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JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2019

OKLAHOMA COUNCIL OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Freedom Agenda Letter PERSPECTIVE from the January/February 2019 President Brandon Dutcher | Editor OCPA TRUSTEES Glenn Ashmore | City Lee J. Baxter | Lawton Douglas Beall, M.D. | Susan Bergen | Norman John A. Brock | Tulsa Larry Brown | Ardmore David Burrage | Atoka William Flanagan | Claremore Josephine Freede | Oklahoma City Ann Felton Gilliland | Oklahoma City Suzanne B. Gilstrap | Eucha John A. Henry III | Oklahoma City Robert Kane | Tulsa Frank Keating | Oklahoma City Advancing Our Mission in 2019 Gene Love | Lawton You hold in your hands the 2019 edition of OCPA’s annual Freedom Agenda. Tom H. McCasland III | Duncan David McLaughlin | Enid With the legislative session under way, our staff is working hard for an Oklahoma Lloyd Noble II | Tulsa where people are free to flourish, workers enjoy a growing and diversifying Mike O’Neal | Edmond economy, children receive a great education, and the burden of government is Andrew Oster | Edmond light. Larry Parman | Oklahoma City Oklahomans in 2019 are good people who are living, working, and serving in Bill Price | Oklahoma City Patrick T. Rooney | Oklahoma City systems that no longer serve them well. Our constitution is an impediment to Thomas Schroedter | Tulsa adapting to contemporary needs. Our tax structure impedes economic growth Charles M. Sublett | Tulsa and guarantees unstable revenues. Our budget process is opaque and short on Robert Sullivan | Tulsa oversight. Our education system is not set up to produce excellence. All these William E. Warnock, Jr. | Tulsa Molly Wehrenberg | Edmond things may (or may not) have worked in the past, but they do not work well now, Daryl Woodard | Tulsa nor do they position Oklahoma well for our future. We believe that public policy should increase opportunities for individuals and families to decide, without manipulation or coercion by government, how to conduct their own lives. The opposite of this is dependency, which is a TRUSTEES EMERITUS natural state for children but not for adults. The very idea of self-government Blake Arnold | Oklahoma City presupposes a government that treats adults like adults. Robert D. Avery | Pawhuska Steve W. Beebe | Duncan Public policy should promote and rely on civil society: families, neighbors, David R. Brown, M.D. | Oklahoma City volunteers, churches, clubs, nonprofits, and more. These are the first responders Paul A. Cox | Oklahoma City of our social safety net. These are the people who are there, already in John T. Hanes | Oklahoma City relationships with people in need. They are best situated to provide help in times Henry F. Kane | Bartlesville of need. They are also easily co-opted or crowded out by government programs Lew Meibergen | Enid Ronald L. Mercer | Bethany that make big promises but seldom fully deliver on them. Daniel J. Zaloudek | Tulsa Public policy should also recognize the essential role of the family in a free society. Policies should support family formation and promote strong families. Parents have the moral right to direct the upbringing of their children, including Perspective is published monthly by the Oklahoma Council how their children are educated and socialized. Government’s role here is to of Public Affairs, Inc., an independent public policy provide recourse when things break down, not to micromanage or co-opt the role organization. OCPA formulates and promotes public policy of parents. research and analysis consistent with the principles of free Implementing this vision would be impossible without you, and I thank you enterprise and . The views expressed in Perspective are those of the author, and should not be for your generous and continued support. construed as representing any official position of OCPA or its trustees, researchers, or employees. It’s an honor to be on your team,

Jonathan Small, President

2 PERSPECTIVE January/February 2019 Larry Arnn Arthur Brooks

John Bolton William F. Buckley Trey Gowdy May 9, 2019 • Oklahoma City

For more information, contact Rachel Hays at 405.602.1667 or [email protected]. George W. Bush

