak it merits mere mention, not serious consideration.)
Baich expressed – and I agree – “that these alleged misconducts were not issued as a pretext to retaliate against Mr. Jones and prejudice his ability to get a full and fair hearing before the Board.” Further, he challenged an assertion that Corrections can keep Jones from the commutation hearing because of where he is serving his sentence: “There is no provision in the Code, nor are we aware of any authority, that would allow Mr. Jones to be excluded from appearing merely because he is housed in a maximum-security prison.”
In his letter to Bates, Baich (no shrinking violet, for which I am grateful) reports, “You note that an investigator is currently working on a report on Mr. Jones case for the Board. If the investigator needs any additional information from Mr. Jones, please have the investigator reach out directly to us as counsel, rather than going through prison staff.
Denied access to prosecution files (once promised by Prater), Baich notes that the Oklahoma Death Penalty Review Commission recommended, “All Oklahoma district attorneys’ offices and the Office of the Attorney General should be required to allow open-file discovery at all stages of a capital case, including during the direct appeal, state post-conviction review, federal habeas corpus review, and any clemency proceedings.”
Baich’s letter was copied to Kyle Counts, General Counsel for the P&P board, Adam Luck, Board Chair, and members C. Alien McCall, Larry Morris, Kelley Doyle, and Scott Williams.
Originally set for June, the long-anticipated hearing has already slipped into the fall. Pressures on the board (including announced investigations of members) smack of inappropriate pressure.
Some wonder if D.A. Prater is following the 2013 playbook develop in a previous round of pressure on the board.
The unwillingness to surrender files promised in the past raises many questions.
If the withheld evidence is a slam dunk, if they are so sure of the contents, why not share the information with defense lawyers and the general public?
There are some who wait on federal courts to show up, like Deus Ex Machina from ancient Greek plays, to rescue the state from the worst abuses of the death penalty process. But that is not the job of the judiciary.
Elected representatives and public officials would best serve the state by ending the discredited system of capital punishment as actually practiced.
Short of that, responsible players in our state government should at least work through the process to take the worst cases off the table – right now, or at least this year.
Another Innocent Man -- Julius Jones merits commutation, for starters Click on the headline to read the full article at CapitolBeatOK ![]()
Patrick B. McGuigan
To celebrate the formal release of Dr. Nyla Ali Khan’s newest book, a SPECIAL EVENT is scheduled for Thursday evening, May 27 at 5 p.m. Complimentary refreshments will be served for the gathering at Commonplace Books in downtown Edmond (21 S. Broadway 73074).
Dr. Nyla, who often contributes to CapitolBeatOK.com as a commentator or reporter, is a respected Oklahoman.
A native of Kashmir, she became an American citizen only a few months ago.
In a review of Dr. Nyla’s book, Professor Stephen Morrow from Oklahoma City Community College (OCCC) observed:
"Professor Nyla Ali Khan’s newest book, ‘Educational Strategies for Youth Empowerment in Conflict Zones: Transforming, not Transmitting, Trauma’ (Palgrave Macmillan, 2021), is a call to action: action formulated in a deep consciousness of understanding and caring.
“Composed out of her own inborn care for the peoples of Jammu and Kashmir and their trauma of insurgency and counterinsurgency, Professor Khan asks of her readers to develop a deeper consciousness of the suffering and alienation of the young people there and beyond.
“Simply put, as readers, we are asked to care.”
In his review, Morrow also wrote:
“I refer Dr. Khan’s work, first and foremost, to the Western reader though her inclusive research and analysis of trauma take us around the historically traumatized globe.
“This consciousness of care is set out through the researchers, thinkers, sociologists, psychologists, and organizations who make it their life work to care for the traumatized.
“Khan’s insights lay out the deeper human condition that traumas impose damage upon. A fragility of life, that once aware of and conscious of, gives greater insight to the connection and responsibility we have to each other across the globe.
“The care work she calls us to are transforming the ills of trauma to the agency of well-being and change agent."
Speaking for myself, I appreciate Dr. Nyla Ali Khan.
