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 accusations of thousands of dollars in back child support against House Appropriations Chairman Kevin Wallace, legislators are heading into the 2019 session with more than 2800 bills and one of those is a bipartisan measure to make State Question 780 retroactive. The trio also discusses a series of Republican bills which appear to be in retaliation against teachers for last year's walkout and other bills heading before lawmakers this year.

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 inaugural ceremony and speech for new Governor Kevin Stitt, former Sonic Executive John Budd tapped to not only perform as Stitt's Chief Operating Officer but also as acting head of the Oklahoma Management and Enterprise Services and deposits into the state's general revenue fund come in 9% above the estimate and 21% above 2017. The Ethics Commission files lawsuits attempting to collect late fees from 14 former candidates, two lobbyists and two political action committees and Oklahoma sees a record number of voters following a gubernatorial election at 2.1 million.

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 elected leaders of both parties in the lead up to the 2019 legislative session, the state House passes new controversial rules including a ban on videos by lawmakers on the House floor and the state of Oklahoma is getting ready for a new governor with inaugural parties this weekend. The trio also discusses a funding increase for Epic Virtual Charter School and other charter schools in the state with cuts to some of the largest public institutions and Lieutenant Governor Todd Lamb gets a job in the private sector.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and ACLU Oklahoma Executive Director Ryan Kiesel about nearly $600M extra for the state to allocate in the coming fiscal year, incoming Governor Kevin Stitt nominate Blayne Arthur to be the state's first female Secretary of the Agriculture and a federal judge declares constitutional an OKC ordinance banning panhandling in certain medians. The trio also discusses a bipartisan push to pass corrections reform in the upcoming legislative session and the House Democratic push for Medicaid expansion.

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 Health Department passing rules for edible medical marijuana, Governor-elect Kevin Stitt might have to wait a while before moving into his new offices because of construction at the State Capitol and a southeast Oklahoma Democratic State Representative defects to the Republican Party. The trio also discusses a couple of new Senate bills: One bans all vaping at educational facilities with minors as well as all schools sponsored or sanctioned activities while another makes rib eye the state's official steak.

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 commitment from Republican leaders in the House and Senate for education funding, a the Chair of the Canadian County Republican Party calls on his GOP lawmakers to, in essence, defund education and state Senators file bills to make abortions a homicide and allow anyone to carry a gun without a license. The trio also talks about the ouster of long time State Epidemiologist Kristy Bradley and remember President George H.W. Bush who passed away last week.

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 top picks by Governor-elect Kevin Stitt for his Chief of Staff as well as Secretaries of State and Energy, Oklahoma owes the state's colleges and universities $150M in matching funds for faculty salaries and the incoming leader of the Senate files the first bill to conduct performance evaluations of state agencies. The trio also discusses the US Supreme Court hearing oral arguments to an Oklahoma case which could have impact on the state's tribal entities and the passing of State Board of Education Dan Keating, the twin brother of former Governor Frank Keating.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Politcal Consultant Neva Hill and ACLU Oklahoma Executive Director Ryan Kiesell about Governor-elect Kevin Stitt picking political insiders to run his transition team, House Democrats pick new leadership after Steve Kouplen loses reelection and Oklahoma's newest Congressman Kevin Hern takes his oath of office. The trio also discusses straight party voting and a candidate for district attorney in Ada fails to win election despite getting the endorsement of best-selling author John Grisham.

This Week in Oklahoma Poltics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and ACLU Oklahoma Executive Director Ryan Kiesel about the win by Republican Kevin Stitt over Democrat Drew Edmondson in the race for Governor, the win in Congressional District Five by Democratic challenger Kendra Horn over Republican incumbent Steve Russell and the GOP holding on to all statewide offices. The trio also discusses the new makeup of the State Legislature and State Question 794 also known as Marsy's Law was the only measure on Tuesday's ballot to get passed by voters.