Dick Cheney Dinesh D’Souza Mitch Daniels Artur Davis Jim DeMint J. Rufus Fears

Tommy Franks John Fund Greg Gutfeld

Brit Hume Frank Keating Brian Kilmeade Art Laffer

Rich Lowry Ed Meese Russell Moore Stephen Moore Peggy Noonan

Star Parker Dana Perino Michael Reagan Paul Ryan Joe Sobran John Stossel

Cal Thomas Scott Walker John Walton J.C.Watts Allen West Walter Williams

Past OCPA speakers are pictured above. By Greg Forster

Collective Bargaining Not Worth It for Teachers

Oklahoma should follow the example paperwork, unreasonable rules, rigid systems, of other states that are moving away from dysfunctional bureaucracy. In a 2009 study collective bargaining in K-12 education. of national data from the U.S. Department You’ve heard all the arguments that teacher of Education, I compared public and private unions are a special interest that profits from school teachers. Even before Common Core, education policies that hurt kids. Those the difference in teacher working conditions THE ISSUE arguments are right—but teachers have also in schools with and without collective Labor Policy been hurt by collective bargaining. bargaining was dramatic. Private school teachers, unhindered by THE PRINCIPLES I’m not against unions. My wife worked for The freedoms of speech and a union for years, volunteering long hours as the standardization of collective bargaining, association are basic American an employee advocate in company dispute were much more likely to have a great deal principles. Those principles are resolution. She signed up to work for the of control over selection of textbooks and violated when Oklahoma law union when she saw managers mistreating instructional materials (53% vs. 32%); content, gives a boost to one group over workers, and the company violating its topics, and skills to be taught (60% vs. 36%); others. contractual obligations to them. The union performance standards for students (40% was the only effective protection those vs. 18%); curriculum (47% vs. 22%); and WHAT TO DO workers had. discipline policy (25% vs. 13%). Private school • Even though many Oklahoma But collective bargaining and teachers were also less likely to report that teachers are opting out of union representation simply isn’t a good fit for K-12 various categories of student misbehavior membership, they are still forced teachers. Not all types of workers are well- disrupted their classes, and were four times into union contracts. Allow served by unionizing. Doctors and lawyers less likely to say student violence is a problem teachers to vote periodically don’t unionize. The nature of the work they on at least a monthly basis (12% vs. 48%). whether to keep their union, do just doesn’t permit the standardization, It’s true that collective bargaining brings look for a new union, or do controlled processes, and highly specified a moderate increase in pay. The Oklahoma without union representation work outputs that are necessary for collective State Department of Education reports that altogether. bargaining to be effective. in 2016-17, the average high school teacher Teachers are like doctors and lawyers. made $39,319 and the average elementary • Set teachers free from Standardizing the work they do into a school teacher made $37,851. (This was collective bargaining and get rid one-size-fits-all mold creates major headaches before the $6,100 average pay raise teachers of special favors (such as dues for them. But collective bargaining demands got last year.) In the same year, according to collection) for union political standardization, so processes and outputs the Oklahoma Private School Accreditation groups. can be specified in labor-management Commission, the average private school negotiations. teacher salary across all grades was The standardization demanded by $36,947. Similar gaps are typical nationally. collective bargaining is a major factor in While we don’t have state-specific data to all the complaints we’re accustomed to compare benefits packages, from national hearing from public-school teachers—useless data we know public-school teachers get