She has a heart for the dispossessed -- especially for students living in zones of conflict around the world. For those who read her works regularly, this may seem like a statement of the obvious. That’s ok: Stating the obvious, as I have written elsewhere, can be an act of courage in many circumstances.
Since first I met her in June 2019 (after having read through some of her works in the months before), each exchange of more than a few minutes has turned to our shared concerns for contemporary students in America, and in many other places.
While flowing from the tradition of her past scholarly works, there is in this new work a deeper personal and reflective tone.
Yes, this new book is an academic work. Still, the intelligent non-academic can study it with deep benefit, should they possess or if they fashion a heart open to practical, methodical, caring steps toward a better world.
Americans are blessed – privileged, if you will – to live in a country where ideas are actually taken seriously, at least by many of us.
Noble titles as a means to privilege are banned here, yet noble spirits have the liberty to explore and flourish. And, each American has the freedom to recognize, and honor, the best among us.
History teaches lessons, but the past does not bind anyone to pre-determined outcomes. Social conditions can seem limiting, yet America is a place uniquely open to the shattering of expectations for those born without fortune or a famous last name.
America is a place where a woman of special merit, an immigrant, can emerge as a local leader within a matter of years – a mere fraction of one human lifetime.
America is a land of possibilities – as was intended by the best of our ancestors.
Nyla Ali Khan is a brilliant example of possibilities, many of which are realized already.
Her book offers means to help others. It is a book for we, the living, reaching for a brighter future.
Note: Be sure you go to the proper location! This Thursday’s event is at Commonplace Books, 21 S. Broadway in the heart of downtown Edmond.
May 27 book event for Dr. Nyla Khan’s 'Educational Strategies for Youth Empowerment’ spurs reflections on possibilities Click on the headline to read the full article at CapitolBeatOK ![]()
Staff Report
OKLAHOMA CITY – State Representative Cyndi Munson, D-Oklahoma City, has been elected to serve as House Democratic Leader. Her term will begin after the November 2022 general elections.
The Oklahoma House Democratic Caucus held caucus elections early this month to determine caucus leadership for the 59th Legislative Session. Under caucus rules, the new leadership team will not begin their new role until after next year’s general elections.
“All of the members of the House Democratic Caucus are talented and remain dedicated to a better Oklahoma,” said House Minority Leader Emily Virgin, D-Norman.
“The members elected … are going to be instrumental in ensuring that millions of Oklahomans have their voice heard. I appreciate each of them for stepping forward to serve, and I look forward to helping them in any way that I can.”
Munson, who currently serves as the caucus chair, will assume the Caucus Leader’s post late next year. “I’d like to thank my colleagues in the House Democratic Caucus for their trust in me,” said Munson in the caucus statement sent to The City Sentinel newspaper, CapitolBeatOK.com and other news organizations.
“Our mission now is to expand our caucus so our legislature can truly represent the growing diversity and voices of all Oklahomans. As a young Asian-American woman growing up in Oklahoma, I would have never imagined that I could someday become a state legislator, much less the leader of the House Democratic Caucus. I hope this is a message to every under-represented Oklahoman — you are seen, you are heard, and you can do whatever you dream to accomplish.”
Rep. Trish Ranson, D-Stillwater, was elected to serve as the next caucus chair of the House Democratic Caucus, replacing Rep. Munson in that post.
“I feel truly blessed to have this vote of confidence,” Ranson said. “As a former educator, there are quite a few things, like ensuring everyone feels heard or just staying organized on a daily basis, that translates well into the position of caucus chair. The reason I ran is that I believe I can use my educator skillset to help our caucus and ultimately our state.”
Rep. John Waldron, D-Tulsa, was elected to serve as the next vice-chair of the House Democratic Caucus.
“I ran for caucus vice chair because historian wasn’t an option,” Waldron said. “The vice-chair position is an opportunity to help our caucus stay engaged and to ensure that we are all moving forward with the same foot. I appreciate the members who voted, and I can’t wait to serve the people of Oklahoma in this capacity.”
www.CapitolBeatOK.com
Representative Cyndi Munson will be Oklahoma House Democratic Caucus leader after November 2022 election Click on the headline to read the full article at CapitolBeatOK ![]()
Ray Carter, Center for Independent Journalism
Members of the Oklahoma House of Representatives have passed a significant expansion of a school-choice program that has benefited thousands of low-income students, sending the measure to Gov. Kevin Stitt to be signed into law.
