Oklahoma Watch reporters Warren Vieth, Clifton Adcock, Nate Robson and Carmen Forman have been live-tweeting from the State Capitol and elsewhere since just before the start of the legislative session. Below is a sample the best recent tweets. For more follow us on Twitter @OklahomaWatch.
Week of May 19:
Press conference with @GovMaryFallin will start in about 10 minutes. #oklaed She will address 3rd grade reading retention.
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) May 20, 2014
.@GovMaryFallin is going to veto third grade reading retention bill.
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) May 20, 2014
Gov Mary Fallin is starting to speak #OklaEd pic.twitter.com/F0wkVGz2Oq
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) May 20, 2014
.@GovMaryFallin Says reading retention bill as proposed returns Oklahoma to a system that has already failed students #oklaed
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) May 20, 2014
Parent here: My child is smart. Everyone is about to tell him he’s really not, that he’s a failure because he cannot read. #oklaed
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) May 20, 2014
No debate. House is voting now to override @GovMaryFallin ‘s veto #oklaed
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) May 21, 2014
House has voted to override @GovMaryFallin ‘s veto. #oklaed
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) May 21, 2014
Senate votes to override @GovMaryFallin ‘s veto on third grade reading retention #oklaed
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) May 21, 2014
.@JanetBarresi calls veto override pathetic, says it returns state to social promotion when kids can’t read http://t.co/sTYjlMJ0dw #oklaed
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) May 21, 2014
House is preparing for debate on horizontal gas tax drilling rate. Results of bill could impact education funding #oklaed
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) May 22, 2014
Rep. Jeff Hickman: Drought is hammering western Okla. agriculture/farms. Oil wells only thing keeping them going.
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) May 22, 2014
2% tax rate (for first 36 months of production) for horizontal wells passes 61-34 in Okla. House
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) May 22, 2014
Senate Finance Committee Chairman Mike Mazzei of Tulsa questions need for permanent reduction in gross production tax.
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) May 22, 2014
Finance Chairman Mazzei cites Oklahoma Watch findings that oil companies have bragged about higher returns from some Oklahoma oil plays.
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) May 22, 2014
If Okla. loses #NCLB waiver, all districts/schools have to have 100% of students meeting proficiency. 1 failing student = failing district
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) May 23, 2014
House is in a legislative jiujitsu match to expand debate from 15 minutes to an hour.
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) May 23, 2014
Virgin: I hate to burst your bubble, but this is not a federal government conspiracy.
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) May 23, 2014
Final Senate vote on bill repealing #commoncore was 31-10. @GovMaryFallin has 5 days to sign or veto the bill. #oklaed
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) May 23, 2014
.@GovMaryFallin says she is also disappointed state did not pass prescription drug monitoring legislation meant to curb abuse.
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) May 23, 2014
.@GovMaryFallin I went down fighting for storm shelters in Oklahoma. I felt it was the right thing to do. #oklaed
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) May 23, 2014
.@GovMaryFallin did not answer whether she thinks #commoncore in Oklahoma is currently a federal intrusion, but said she hears the concerns
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) May 23, 2014
Rep. Virgin: If @GovMaryFallin vetoed #commoncore bill nothing could be done until next session. Legislature cannot reconvene for override
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) May 23, 2014
Rep. Hickman says session got more done this year than people expected. Income tax cut, budget, pension reform among top accomplishments
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) May 23, 2014
Despite voting to drop #commoncore in Oklahoma, new standards could still look very similar http://t.co/4zrFUWRgCM #oklaed
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) May 24, 2014
Week of May 12:
Waiting for the Okla. House to get started. 3rd grader reading retention may be heard today. #OklaEd pic.twitter.com/HcMoKFzbOc
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) May 12, 2014
Reading retention bill is up now: http://t.co/nvimLN6rVi #oklaed
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) May 12, 2014
Rep. @jasonnelsonok moves to reject Senate amendments. His proposal adds school choice/vouchers #oklaed
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) May 12, 2014
Rep. Todd Thomson to Nelson: Are you trying to kill this reading retention bill by adding vouchers? Nelson: No
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) May 12, 2014
Rep. Henke said she was not consulted on Nelson’s amendments. Said thought may have been attempt to kill her bill.
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) May 12, 2014
Rep. Henke on bill: “Every child is different. Every child learns differently.” Draws applause from parents/teachers in the gallery.
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) May 12, 2014
Rep. Eric Proctor says worried @GovMaryFallin would veto bill. Adds Dems. willing to stand with Republicans to override any veto
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) May 12, 2014
Rep. Colby Schwartz says it was a mistake to vote in favor of retention. “We have done a disservice to these children”
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) May 12, 2014
.@jasonnelsonok This is not about education. If it’s about education, you will make sure the kid can read. This is about social promotion.
