The Latest in Oklahoma: April 5, 2024 Update
A&A Advocates
SoonerSelect coverage began on Monday, providing more options for people already on Medicaid. The plan offers several robust benefits, including monetary incentives for attending well-child and annual primary care visits; enhanced vision services for adults, such as eye exams and funds for contacts or eyeglasses; home-based asthma interventions such as deep cleaning carpet and hypoallergenic bedding; nutrition support including meals or money to address food insecurity; and health weight incentives like memberships to local community organizations and gyms. Learn more here.
Attorney General Gentner Drummond alongside a multistate coalition found success after many efforts to push back against the Biden Administration’s ceaseless attacks on the oil and gas industry. A federal judge blocked a highway emissions rule that sought to drive gas-powered cars off the road on Monday. Drummond and 20 other state attorneys general had joined Kentucky in challenging a Federal Highway Administration rule that sought to force the reduction of CO2 emissions on roadways. If the FHWA rule had not been struck down, it would have required states to set targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from on-road sources.
Conservative group Americans for Prosperity held a rally at the state Capitol on Wednesday, with representatives from other well-known, politically conservative organizations — including Heritage Action for America, Moms For Liberty and the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs — to ask the Oklahoma Legislature to move school board elections so they align with state and federal elections, pointing to low turnout in board elections this week as evidence action needs to be taken.
The Oklahoma Supreme Court on Tuesday found that lawmakers were within their rights to extend tribal car tags and tobacco compacts for a year in an effort to give the governor and tribes additional time to negotiate a future deal because expiration of the compacts would have adversely impacted the state budget, as lawmakers have said the state receives about $58 million annually from motor vehicle and tobacco compacts. View the ruling here.
“This Task Force was charged with investigating the most critical aspect of our republic: ensuring our elections are free and fair. I’m grateful for Task Force members for doing so thoroughly. Oklahomans can rest assured that the elections in our state are the most well-run in the nation. I encourage my colleagues in the Legislature to review and adopt these recommendations so we can continue leading the nation in election integrity.” – Gov. Stitt announced the recommendations from his Task Force on Campaign Finance and Election Threats.
What We’re Watching
Candidate Filing for the 2024 elections for Federal, State, Legislative, and County Offices – as well as the State Senator, District 46 Special Election and State Senator, District 48 Special Election – began on Wednesday and will conclude today at 5 p.m. Read more here.
Gov. Kevin Stitt appointed Oklahoma businesswoman, conservationist and rancher Susan Bergen to the Board of Regents for the Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical Colleges on Thursday.