“These opportunities are real,” said House Majority Floor Leader Jon Echols, R-Oklahoma City, “and they change the trajectories of peoples’ lives.”
Senate Bill 1080 increases the size of the Oklahoma Equal Opportunity Education Scholarship Act, which provides tax credits to those who donate to organizations that provide private-school scholarships. (https://ift.tt/3f6LYKO )
Under current law, the Oklahoma Equal Opportunity Education Scholarship program is limited to $3.5 million annually in tax credits for donations to organizations that provide private-school scholarships. S.B. 1080 would raise that figure to $25 million.
Under the program, at least 58 percent of private-school scholarship recipients must qualify for the federal free-and-reduced lunch program, ensuring most students benefiting from the program are from working families.
The legislation also boosts a tax-credit program for private donations to public schools, raising that program’s cap from $1.5 million annually to $25 million. The legislation also makes all public schools eligible for the program for the first time and provides additional avenues for donors to support local public schools.
Echols said the legislation would provide at least $33.3 million in private funding for each side of the program if the full $25 million in credits is expended. That provides a net increase in public-school funding compared to what would occur if no credits were issued, he noted.
The Oklahoma Equal Opportunity Education Scholarship Act has been described as life-changing and lifesaving. Its beneficiaries have included students previously trapped in schools that produce poor academic outcomes, students attending “sober school” while recovering from addiction, children recovering from trauma and abuse, and homeless students.
Supporters noted children from often-dire situations have benefited from the program and many more would be aided by its expansion.
Rep. Ryan Martinez, R-Edmond, recalled his childhood when he and three other boys, all from low-income households whose families had immigrated to the United States years ago, were “forced to go to the school that failed their parents and their grandparents before them.”
He said the four boys were quickly “labeled as problem children,” and the attitude of school officials was, “Let’s face it: We don’t have the time or the resources. These are just little brown kids that are probably going to end up drug dealers, prisoners, dead. Who cares? Just another statistic, right?”
One of the boys dropped out of school in the ninth grade and died of an overdose by age 18. The second dropped out in the tenth grade, became a drug dealer, and died in a shooting by age 20. The third boy graduated high school but still struggled to find gainful employment.
“He did graduate high school, but never learned how to read,” Martinez said. “You can imagine it’s really, really tough to find a job with a meaningful income not knowing how to read.”
By age 24, that boy was in prison for drug crimes.
Of the four boys, Martinez was the only one to find success — a fact he attributed to his parents working multiple jobs to pay for him to attend a private school.
“I got an opportunity to succeed in life because of that choice that my parents were able to make,” Martinez said. “I always wonder what my friends that are dead or in prison or overdosed, what would have happened to their life if they would have had an opportunity like I did? Could they have gone to college? Could they have been meaningful members of society that had a chance to succeed? I think that they could have. And if this bill helps one kid, I’m in.”
Rep. Chad Caldwell, R-Enid, said a child with autism, Jordan, was adopted out of the state’s foster care system and benefited from the scholarship law.
“Through the Equal Opportunity Scholarship fund, Jordan’s mom was able to find him a school that better fits his needs and is, according to her, challenging him to make sure that he meets his full potential,” Caldwell said.
Another child, Riley, was born with a heart defect, kidney defect, brain abnormalities, epilepsy, and cognitive behavioral delays.
“Doctors told Riley’s parents she would never walk,” Caldwell said. “But because of the teachers in her school and the work they did, she’s walking today. And it was only through the Equal Opportunity Scholarship fund that they had that choice.”
Rep. Toni Hasenbeck, an Elgin Republican who was a public-school teacher, said a one-size-fits-all approach to students does not serve them well.
