This Week In Oklahoma Politics

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and ACLU Oklahoma Executive Director Ryan Kiesel about an override of the governor's veto of the state budget, Governor Stitt forms a bipartisan committee to deal with the federal funds to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic and the Senate says sit won't confirm Interim Health Commissioner Gary Cox to the job leading the agency.Plus, the trio discusses the governor signing a bill requiring notarization of absentee ballots and the Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association ousts two tribes who signed a gaming compact with Governor Stitt.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and ACLU Oklahoma Executive Director Ryan Kiesel about lawmakers attaching strings to a new round of executive powers to the governor, legislative leaders announce a budget deal and Republicans push through a bill requiring notarization of absentee ballots.The trio also discusses an opinion from the attorney general saying the governor overstepped his authority in authorizing gaming compacts with two Oklahoma tribes and a federal judge puts a further delay on executions in the state. 

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and ACLU Oklahoma Executive Director Ryan Kiesel about State Attorney General Mike Hunter calling for an audit of the Department of Health and cities follow quickly behind the state after Governor Stitt announced plans to reopen Oklahoma for business.The trio also discusses state leaders asking if its possible to cancel federal unemployment checks of $600 a week and lawmakers are scheduled to return on Monday.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and ACLU Oklahoma Executive Director Ryan Kiesel about a call from Governor Stitt to start reopening businesses in the state starting this week and the State Board of Equalization declares a revenue failure to fund the government through the current fiscal year, but the state faces a shortfall in the next fiscal year of $1.3B.The trio also discusses new gaming compacts declared by Governor Stitt with the Comanche Nation and the Otoe-Missouria Tribe as well as a lawsuit against the secretary of the State Election Board about easing restrictions on notaries for mail-in ballots.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and ACLU Oklahoma Executive Director Ryan Kiesel about the lawsuit by legislative leaders to get the governor to call a revenue emergency so they can fund the government through the month of June and number provided by the governor's office on how many inmates are getting released in the latest round of commutations were incorrect. The trio also a "Worst-Case Scenario" for the state tax collections with the decline in the gas prices and the economic impact of COVID-19 as well as three-day filing ends for candidates running in the 2020 elections.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and ACLU Oklahoma Executive Director Ryan Kiesel about the battle between the Governor and lawmakers over $500M in supplemental funding passed overwhelmingly by the legislature and the governor's health emergency gets approves allowing him to suspend any laws and regulations interfering with response to the COVID-19 pandemic.The trio also discusses an appeal by the state hoping to overturn a lower courts decision to halt Governor Stitt's ban on abortions as elective surgery and a new poll shows strong support from Oklahoma likely voters for the governor and President Trump's handling of the health crisis.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and ACLU Oklahoma Executive Director Ryan Kiesel about a revenue shortfall expected soon from the State of Oklahoma for the remainder of the current fiscal year, unofficial numbers show about 45,000 unemployment claims last week and Governor Stitt's emergency declaration over COVID-19 might have unintentionally killed signature gathering on initiative petitions set for the November ballot.The trio also discusses a lawsuit against the state after Governor Stitt added abortion to the list of suspended procedures during the Coronavirus pandemic and Oklahoma is mourning the loss of former U.S. Representative and Senator Tom Coburn.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and ACLU Oklahoma Executive Director Ryan Kiesel about Governor Stitt's "Safer at Home" policy to curb the outbreak of COVID-19, a US Department of Labor email asking local employment agencies to limit the amount of information released to the public and the State Health Department is withholding much needed medical supplies pending an audit.The trio also discusses state schools closing their buildings while moving to distance learning and the capitol closes for this week as lawmakers and staff get ready to work remotely.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and ACLU Oklahoma Executive Director Ryan Kiesel about Senate Bill 661 to temporarily alter the state's Open Meetings laws allowing public bodies to teleconference into meetings during the COVID-19 crisis and state lawmakers worry about the budget with oil prices declining as well as businesses and casinos closing to stem the spread of the corona virus.The trio also discusses news of the state's public schools closing through at least April 6th and Oklahoma City and Tulsa ordering restrictions on restaurants, bars and entertainment venues in an attempt to flatten the curve on contagion.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and ACLU Oklahoma Executive Director about a ruling from State Attorney General Mike Hunter telling the governor he can't keep funds from tribal gaming compacts in an escrow while he waits on a federal lawsuit, a drop in oil prices and Oklahoma energy company stocks could have a major impact on the state's budget and Governor Stitt calls on the health department to move forward with paperwork to file with the federal government for Medicaid expansion.The trio also discusses legal action from the AG against Epic Virtual Charter School over withheld documents in an investigation ordered by the governor in July and Senator Jim Inhofe announces he is seeking a fifth term in office.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and ACLU Oklahoma Executive Director Ryan Kiesel about the results of the Presidential Primary Super Tuesday vote in the Sooner State, seven counties pass new laws allowing liquor stores to stay open on Sundays & Oklahoma City voters say no to an eighth cent sales tax for municipal parks.The trio also discusses renewed effort by supporters of Medicaid expansion to get the governor to set a date for a vote on State Question 802 and a measure heading to the full House of Representatives could make it more difficult to get an initiative petition before voters.Programs like this are made possible through support from KOSU members who are listeners like you.Consider a gift to KOSU in support of This Week in Oklahoma Politics at KOSU.org.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and ACLU Oklahoma Executive Director Ryan Kiesel about Oklahoma's involvement in the upcoming Super Tuesday Presidential Primary, a call to the Attorney General on whether Governor Stitt can keep tribal gaming funds in an escrow without putting them in state coffers and Stitt signs his first bill of 2020 to increase transparency in private school money from public dollars.The trio also discusses an investigation into Dove Charter School over accusations of giving student information to a third party for mailers to students and the dismissal of a lawsuit from Epic Virtual Charter School against a state lawmaker.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and ACLU Oklahoma Executive Director Ryan Kiesel about the State Equalization Board certifying revenue estimates showing Oklahoma will have about $85 million less to spend then the current year, state leaders say they have the drugs to resume lethal injection executions for the first time since 2015 and Governor Stitt wants to expand Medicaid by July of this year.The trio also discusses the Super Tuesday election coming up for Oklahoma on March Third and bills are flying out of committees as the first major deadline looms at the State Capitol.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and ACLU Oklahoma Executive Director Ryan Kiesel about a judges order to send the legal battle over tribal gamin compacts into mediation, Governor Stitt hiring a Washington, DC firm to re-imagine the structure of the state government and the battle of abortion bills at the state capitol between revoking the license of a doctor who performs abortion and an outright abolition of the practice.The trio also discusses a move by the Secretary of State allowing a recreational marijuana initiative petition to start gathering signatures even though the leader of the group of supporters is currently in jail for outraging public decency and the state of Oklahoma unveils a new brand with the tag line "Imagine That".

