This Week In Oklahoma Politics

State Question 820 will be the only issue on the ballot on Tuesday, March 7. If approved, it would legalize recreational marijuana for adult use in Oklahoma and create a pathway for expungement of some marijuana offenses.In this bonus episode of the podcast, we bring you two stories about State Question 820 from KOSU reporters Kateleigh Mills and Xcaret Nuñez.The first story concerns how approval of SQ820 could change existing marijuana businesses in Oklahoma, and the second story looks at how similar ballot initiatives faired in the neighboring states of Arkansas and Missouri.       You can find all of our coverage of State Question 820 at KOSU.org.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and Civil Rights Attorney Ryan Kiesel about the vote this Tuesday on State Question 820 to legalize recreational marijuana in Oklahoma and the State House passing legislation to all but ban gender affirming care in the state.The trio also discusses a poll finding a majority of Oklahomans support a moratorium on the death penalty and State Superintendent Ryan Walters coming under fire for disparaging words concerning the state's colleges and universities.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and Civil Rights Attorney Ryan Kiesel about a bill to require legislative oversight of State Superintendent Ryan Walters if he attempts to downgrade a schools accreditation, Walters removing the pictures of Education Hall of Fame members and the State Equalization Board approving an extra $2B for lawmakers to spend in the 2024 fiscal year budget.The trio also discusses the State House leadership education priorities to include a teacher pay raise and tax breaks for private and homeschool families and early voting for State Question 820 to legalize recreational marijuana in Oklahoma.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and Civil Rights Attorney Ryan Kiesel about questions arising over a state lawmaker selling her house to the Turnpike Authority at more than $100K above the appraisal for the agency's expansion in Norman, Attorney General Gentner Drummond taking over a criminal case against a state lawmaker and Drummond dropping a lawsuit designed to challenge tribal sovereignty in the state.The trio also discusses the Catholic Church asking for a tax-payer funded virtual charter school and state lawmakers advancing a bill to give them more control over the State Board of Education.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and Civil Rights Attorney Ryan Kiesel about the governor's State of the State address to open the 2023 legislative sesion.The trip also discusses new opposition to State Question 820 to legalize recreational marijuana facing a vote on March Seventh and Attorney General Gentner Drummond planning to investigate new appointments by the governor to the Oklahoma Veterans' Commission.

Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt kicked off his new term with the annual State of the State address on Monday. The Governor laid out his policy priorities for the session: which includes expanding school choice, eliminating the state grocery tax of 4.5% and reducing the personal income tax and corporate tax rates. He also called for a ban on gender-affirming care for minors. His priorities and those of state lawmakers don’t always align, but Stitt’s speech gives us a glimpse into what the GOP-led legislature will consider during this legislative session. We’ll have more coverage and offer context on the radio and online at KOSU.org. And, of course, Michael, Neva & Ryan will be back later this week to provide their thoughts on the address and the new legislative session.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and civil rights attorney Ryan Kiesel about an investigation over misspent COVID-19 education funds and a budget hearing for State Superintendent Ryan Walters before lawmakers.The trio also discusses the firing of a Department of Education attorney who had supported LGBTQ rights and the new pressure for the Department of Veterans Affairs director from the Stitt-appointed Veterans' Commission.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and Civil Rights Attorney Ryan Kiesel about State Superintendent Ryan Walters going before lawmakers calling for merit-based pay for teachers, AG Gentner Drummond taking up the case of Oklahoma's sweetheart deal with Swadley's Bar-B-Q to run restaurants at state parks and an 18-year-old lawsuit over poultry pollution coming to an end in favor of the state.The trio also discusses the more than 3,100 bills filed for the 2023 legislative session and Governor Stitt saying he would be in favor of sports betting.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and Civil Rights Attorney Ryan Kiesel about Attorney General Gentner Drummond requesting a delay in the next executions and Governor Stitt replacing four members of the Veteran Commission.The trio also discusses the new power for Oklahoma's Congressional delegation in the Republican controlled U.S. House and the new leader of the Tourism Department giving a frank assessment of the "toxic culture" at the agency.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and civil rights attorney Ryan Kiesel about the Governor's second inaugural speech to kick off a new term in office and Stitt abruptly replacing two-thirds of the State Board of Education on only his second day.The trio also discusses new State Superintendent Ryan Walters resigning as CEO for an organization advocating for private schools and new Attorney General Gentner Drummond taking the case against Epic Charter Schools' founders back from the Oklahoma County District Attorney.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and Civil Rights Attorney Ryan Kiesel about the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority moving forward with its $5B ACCESS Oklahoma extension and incoming Attorney General Gentner Drummond promising a probe into the state's pandemic funds spending.The trio also discusses Republican selecting leadership in the state House and Senate, but failure to do so in the U.S. House and the legacy of Jim Inhofe who stepped away from his six-decade political career on January Third.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and Civil Right Attorney Ryan Kiesel about supporters of abortion access dropping the initiative petition on the day they were supposed to start gathering signatures, a judge ruling against Oklahoma in the transfer of a federal inmate for the state to execute and a multitude of changes at Oklahoma City's Western Heights school.The trio also discusses the ban of TikTok on state-issued devices by Governor Stitt and a Mexican consulate for Oklahoma City sometime next year

