This Week In Oklahoma Politics

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and ACLU Oklahoma Executive Director Ryan Kiesel about support from Oklahoma Senators James Lankford and Jim Inhofe to vote for President Trump's nominee to replace the late-Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg on the U.S. Supreme Court, the Oklahoma County Jail Trust falling one vote shy of removing Immigrations and Customs Enforcement out of the jail and the state's decision to start testing prison employees following an outbreak of COVID-19 at facilities.The trio also discusses the removal of a petition to take the redistricting process out of the hands of politicians and give it to an independent redistricting committee and Oklahoma's unemployment drops to 5.7% making our state's the tenth lowest in the nation.

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 criminal justice reform group calling on Governor Stitt and the Department of Corrections to take steps to stem the spread of COVID-19, Tulsa City Council unanimously approved a new Hate Crimes ordinance to include sexual orientation and gender identity and the state Supreme Court denies Stitt's request for a rehearing on its decision over tribal gaming compacts.The trio also discusses a request from State House Democrats to the Attorney General on the governor giving COVID relief funds to private school families and Congresswoman Kendra Horn pushing a bipartisan package to provide more relief funds.

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 new White House Coronavirus report putting our state in the top ten for COVID positivity rate and daily cases per capita, a federal appeals court declares Oklahoma City's 2015 anti-panhandling ordinance unconstitutional and Attorney General Mike Hunter defends the state's absentee ballot law.The trio also discusses Oklahoma City passing an extension to its mask mandate until October 20th and House Speaker Charles McCall promising to include all 101 representatives in next year's redistricting process.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill about State Senator Stephanie Bice defeating Terry Neese in the Republican Primary Runoff for Congressional District moving to the General Election against incumbent Democrat Kendra Horn, while Horn is getting an endorsement from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce despite opposition from the State Chamber.The trio also discusses losses in the Republican Primary Runoff by three state senators and the reelection win by Tulsa Mayor G.T. Bynum.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and ACLU Oklahoma Executive Director Ryan Kiesel about Oklahomans passing State Question 802 to expand Medicaid in the state, a runoff in the Republican primary between Stephanie Bice and Terry Neece to take on Congresswoman Kendra Horn and Abby Broyles wins the Democratic nomination to take on Senator Jim Inhofe.The trio also discusses other races of note especially where several incumbents were either voted out or heading to a runoff and a record number of Oklahomans choosing to vote absentee as COVID-19 numbers continue to rise.

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 rally for President Trump in Tulsa, State Question 802 to expand Medicaid in Oklahoma which will be decided on Tuesday and the State Supreme Court shoots down an initiative petition to repeal the state's permitless carry law.The trio also discusses the high court's approval of a referendum to legalize recreational marijuana in the state of Oklahoma for those over the age of 21 and medical marijuana businesses are suing the state over rules regarding locations and residency requirements.

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 rally for President Trump coming up on Saturday at the BOK Center in Tulsa and the Norman City Council votes to redistribute $865,000 from the police department to other services.The trio also discusses news of a new Political Action Committee formed to oppose State Question 802 to expand Medicaid in Oklahoma and a dispute between Oklahoma and Cleveland County keeps a woman in jail for more than a month without the ability to post bond on a drug complaint.

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 U.S. Department allowing gaming compacts between Governor Stitt and two tribes to move forward through inaction, the governor and his wife, Sarah hold a panel on race relations and a new poll shows a majority of Oklahomans support the protesters.The trio also discusses another showing a partisan divide over a possible COVID-19 vaccines and the wearing of mask and Lieutenant Governor Matt Pinnell is asking the Republican National Committee to hold its convention in Oklahoma as President Trump announced his first rally in three months will take place on June 19th in Tulsa.

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 activating the National Guard in response to the protests over the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, the State Health Department reverses its course on limiting certain data on COVID-19 and a petition to create an independent redistricting commission gets approval from the state supreme court, but its future remains uncertain.The trio also discusses how supporters of Medicaid Expansion have started an ad blitz and touring Oklahoma towns to get people to vote yes on State Question 802.

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 Oklahoma Supreme Court ordering the Secretary of State to start counting signatures on a ballot measure dealing with sentencing reform, lawmakers meeting to override gubernatorial vetoes while at the same time leaving some vetoes to stand.The trio also discusses the decision by the executive director of the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission to step down from the position after just five months on the job and the end of the legislative session means all eyes now start focusing on the primary election on June 30th.