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) May 12, 2014
Amendment creates panel of teachers and parents who will determine if a student who fails reading test can move to 4th grade.
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) May 12, 2014
Shelton: I’m here to tell you the enemy is not the parents & administrators. The enemy in many situations is us. we did not properly fund it
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) May 12, 2014
Reynolds: Allow these kids to take 3rd grade again. It will help them learn to read as opposed to passing them on.
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) May 12, 2014
Reynolds: Education is funded quite well. There is no lack of funding for education. More money wont make students successful.
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) May 12, 2014
House bill 2625 changing 3rd grade reading retention passes 89-6 #oklaed
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) May 12, 2014
Rep. Henke met with applause after today’s vote. pic.twitter.com/pTysQtUh2p
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) May 12, 2014
.@JanetBarresi today’s vote on reading retention robs kids of best education, allows social promotion: http://t.co/9wC0VbRgi2 #oklaed
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) May 12, 2014
Week of May 5:
Warren Vieth here, attending the monthly board meeting of the Oklahoma Health Care Authority.
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) May 8, 2014
Oklahoma doctors who serve Medicaid patients face payment cuts of up to $278 million on July 1 under current budgetary outlook, OHCA says.
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) May 8, 2014
Nearly 40,000 doctors and other medical providers would be affected by the cuts, OHCA says.
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) May 8, 2014
Besides provider reimbursement cuts, Health Care Authority is contemplating other Medicaid program reductions.
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) May 8, 2014
OHCA Board Chairman Ed McFall, a Porum pharmacist, says Medicaid cuts will have biggest impact on rural health care.
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) May 8, 2014
“I want to remind you that 45% of us still live in rural Oklahoma,” he says. “You don’t want us all moving in with the other 55% of you.”
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) May 8, 2014
Week of April 28
Wendy Cervantes, immigration policy v.p. at First Focus in DC, tells visiting journalists prospect of immigration reform increasingly slim.
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) April 29, 2014
Laura Grisso of Tulsa Public Schools tells visiting reporters the district now serves students speaking 77 languages.
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) April 29, 2014
Education reporter @OKWnate will live tweet tonight’s education forum in Tulsa at 6 pm http://t.co/C2WyU6DQwD Follow with #OKwatchout
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) April 30, 2014
Forum Straight Talk with Teachers is starting Follow along with #okwatchout pic.twitter.com/rQJGz5d0dF
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) April 30, 2014
Hawthorne Principal Estella Bitson: Job is to help support teachers with professional development. Not just to evaluate them #okwatchout
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) April 30, 2014
Bixby teacher: Teaching is about the kids, but we have to be taken care of so that money is no the central issue. #okwatchout
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) April 30, 2014
Applause as Dallas Koehn says problem with accountability is it’s like schools intentionally being labeled as failures #okwatchout
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) April 30, 2014
Warren Vieth here, covering Medicaid expansion discussion sponsored by Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs.
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) May 1, 2014
More than 100,000 Oklahomans fall into coverage gap and will remain uninsured without Medicaid expansion, says OKPolicy’s Blatt.
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) May 1, 2014
Price transparency and competition “will drive prices so low that almost everyone can afford to pay for health care,” Dr. Smith predicts.
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) May 1, 2014
In a report to Gov. Fallin, Corrections Director Robert Patton blames Clayton Lockett execution debacle on blood vein collapse.
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) May 1, 2014
Week of April 21:
Press conference about Oklahoma testing outage will be starting shortly. Room already packed with media #OklaEd
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) April 21, 2014
Barresi says she is outraged, frustrated at McGraw-hill. This is 100% failure of company #OklaEd
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) April 21, 2014
Oklahoma pays McGraw-Hill $7.2 million for middle school, $6.2 for high school testing. #OklaEd
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) April 21, 2014
.@okea says Barresi needs to take responsibility for today’s online testing outage, especially after last year’s outage #oklaed
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) April 21, 2014
Warren Vieth here, covering OKPolicy’s state government budget briefing at OU’s Faculty House in OKC.
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) April 23, 2014
One difference: Recession isn’t to blame this time. “Today, the mess we’re in is largely of our own making,” Blatt says.
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) April 23, 2014
Bill increasing Okla. education revenue is on the Senate floor right now. Video here: http://t.co/CduNUtDH80
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) April 23, 2014
Education funding bill HB2642 passes 43-0. Adds $30 million for next year. Revenue triggers included for following years. #oklaed
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) April 23, 2014
Oklahoma Watch just awarded prestigious Carter Bradley First Amendment Award by Oklahoma Pro Chapter of SPJ.