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and Civil Rights Attorney Ryan Kiesel about the governor's cabinet releasing financial disclosure records, legislative leader releasing their priorities for the 2023 session and a Republican lawmaker filing a bill to lower the age for handguns.The trio also discusses a win in court for opponents of a turnpike expansion in Norman and the resignation of the CEO of the Oklahoma County Jail.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and Civil Rights Attorney Ryan Kiesel about a new initiative petition to allow Oklahomans to vote on protecting abortion access in the state, the U.S. Senate rejecting an amendment to a same-sex marriage protection bill ultimately passed in the chamber and the Department of Justice opening an investigation of the State of Oklahoma, Oklahoma City and the Oklahoma City Police Department over the treatment of people with behavioral disabilities.The trio also discusses an incident in October involving the son of Governor Stitt and the nomination of Kim Teehee as a nonvoting delegate to Congress from the Cherokee Nation.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and Civil Rights Attorney Ryan Kiesel about the low voter turnout in last week's General Election, the high number of Straight Party Voting on ballots and Senator Greg Treat's reelection as Senate President Pro Tempore.The trio also discusses the Oklahoma Southern Baptists coming out against a ballot measure to legalize recreational marijuana and the U.S. Supreme Court taking up a case against the Indian Child Welfare Act.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and Civil Rights Attorney Ryan Kiesel about the reelection of Governor Stitt, the election of Education Secretary Ryan Walter for State Superintendent and Republicans retaining control of all U.S. House, Senate and Statewide offices.The trio also discusses the election win by prosecutor Vicky Behenna for Oklahoma County District Attorney and no change in the political makeup of the state legislature as lawmakers get ready for the 2023 session.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and Civil Rights Attorney Ryan Kiesel about the race for governor between incumbent Kevin Stitt and State Superintendent Joy Hofmeister, the election for State Superintendent between Ryan Walters and Jena Nelson and the races for all U.S. Senate and House seats.The trio also discusses state Senate and House races as well as the election for Oklahoma County District Attorney between Kevin Calvey and Vicky Behenna.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and Civil Rights Attorney Ryan Kiesel about news from KOSU about Governor Stitt hiring outside counsel to fight a challenge to gaming compacts he signed in 2020, a State Superintendent debate between Republican Secretary of Education Ryan Walters and former Teacher of the Year Jena Nelson and the couple mentioned in the Oklahoma County District Attorney debate gets arrested in Mexico.The trio also discuss a series of legislative panels to deal with corrections reform in the coming session and we remember former Oklahoma State University President Jim Halligan who passed away earlier this week.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and Civil Rights Attorney Ryan Kiesel about Governor Stitt setting a March Seventh date for a special election on the legalization of recreational marijuana, a gubernatorial debate between the top two candidates and new polling showing a dead heat for governor and a lead for the Republican candidate for State Superintendent.The trio also discusses a new report on Governor Stitt's secret plan to build a new governor's mansion while he and his family are living in a $2.2 million dollar home in Edmond and the GOP candidate for Oklahoma County District Attorney accusing his democratic opponent of complicity in murder while he is facing an investigation on campaign-related expenditures.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and Civil Rights Attorney Ryan Kiesel about dueling polls showing different positions in the race for governor ahead of the November 8th General Election, Governor Stitt calling a $5,000 increase for teacher pay an "easy cop-out" and the Political Action Committee for the state employee's union backing Governor Stitt.The trio also discusses an endorsement for State Superintendent from the state's five largest tribes and a call by the same tribes to repeal House Bill 1775 also known as the Critical Race Theory ban.