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 setting forth a wish list to lawmakers in the State of the State Address to kick off the 2024 legislative session, the governor's call for a flat budget at state agencies while pushing for a cut to income taxes and a look at some of the bills already making their way through the legislature.

The trio also discusses push back against Senator James Lankford and his bipartisan immigration bill and Swadley's Bar-B-Q calling for a judge to rule in its favor saying the state owes the company more than $2M for running state park restaurants.

Mentioned in this episode:

Oklahoma State Medical Association

Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt kicked off the legislative session with his sixth annual State of the State address on Monday. The Governor laid out his policy priorities for the session: which include cutting the state’s income tax, implementing a flat budget across state government for the coming fiscal year and more school choice options for students. His priorities and those of state lawmakers don’t always align, but Stitt’s speech gives us a glimpse into what the GOP-dominated legislature will consider during this session. 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 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 a special session which saw a tax cut in the House, but nothing in the Senate, State Superintendent Ryan Walters coming under fire for attacking the media for reporting on news of issues with his new teacher bonus program and Governor Stitt once again filing a lawsuit against Florida-based ClassWallet over mismanagement of COVID-19 education fund.

The trio also discusses Attorney General Gentner Drummond asking for an injunction to get federal family planning dollars which were canceled after the state's abortion ban and a portion of the State Republican Party votes to cease all support for Senator James Lankford for working on a bipartisan immigration bill.

Mentioned in this episode:

Oklahoma State Medical Association

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and Civil Rights Attorney Ryan Kiesel about Senate President Pro Tem Greg Treat announcing his chamber will not be passing any tax cuts during the governor's special session, State Superintendent Ryan Walters tapping a far-right influencer from California to an Oklahoma library committee shortly after reports were released of thousands of dollars in travel expenses and Governor Stitt picking a supporter of a controversial Catholic charter school as his new Secretary of Education.

The trio also discusses removal of the judge overseeing the challenge to the Catholic charter school, a new compact between the governor and the Chickasaw Nation and we remember long-time Oklahoma County Public Defender Bob Ravitz who died recently at the age of 71.

Mentioned in this episode:

Oklahoma State Medical Association

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 call for a special session to enact tax cuts, Republican lawmakers pushing changes to a law blacklisting banks who don't invest in the oil and gas industry and Oklahoma County Commissioners still searching for a location to put the new jail.

The trio also discusses a hearing before the state Supreme Court regarding tax -exempt status for tribal citizens and the appointment of Shelley Zumwalt to Secretary of Tourism and Wildlife.

Mentioned in this episode:

Oklahoma State Medical Association

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and Civil Rights Attorney Ryan Kiesel about an announcement from State Superintendent Ryan Walters about his intention to cut ties with organizations which provide resources and training to schools, Oklahoma's Five Civilized Tribes uniting in a boycott against Governor's Stitt's task force on McGirt and an end to tribal license tag citations issued by the Oklahoma Highway Patrol.

The trio also discusses the Oklahoma Turnpike Authorities plan to challenge a state law removing some of the governor's power over the board overseeing the agency and the Secretary of Transportation getting recommended for a $60,000 pay increase.

Mentioned in this episode:

Oklahoma State Medical Association

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 hiring as his new top aide an oil executive who was the deciding vote on a controversial Catholic Charter School, Stitt rejecting a new federal summer food program for low-income children and the State Department of Education saying 578 new teachers were hired under a new signing bonus.

The trio also discusses an upcoming budget hearing and subpoena of documents for State Superintendent Ryan Walters, a Department of Transportation ask force recommending a voluntary per mile tax in lieu of waning fuel taxes and Oklahoma receiving its first electric vehicles from manufacturer Canoo.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics is taking a break during the holidays and will return on January 4th.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and Civil Rights Attorney Ryan Kiesel about Oklahoma City voters overwhelmingly supporting a measure to use a penny sales tax to build a new downtown arena for the Thunder, State Mark McBride fighting with Superintendent Ryan Walters' aide over what McBride calls immaturity and a lack of transparency and Superintendent Walters criticizing the Tulsa School Board for hiring Ebony Johnson as the full time leader of the district.

The trip also discusses an executive order from Governor Stitt prohibiting diversity, equity and inclusion programs in colleges as well as calls by the State Pardon and Parole Board for stiffer commutation requirements.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and Civil Rights Attorney Ryan Kiesel about opening statements starting on a legal challenge to HB1775, the so-called Critical Race Theory Ban, the state Tax Commission starting to collect applications for a controversial private school tax credit and the State Board of Education takes aim once again at Tulsa Public Schools.

The trio also discusses new rules proposed by State Superintendent Ryan Walters to tie a school district's accreditation to test scores and the leader of the State Senate unveiling a plan to make the budget process more transparent.