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) April 27, 2014
Week of April 14:
This is @cliftonhowze, live tweeting from the “Luis Rodriguez: No En Vano” (not in vain) event at the Gaylord College of Journalism at OU.
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) April 15, 2014
Some background on the Luis Rodriguez case: 44 y/o Rodriguez of Norman died Feb. 15 outside the Warren Theatre in Moore… (cont)
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) April 15, 2014
Background: Rodriguez was involved in an altercation with after a domestic incident between Rodriguez’s wife and teen daughter (cont)
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) April 15, 2014
Background (cont): police say, when asked for ID, Rodriguez took “an aggressive stance,” officers attempted to detain him, used pepper spray
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) April 15, 2014
Background (cont): Rodriguez was taken to Moore Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) April 15, 2014
Daughter: “We’re not against the police, we’re against the police who would use their badges to abuse the citizens of this country.”
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) April 15, 2014
Bill meant to end mandatory retention of 3rd graders failing Okla. reading test passed the Senate today #oklaed
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) April 16, 2014
Our project will focus on poverty in Oklahoma City – using mobile video, GIS data to build conversation w help of @OklahomaWatch #edshift
— David Craig (@dcraigok) April 18, 2014
Week of April 7:
Rep. Inman: If it’s ok for cities to set building/codes for businesses, why not same with raising minimum wage to fight poverty?
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) April 7, 2014
Rep. Grau on minimum wage raise: Consumer’s are the ones that pick up the tab.
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) April 7, 2014
Morrissette’s efforts to get the minimum wage bill off the agenda or back in committee have failed. House preparing for debate.
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) April 7, 2014
Warren Vieth here, waiting for the House Public Health Committee to take up a final round of Senate bills.
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) April 8, 2014
Responding to epidemic of Rx drug overdose deaths, House Pub Health panel votes to improve information sharing between agencies.
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) April 8, 2014
“One of the issues has been lack of communication among agencies,” Cox said, citing investigation by Oklahoma Watch & The Oklahoman.
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) April 8, 2014
Education reporter @OKWnate Will be live tweeting 11am conference where Okla. lawmakers will ask Senate to act on RSA bill.
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) April 9, 2014
Rep. Emily Virgin: RSA law is flawed. Legislature has not provided adequate support. Pressure to pass is crushing students. #OklaEd
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) April 9, 2014
Rep. Inman says students should not be passed on if they can’t read, but says he trust parents, teachers to make right decision
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) April 9, 2014
Parent Jennifer Deckard says her son is not taking the RSA test. Is disappointed lawmakers have not passed Bill stopping retention.
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) April 9, 2014
Week of March 31
About 300 people are outside the Capitol so far for the #OKEdRally. Many are seeking shelter from the wind inside the building.
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) March 31, 2014
Third grade reading bill retention up now in Senate Edu. Committee inside Okla. Capitol.
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) March 31, 2014
#okedrally #oklaed Ed fact: Adjusted for inflation, Okla. per-pupil spending has fallen by 22.8% since 2008, the most in the nation.
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) March 31, 2014
#okedrally #oklaed Rep. Scott Inman, Democratic minority leader, speaking. Will any Repubs take the podium?
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) March 31, 2014
#okedrally #oklaed “I’m tired of being an ATM.” -Jeffery Corbett, prez of OK PTA, referring to parents, teachers paying for school supplies.
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) March 31, 2014
Catoosa 4th grade teachers site their support during edu really #OKEDRALLY pic.twitter.com/B51EPerwsR
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) March 31, 2014
Week of March 24
Today, the #Oklahoma Senate #Education Committee will consider HB 3399, which deletes curriculum requirements aligning w/ common core.
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) March 24, 2014
Paddack: Appreciate the thought of the legislation, but have serious concerns: bill was put together hastily, little debate or discussion
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) March 24, 2014
Paddack: “I’m concerned it’s nothing more than another tactic to tell people we’ve fixed common core when in fact we haven’t.”
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) March 24, 2014
Getting ready for Hillary Clinton to arrive in Tulsa. New reading program meant to engage parents to read and talk with kids.
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) March 24, 2014
Hillary Clinton reads with Tulsa kids. She’s here to talk about program encouraging parents to read with their kids. pic.twitter.com/0XB2pptG9v
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) March 24, 2014
We are told “the flowers are being delivered” again. That means press conference about to start here in Tulsa.