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and ACLU Oklahoma Executive Director Ryan Kiesel about the governor's plan to use federal block grants to expand Medicaid, his State of the State Address focusing on government efficiency, health care and even gaming compacts as well as releasing his executive budget for the coming fiscal year starting on July First.The trio also discusses a ruling from the state Supreme Court sending an initiative petition on redistricting back to the drawing board and another initiative petition to repeal the permitless carry gun law.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and ACLU Oklahoma Executive Director Ryan Kiesel about the announcement from Mental Health and Substance Abuse Commissioner Terri White stepping down from her position and the House Speaker opposing Governor Stitt by saying the tribal gaming compacts automatically renewed for another 15 years on January First.The trio also discusses the legislature getting new rules fro the State Board of Education making it harder for schools to stay with four-days of education per week and the governor is getting ready to hold his second State of the State Address to kick off the 2020 legislative session.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and ACLU Oklahoma Executive Director Ryan Kiesel about the Supreme Court declaring unconstitutional a bill requiring the top 25 alcohol brands make their products available to all distributors and justices hearing argument from supporters and opponents of an initiative petition to change the way Oklahoma redraws its district lines.The trio also discusses the Muscogee (Creek) Nation considering joining in the lawsuit over tribal gaming compacts and state Senator Jason Smalley announces he's leaving on January 31st.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with ACLU Oklahoma Executive Director Ryan Kiesel and Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill about Attorney General Mike Hunter filing a lawsuit against major opioid distributors in the state, the governor's task force on corrections reform releases its report while also asking for more time to come up with detailed plans to reduce the state's prison population and two initiative petitions to make recreational marijuana legal in the state are getting push back from the state's medical marijuana industry.The trio also discusses Governor Stitt's call to have the state Superintendent appointed to the position rather than elected and the Governor gives himself an "A" for his first year in office.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and, sitting in for Ryan Kiesel, ACLU Oklahoma Director of Policy and Advocacy Nicole McAfee about the impasse between the governor and the tribes over gaming compacts which now looks headed to court, dueling ballot initiatives to legalize recreational marijuana are getting ready for voter signatures, while medical marijuana provided the state with an additional $55M in its first full year on the books.Plus, the trio discusses the estimated $8.4B budget in the 2021 fiscal year which starts July First and legislation from a state senator to raise the minimum wage to $10.50 an hour.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and ACLU Oklahoma Executive Director Ryan Kiesel about a petition filed to allow voters to add recreational marijuana to the state constitution, the battle between Governor Stitt and tribal leaders over gaming compacts heats up as the end of the year gets closer and Oklahoma City Democratic Representative Shane Stone delays his resignation by one day removing the need for a special election.The trio also discusses a lawsuit by Epic Virtual Charter School against State Senator Ron Sharpe over allegations of slander and libel. Also, parents and teachers of schools with four-day weeks are calling on lawmakers not to adopt policies which could end them.