Let's Pod This

It's the second-to-last week fo session AND our first in-person recording in over a year. Needless to say, we're excited about those things. About those things, at least, but we are much less excited about the tax cuts, special interest credits, and other bad bills that were passed into law this week.

The Oklahoma Association of Realtors share some insight into the real estate market and why building costs have skyrocketed so much, and also, it appears the legislature has agreed on a budget! Well, at least some members have agreed.

How will the legacy of Covid-19 impact the 2022 election cycle in Oklahoma? We discuss that plus the legislature's involvement in emergency relief funds and a record number of unconstitutional bills .

Articles mentioned:

• Oklahoma's Legislature has a history of passing unconstitutional laws
• New law gives Oklahoma's Legislature a role in federal stimulus spending

Joshua Harris-Till joins the show to discuss his veto referendum on HB1674, an anti-protest bill that was recently signed into law. We also discuss HB1775, which would outlaw the teaching of critical race theory.

Here is the Facebook page for the veto referendum: https://www.facebook.com/NoOn816

And you can sign up to help here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfZrg110hBBc9-Rwz8QrOJRozzj68K1vCN69Sp1ZWLP00K1rw/viewform

As budget negotiations begin, Bailey & Andy play "Good News, Bad News" with what happened this week. Here's the list if you're impatient:

Good news

• Ida’s Law (SB172) signed into law
• SB44 signed into law - stops punishing people for missing court dates due to being incarcerated
• Needle exchange bill signed into law
• Guilty verdict in Derek Chauvin case

Bad news 

• Governor signed HB1674 (but there may be a veto referendum!)
• SB1643 - Anti doxxing bill that is way too vague
• Legislature released their redistricting maps (but not the data)
• Senator Dahm sends out the Worst Press Release Ever (and then makes it worse in an interview about it)

Contentious, anti-protest and anti-trans bills dominated the headlines this week; we discuss the social & economic implications they could have for the future of Oklahoma.

Links mentioned:

Senator Jake Merrick, SD22, was sworn in on Wednesday

HB1674 heads to the Governor's office

SB2 - dealing with womens' sports

Class-action lawsuit filed over state's medical marijuana tracking program

State finance entities that don't have websites

John Bennett elected GOP chair

Deadline week means some dead bills found new life, nearly all of which would make life harder for many Oklahomans. Throw in a handful of insensitive comments and a House vs. Senate tax cut kerfuffle, and it's almost like a typical legislative session. Links are below!

• Has Oklahoma reached a plateau in COVID vaccination?
• Edmond elects first black mayor
• Paula Lewis re-elected; female candidates sweep OKCPS board
• Trans women sports ban bill
• McEntire bill to do in-state managed care
• No corporate income tax cut

Between the State Board of Education's contentious (and possibly unconstitutional) settlement with charter schools and a hostage situation at the OK County Jail that resulted in yet another death, this week felt like Oklahoma is reaching a breaking point. Something's gotta give. We're joined by OEA president Alicia Priest and OK County Commissioner Carrie Blumert to discuss these situations and how you can be involved in helping the state navigate through.

Oklahoma County YouTube channel

Oklahoma State Board of Education

It's #MeatAllWeek in Oklahoma and so we're talking about education instead. Rep. Cyndi Munsons joins the show to discuss #EverythingEd—from the OSDE's settlement with the charter schools to the Governor's staff attacked Tulsa Public Schools to attempts to break the "Oklahoma's Promise" program.

If you'd like to reach out to members of the OK House Higher Ed & Career Tech Committee, here you go: https://www.okhouse.gov/Committees/CommitteeMembers.aspx?CommID=431&SubCommID=0

We're joined by policy analyst Paul Shinn from the Oklahoma Policy Institute to discuss expanding the Earned Income Tax Credit and the legislature's proposal to give a tax cut to...Californians?