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) March 24, 2014
The Long Road to Banning Texting While Driving: Sen. Sharp talks about why bill to ban texting while driving failed. http://t.co/m0IZs1jvB6
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) March 28, 2014
Week of March 17
.@oksde picks Lisa Chandler as new assistant superintendent to oversee state’s assessments http://t.co/UrRa2O35EZ #oklaed
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) March 18, 2014
Capitol Watch: Sen. AJ Griffin on requiring painkiller prescription checks http://t.co/RtMxxw0HAQ
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) March 20, 2014
Oklahoma Health Care Authority just announced new measure to prevent Medicaid patients from “doctor-shopping” to get narcotics.
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) March 21, 2014
Under new rule, SoonerCare clients considered at risk for substance abuse can fill narcotic prescriptions written by only one designated doc
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) March 21, 2014
New measure expected to have “a significant impact” by deterring doctor-shopping, says OHCA Med Director Mike Herndon.
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) March 21, 2014
Week of March 10
Reporter Carmen Forman here in the Governor’s conference room covering a meeting about nursing home oversight and abuse.
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) March 10, 2014
Bledsoe: 20,000 people reside in Oklahoma’s nursing homes at any one time and these facilities have 3,500 preventable deaths a year.
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) March 10, 2014
“I entered a nursing home for rehabilitation, but had the systematic destruction of my life,” nursing home abuse survivor Fern Horton said.
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) March 10, 2014
Rep. Ann Coody, a former teacher and assistant principal, called the bill unsafe because students could break into a car to get a gun.
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) March 10, 2014
Women in the legislature: @RepEmilyVirgin @RepEliseHall discuss. http://t.co/s1CbjKwSKB
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) March 13, 2014
Week of March 3
In an about-face, the House votes 63-27 to continue providing tax breaks for movies made in Oklahoma, only a day after rejecting the bill.
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) March 5, 2014
Vaughan: “Heck, come to my farm on a Sunday afternoon and watch us shoot clay pigeons and make S’mores and see how dysfunctional we can be.” — Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) March 5, 2014
Rep. Jerry McPeak on DNA collection bill: A vote for this is a vote to give up your freedom. — Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) March 5, 2014
Sen. Standridge’s bill would cease making Plan B available to women under age 17 without a prescription.
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) March 5, 2014
Sears: State government will always have funding needs, but individuals also have a right to keep more of their money.
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) March 6, 2014
Rep. Williams, D-Stillwater, asks how he can vote for bill when schools in his dist. possibly facing increased class size/teacher reductions — Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) March 6, 2014
The amendment by McDaniel would require OK Marriage Initiative to report how many people stopped divorce action after going through the prog — Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) March 6, 2014
Rep. Reynolds fully admits he will benefit from this tax cut.
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) March 6, 2014
Warren Vieth here, getting ready to live tweet from our Watch-Out forum on education at Kamp’s 1910 Cafe.
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) March 6, 2014
Oklahoma City School Superintendent Dave Lopez: It’s the relationship between a teacher and student that matters most. — Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) March 7, 2014
Ballard: Starting pay for teachers in OK is about $32K. Texas friend: “You’re kidding me…We start at $47,000.” So long, Oklahoma. — Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) March 7, 2014
Support Common Core standards? Tulsa’s Ballard: Yes…but “teaching is in a shambles in Oklahoma right now…We need to simplify it.”
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) March 7, 2014
Week of Feb. 24
What can citizens do about homelessness? Get to know a homeless person, says Hope House OKC Director Treb Praytor.
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) February 27, 2014
Biggest myth about homelessness? “They just need to get a job,” Straughan answers.
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) February 27, 2014
More than half of OKC homelessness due to inadequate mental health and substance abuse treatment, Straughan says.
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) February 27, 2014
Warren Vieth here, live tweeting from KOSU’s On Tap forum on homelessness in Oklahoma.
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) February 27, 2014
Bill prevents schools from punishing students for drawing a gun, eating a pop-tart into shape of gun, pretending a pencil is a gun, etc.
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) February 25, 2014
Legislators watch a news video talking about “the knockout game,” a game in which teens punch random people on the street for no reason.
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) February 25, 2014
Rep. Kern said as of Dec. 2013, there are 185 Oklahoma prisoners in jail for human trafficking or trafficking in children.
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) February 25, 2014
HB 3212 would alter parole considerations when corrections facilities reach 95 percent capacity.