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 decision by lawmakers to end the legislative session two weeks early, Governor Stitt vetoes a bill on rural broadband and lawmakers pass a bill giving a Cost of Living Adjustment for State Retirees.The trio also discusses a constitutional challenge to the new law requiring notarization of absentee ballots and remembering Oklahoma City Republican Senator Brooks Douglass.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and ACLU Oklahoma Executive Director Ryan Kiesel about an override of the governor's veto of the state budget, Governor Stitt forms a bipartisan committee to deal with the federal funds to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic and the Senate says sit won't confirm Interim Health Commissioner Gary Cox to the job leading the agency.Plus, the trio discusses the governor signing a bill requiring notarization of absentee ballots and the Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association ousts two tribes who signed a gaming compact with Governor Stitt.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and ACLU Oklahoma Executive Director Ryan Kiesel about lawmakers attaching strings to a new round of executive powers to the governor, legislative leaders announce a budget deal and Republicans push through a bill requiring notarization of absentee ballots.The trio also discusses an opinion from the attorney general saying the governor overstepped his authority in authorizing gaming compacts with two Oklahoma tribes and a federal judge puts a further delay on executions in the state. 

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and ACLU Oklahoma Executive Director Ryan Kiesel about State Attorney General Mike Hunter calling for an audit of the Department of Health and cities follow quickly behind the state after Governor Stitt announced plans to reopen Oklahoma for business.The trio also discusses state leaders asking if its possible to cancel federal unemployment checks of $600 a week and lawmakers are scheduled to return on Monday.

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 call from Governor Stitt to start reopening businesses in the state starting this week and the State Board of Equalization declares a revenue failure to fund the government through the current fiscal year, but the state faces a shortfall in the next fiscal year of $1.3B.The trio also discusses new gaming compacts declared by Governor Stitt with the Comanche Nation and the Otoe-Missouria Tribe as well as a lawsuit against the secretary of the State Election Board about easing restrictions on notaries for mail-in ballots.

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 lawsuit by legislative leaders to get the governor to call a revenue emergency so they can fund the government through the month of June and number provided by the governor's office on how many inmates are getting released in the latest round of commutations were incorrect. The trio also a "Worst-Case Scenario" for the state tax collections with the decline in the gas prices and the economic impact of COVID-19 as well as three-day filing ends for candidates running in the 2020 elections.

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 battle between the Governor and lawmakers over $500M in supplemental funding passed overwhelmingly by the legislature and the governor's health emergency gets approves allowing him to suspend any laws and regulations interfering with response to the COVID-19 pandemic.The trio also discusses an appeal by the state hoping to overturn a lower courts decision to halt Governor Stitt's ban on abortions as elective surgery and a new poll shows strong support from Oklahoma likely voters for the governor and President Trump's handling of the health crisis.

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 revenue shortfall expected soon from the State of Oklahoma for the remainder of the current fiscal year, unofficial numbers show about 45,000 unemployment claims last week and Governor Stitt's emergency declaration over COVID-19 might have unintentionally killed signature gathering on initiative petitions set for the November ballot.The trio also discusses a lawsuit against the state after Governor Stitt added abortion to the list of suspended procedures during the Coronavirus pandemic and Oklahoma is mourning the loss of former U.S. Representative and Senator Tom Coburn.

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 "Safer at Home" policy to curb the outbreak of COVID-19, a US Department of Labor email asking local employment agencies to limit the amount of information released to the public and the State Health Department is withholding much needed medical supplies pending an audit.The trio also discusses state schools closing their buildings while moving to distance learning and the capitol closes for this week as lawmakers and staff get ready to work remotely.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and ACLU Oklahoma Executive Director Ryan Kiesel about Senate Bill 661 to temporarily alter the state's Open Meetings laws allowing public bodies to teleconference into meetings during the COVID-19 crisis and state lawmakers worry about the budget with oil prices declining as well as businesses and casinos closing to stem the spread of the corona virus.The trio also discusses news of the state's public schools closing through at least April 6th and Oklahoma City and Tulsa ordering restrictions on restaurants, bars and entertainment venues in an attempt to flatten the curve on contagion.