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.

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 passage of MAPS4 by a wide margin garnering more than 70% of those voting, the Pardon and Parole Board sees a 118% increase in the number of docketed cases with commutations jumping 426% since 2018 and Governor Stitt gives an extension to his criminal justice reform task force.

The trio also discusses an announcement from the Oklahoma Democratic Party to keep its primaries open to independent voters and legislation to tackle the issue of domestic violence.

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 resignation announcement by Oklahoma City Democratic Representative Shane Stone which could trigger a special election and voters are heading to the polls this Tuesday to decide on MAPS 4 to raise nearly $978M for 16 different projects.

The trio also discusses the record number of candidates in the coming Super Tuesday presidential primary including 15 Democrats and 6 Republicans as well as Governor Stitt coming out in opposition of a corrections reform initiative petition to tackle sentencing enhancements.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with ACLU Oklahoma Executive Director Ryan Kiesel and sitting in for Neva Hill is Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs Director of External Relations Dave Bond about renewal of calls to provide a Cost of Living Adjustment for state retirees, Governor Stitt goes before the U.S. Senate to support a federal proposal to stop states from using the Clean Water Act to block energy projects and time is running out in the stalemate between the governor and tribal leaders over gaming compacts.

The trio also discusses a bill to extend Oklahoma's ban on smoking to bars and another piece of legislation to provide a tax break for gun safety classes in response to the permitless carry 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 Governor Stitt's suggestion for Oklahoma to use Medicaid block grants rather than going with Medicaid expansion, an initiative petition to end certain sentencing enhancements for nonviolent offenses and the State Insurance Commissioner chooses to not enforce a law giving patients the right to choose a pharmacy provider.

The trio also discusses an announcement from Oklahoma officials of the state finally getting in compliance with Real ID and Tulsans overwhelming the renewal package for Improve Our Tulsa.