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 Question 801 before voter which would allow school districts to use a portion of their building funds for other purposes and with one week until early voting how are the races going for Kevin Stitt and Drew Edmondson. The trio also discusses any other races to watch in the general election coming up on November 6th and a recent story in the Oklahoman finds State Superintendent Joy Hofmeister at odds with Governor Mary Fallin over an audit of schools.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with ACLU Oklahoma Executive Director Ryan Kiesel and Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill about State Question 800 to create a dedicated account for excessive gross production taxes, the Oklahoma Public Employees Association plans to sue the State Department of Health over layoffs last year following a budget shortfall and Republican candidate Kevin Stitt gets an endorsement from his runoff rival Mick Cornett while Democratic candidate Drew Edmondson gets an endorsement from the Oklahoma Education Association. Plus, the trio talks about the Cherokee Nation attacking US Senator Elizabeth Warren on her decision to get a DNA test to prove she has native heritage and District Two Congressman Markwayne Mullin challenges Stormy Daniel's attorney to a Mixed Martial Arts competition.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and, sitting in for Ryan Kiesel, Oklahoma Policy Institute Legislative Director Bailey Perkins about a new poll on the governor's race showing Republican Kevin Stitt with a narrow 46% lead over Democrat Drew Edmondson at 40%, education supporters plan a rally at the State Capitol ahead of the general election and the independent candidate for State Treasurer attacks his Republican opponent over pension reforms. The trio also discusses news of a nonprofit sending out 59,000 absentee ballot applications to groups who usually don't vote in the midterm election and the number of registered voters in the state increases by more than 79,000 since January.

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 Question 798 to put the governor and lieutenant governor on the same ticket by 2026 similar to the President and Vice President and a new report finds recently ousted incumbent Republican lawmakers were challenged from leadership in their own party. The trio also discusses the announcement from Oklahoma County District Attorney David Prater of charges getting dropped against State Superintendent Joy Hofmeister for campaign finance violations and a new report from UCO's College of Education Dean shows Oklahoma could save $30 million by consolidation school districts.

This Week in Oklahoma Poltics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and ACLU Oklahoma Executive Director Ryan Kiesel about State Question 794 also known as Marsy's Law which provides certain rights to victims of crime and the two major candidates for governor go head to head for the first time in a debate. The trio also discusses a loss in the state Supreme Court by the Oklahoma Ethics Commission in a lawsuit over funding by the legislature and the Commission is also facing a lawsuit over its rule on gifts to lawmakers.

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 Question 793 which alters the state constitution allowing big box stores like Wal-Mart to have optometrists and eye exams and House Minority Leader Steve Kouplen reiterates his call for a special session to deal with medical marijuana especially in regard to labeling and testing guidelines. The trio also discusses legislation from Oklahoma Senator James Lankford and a group of bipartisan U-S lawmakers to require the federal government to take better care of immigrant children in custody, the Ethics Commission again passes a rule requiring a two year delay before lawmakers can take a job as a lobbyist and former State Senator Ralph Shortey gets sentenced to 15 years for one count of child sex trafficking.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and sitting in for Ryan Kiesel is Democratic State Representative Forrest Bennett. They discuss criticism by Veterans' Affairs Executive Director Doug Elliot and the VA commissioners of a report from the State Auditor's office describing a "culture of fear and intimidation" and "toxic environment" at the agency, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Drew Edmondson unveils an education plan which includes calling for an increase of gross production taxes to 7% and a huge shakeup is coming to the State Capitol regardless of the elections in November as at least 40% of the House and at least 25% of the Senate are getting new members. The trio also discusses testimony by Oklahoma City high school teacher Melissa Smith in opposition to Supreme Court Judicial nominee Brett Kavanaugh over his positions on school choice and labor unions and Senator Jim Inhofe takes over as chairman of the powerful Senate Armed Servi

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and ACLU Oklahoma Executive Director Ryan Kiesel about Tulsa Businessman Kevin Stitt's defeat of former Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett for the Republican candidacy in the race for Governor and six incumbent GOP State Representatives who voted against the tax increase for teacher pay raises losse their reelection bids. The trio also discusses the narrow victory by Incumbent Attorney General Mike Hunter along with the choice to not pursue a recount by challenger Gentner Drummond and the current state of medical marijuana in Oklahoma after passage by voters in June.