“When I was a first-year teacher in a very small, rural school, I had a homeless student. I had a student who had spent her junior year in a drug-rehabilitation program. I had a student who was asked to not come back to CareerTech at Christmastime. I had a student who was a 19-year-old sophomore who had gone to live with an aunt because he had been involved with a gang,” Hasenbeck said. “And I went back my second year. And throughout my educational career, I learned that there aren’t any resources for kids like that available to public-school students. So the entire time of my career I spent trying to find ways that we could fill the gaps for those particular students.”
She said S.B. 1080 would help similar students across Oklahoma.
“This is going to be good for those kids who fall between the gaps,” Hasenbeck said.
Critics of the program dismissed Equal Opportunity Education Scholarship success stories.
“This isn’t some heart-string-tugging commercial where we all believe that we’re helping that ‘one impoverished family in that next town over from us,’” said Rep. Melissa Provenzano, D-Tulsa. “By and large, this is a discount coupon, mostly for the upper class.”
Other critics suggested there is little reason to expect students like those described by Martinez to emerge from public school prepared for life.
“The problem, it’s not education,” said Rep. Andy Fugate, D-Oklahoma City. “It is kids who are raised by wolves.”
Critics also argued tax-credit scholarships drain money from public schools.
Rep. Jacob Rosecrants, D-Norman, called the scholarship program a “Trojan horse” that will “unleash a surprise attack within the walls of our public schools.” He said tax credits associated with S.B. 1080 “will lower the amount of tax dollars that our state collects at a time when our public schools cannot afford it.”
“This is the first step to privatization of public ed,” said Rep. Trish Ranson, D-Stillwater.
But supporters said those arguments are fatally flawed.
“For that rationale to hold true, every tax credit and every tax deduction that someone takes is taking money away from our public schools,” Caldwell said.
“It means that every deduction you take for donating to your church or to the local animal shelter, what you’re really doing is just ripping the money right out of the hands of the kids in your district. But is that true? Does that logic even make sense? Of course not.”
Many who criticized Senate Bill 1080 voted (https://ift.tt/3u8MPyY) earlier this year for legislation to provide $20 million in subsidies to film productions, and House Democrats endorsed a budget plan (https://ift.tt/3vdbPGr) that included $24 million for an “earned income tax credit.”
Echols noted lawmakers have provided enormous funding increases to public schools in recent years, including a record appropriation this year.
“During my five years as floor leader, we have added over three-quarters of a billion dollars into funding for public education,” Echols said.
Rep. Regina Goodwin, D-Tulsa, said that increase “falls far short of what we should have been doing.”
“I don’t think anybody, any of us, deserves a pat on the back for what we’ve done for education in Oklahoma,” Goodwin said.
S.B. 1080 previously passed the Senate on a 36-11 vote (https://ift.tt/3yvCC2K) , and on Thursday (May 20) it won approval in the Oklahoma House on a 63-36 vote (http://webserver1.lsb.state.ok.us/cf/2021-22%20SUPPORT%20DOCUMENTS/votes/House/SB1080_VOTES.HTM).
The bill now proceeds to Gov. Kevin Stitt, who has long endorsed expansion of the program.
Final passage was hailed by groups that have fought to increase school-choice options for all Oklahomans.
“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,” said Jonathan Small, president of the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs.
“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 a better place — a place where families from all backgrounds have the opportunity to achieve and thrive.”
Jennifer Carter, Oklahoma Senior Advisor for the American Federation for Children, said S.B. 1080 is “the largest expansion of a school choice tax credit program in the country so far this year and makes clear Oklahoma puts kids and their parents first.”
“This expansion means thousands of additional children will be able to access the school that best fits their needs and makes possible the opportunities they deserve,” Carter said.
NOTE: This story is reposted with permission. It first appeared here:
https://ift.tt/3hYF9Np. 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 website, 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.
School Choice bill headed to Governor Stitt Click on the headline to read the full article at CapitolBeatOK |
Pat McGuiganThe dean of all Oklahoma Journalism, Mr Patrick McGuigan; has a rich history of service in many aspects of both covering the news and producing the information that the public needs to know. Archives
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