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) February 25, 2014
Week of Feb. 17
Inman: “In Del City and southeast Oklahoma City, I have never had anyone come up to me & say please, please, please cut my income tax.” — Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) February 21, 2014
Parent on proposed closure of Jackson”What will happen with our kids, where will they go, what will happen to the teachers” — Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) February 21, 2014
Education reporter Nate Robson here at the @OKCPS school board meeting. Fairly packed meeting here tonight. — Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) February 21, 2014
New House Speaker Jeff Hickman says low pay of prison employees & state troopers nearing crisis stage — Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) February 20, 2014
Rep. Inman: “In Del City and southwest Oklahoma City, I have never had anyone come up to me & say please, please, please cut my income tax.” — Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) February 20, 2014
In the House, Democrat Leader Scott Inman says his constituents would rather see state use limited funds to address education & other needs. — Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) February 20, 2014
How to account for the unanimous vote? Maybe it was all the Lawton school teachers keeping watch in combat camouflage T-shirts. — Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) February 17, 2014
Brown says raises would avert “the brain drain were fixing to see from not compensating our teachers as well as the 6 surrounding states.” — Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) February 17, 2014
But the committee’s chairman, John Ford, has declined so far to schedule a hearing on bills that would scale back or eliminate Common Core. — Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) February 17, 2014
Week of Feb. 10
Bill would allow physicians located near state border to check other states’ registries to deter “doctor-shopping” by abusers.
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) February 11, 2014
Panel members: Did Meryl Streep have to pay Oklahoma income tax for salary she earned working in Oklahoma on August: Osage County?
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) February 11, 2014
The new income tax deduction would be $200 a year for couples who stay married 3 years, rising to $2,400 for couples who make it to 50 years
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) February 10, 2014
Committee also votes to let ROTC students carry knives, bayonets and unloaded guns during drills at school.
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) February 10, 2014
Warren Vieth again, with the House Common Ed Committee. Lawmakers are shivering, but not with anticipation. The heater is broken.
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) February 10, 2014
Hickman will receive a salary of $56,332 per year as House speaker. A rank-and-file lawmaker receives $38,400.
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) February 10, 2014
Full House elects Republican Jeff Hickman of Fairview as its new Speaker, on 69-29 party-line vote.
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) February 10, 2014
Week of Feb. 3
Rep. Brumbaugh thanks Rep. Murphey for introducing bill eliminating Y2K protection act. “I can get rid of my water and canned goods now.”
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) February 6, 2014
Dr. Laura Barnes: The grade may just give a fleeting picture, that’s one of its (A-F’s) biggest problems. — Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) February 5, 2014
“I want to do the right thing, so I am today stepping down,” Shannon tells fellow lawmakers. — Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) February 4, 2014
In its first floor vote on legislation of the new session, the Oklahoma House agrees to say the Pledge of Allegiance every day it meets.
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) February 4, 2014
“It’s a fat sack of cash,” he says of the revolving funds.
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) February 3, 2014
Doerflinger says state agencies are sitting on $830 million in revolving funds. Budget calls for putting $83 million back into general fund. — Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) February 3, 2014
Fallin’s 2014 budget provides additional funding for a handful of state agencies, and 5 percent cuts for most. — Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) February 3, 2014
“And guys, the water stains you’ve seen on some of the walls downstairs? I have bad news for you. That’s not just water. It’s raw sewage.”
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) February 3, 2014
Pieces of the Capitol facade have fallen on visiting school kids, she says, and the electrical system is faulty. But that’s not all…
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) February 3, 2014
Then she gets personal: “When I was a single mother, I had to take care of my children while cutting a whole lot more than 5 percent.”
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) February 3, 2014
Week of Jan. 27
Panelists agree: Satanic monument on Capitol lawn unlikely. Sorry, Beelzebub.
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) January 30, 2014
Fallin describes her reaction upon arriving at site of last year’s tornado in Moore: “As a mother, my heart was broken…I saw the pain.” — Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch)
Bingman says marijuana bill might or might not make it out of committee.
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) January 29, 2014
href=”https://twitter.com/OklahomaWatch/statuses/428581954821181440″>January 29, 2014
Oklahoma isn’t Colorado, he hints: “You might want to see how that Rocky Mountain High turns out.”
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) January 29, 2014
House Speaker T.W. Shannon is a no-show at AP Legislative Forum. He apparently has other things on his mind, like a U.S. Senate race. — Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) January 29, 2014
“It’s not just southeastern Oklahoma,” Burt tells House budgeteers. Moonshine stills “are popping up outside of Norman and Oklahoma City.” — Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) January 28, 2014
Pressed to identify possible cuts, Emmons says he could stop serving meals to law enforcement officers attending training sessions in Ada.
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) January 28, 2014
They could bring a sack lunch or drive into town and get a hamburger, he says, but their agencies would have pay them per diem.
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) January 28, 2014