4 PERSPECTIVE January/February 2019 better benefits. And public-school Oklahoma Teacher Had to Quit teachers have impressive job security protections, which are basically ‘For My Mental Health and Happiness’ unknown in the private-school sector. Yet private school teachers are more satisfied with their jobs, even In a February 13 news story, the Tulsa World reported that 30,000 Oklahoma teachers including the pay gap, because the have left the profession in the past six years, according to a new report from the benefits of freedom outweigh the Oklahoma State Department of Education. And while the report says teacher pay is benefits of standardization. In my one reason why, it also cites other factors, including a sharp deterioration in the work study, I found private-school teachers environment. were much more likely than public- school teachers to agree that they Consider an article posted last year on the website of one of Oklahoma’s leading planned to remain teaching as long edu-bloggers. A former Oklahoma teacher tells why she hung it up: "I had to do it for my as they could (62% vs. 44%). They mental health and happiness," she says. This young woman, who obviously has a heart were less likely to agree that they for children, describes a dysfunctional school system in which the adults won't place only planned to teach until retirement some students in the proper educational setting and/or won't discipline them. "I had a (12% vs. 33%), that they would leave fight every day between students," she says. One particular student, she says, teaching immediately if a job with a higher salary were available (12% would hit the students, pull their hair, hit me, punch me, punch them, etc. ... I would vs. 20%), that teaching “isn’t really get phone calls every day from parents about how much their kids were getting hurt worth it” because of the stress and by this little girl. Do I blame the little girl? Absolutely not. She is a child who is going disappointments (6% vs. 13%), and through so much. Do I blame the school system for letting that happen? Yes. This that they sometimes feel like teaching same girl one day had a necklace around her neck in the gym in the morning she is a waste of time (9% vs. 17%). was “pretending” to choke herself. Knowing that she has tantrums, I was told by an In fact, private school teachers were administrator not to poke the bear and let her keep playing with it. Five minutes later slightly more likely to be satisfied I am taking my class back to my room, and I see her turning blue with that necklace with their salaries (51% vs. 46%) wrapped around her neck and she can’t get it off. Thank God it had a snap and I pulled even though their salaries are lower. and ripped it off of her. She finally got placed ... in March. She was safer and she was Teachers do not live by bread alone. happier. However, I saw our systems fail us when she was supposed to be there to That’s why, for most of the history of begin with and no one thought it was crucial enough to keep not only her safe but my public schools, school employees were other students safe as well. not unionized. Most states adopted collective bargaining for teachers in the She tells of another violent student who "would kick, punch, choke, and hit students second half of the 20th century. It’s not every day." an immemorial tradition; it’s a failed experiment. He would kick, push, and hit me most of the time too. He would throw chairs around The idea that teachers are worse off the classroom. I would have to evacuate my classroom because of his violence at because of collective bargaining may least twice a month. Daily, he would run out of the classroom around our three-story seem crazy. That’s mainly because, for building. I would have to stop class to chase him and find him to keep him safe. Then generations, we have allowed teacher I was told not to chase him, to let someone know. But even then, I’m worried for his unions to be the voice of teachers in safety. When I’d chase him, I wasn’t supposed to. When I wouldn’t chase him. I was the public square. We should rethink supposed to. It was a damned if ya do and damned if ya don’t situation. that—and rethink whether teachers are I had another student almost get kidnapped at my school. A coworker and I basically well served by collective bargaining. saved them, they were walking to a car with the wrong people. We got threatened by those people. Did anyone take it seriously? No. That same girl held scissors to her Greg Forster (Ph.D., ) is a throat in the middle of class one day trying to cut herself. My class was in tears scared. Friedman Fellow with EdChoice. He has That poor girl. She’s a first grader and feeling the need to do that. conducted numerous empirical studies on education issues including school choice, accountability testing, graduation rates, I encourage you to read the entire article at www.bit.ly/WhyILeftTeaching. student demographics, and special education. Oklahoma teachers are the ones in the trenches every day; they're the ones with The author of seven books and the co-editor firsthand knowledge of school quality and safety. Is anyone surprised that, according of four books, Dr. Forster has also written to survey research that SoonerPoll conducted in 2016 for The Oklahoman, nearly 4 in numerous articles in peer-reviewed academic 10 Oklahoma teachers would choose a private school or homeschooling for their own journals as well as in popular publications children? such as The Washington Post, The Wall —Brandon Dutcher Street Journal, and the Chronicle of Higher Education.

www.ocpathink.org 5 By Jonathan Small

terms equal to or exceeding the governor’s, so that after a new governor takes office, he or she will find most state agencies still being run by people appointed by the preceding chief executive—for years. How complicated can this get? Consider that in addition to the state school superintendent, Oklahoma has a State Board It’s Time to Let the of Education and a secretary of education. Or, that we have an independent agency for licensing doctors, another for eye doctors, a separate board for foot doctors, and other tiny agencies for nurses, dentists, Governor Govern pharmacists, counselors, drug testing, and even supervising medical cadavers. When $30 million went missing at the Oklahoma State Department of Health, many taxpayers were shocked to learn that agency personnel were answerable to no one except a Imagine that, as CEO and president of a shadowy board. company, you have multiple divisions. Each It’s time for reform. And as Oklahoma City division has a manager. But the managers University law professor Andrew Spiropoulos don’t report to you and aren’t even selected put it, we should take our bearings from the by you. The managers are selected by framers of the U.S. Constitution. Spiropoulos, separate boards in each division, and that THE ISSUE who is also a distinguished fellow at OCPA, your competition, or those interested in a Executive Branch Reform reminds us that the framers understood hostile takeover, select the board members that “a good constitution, while separating that pick the managers of the divisions. THE PRINCIPLES power between the executive branch, the This debacle is how Oklahoma state An executive branch which is legislature, and the judiciary, provides each government is structured. fractured and fragmented is of these branches with broad grants of power Recently, a statewide elected official in an executive branch in which without putting numerous restrictions on the the executive branch declared, “I don’t take the buck stops … nowhere. The use of that power or prescribing the specific orders from (the) governor …” effectiveness of government structures through which each branch will In fact, few state employees do. Oklahoma is weakened when executive exercise its powers. government is a fractured, fragmented, power is given to more than one “This broad outline of government poorly organized mess. The directory of state person or when the executive’s authority provides both the flexibility and agencies, boards, and commissions runs more authority is subject to the the power to respond to changing conditions. than 140 pages. There are hundreds of boards, control of others. In addition, the maintenance of a relatively agencies, commissions, task forces, and straightforward structure makes it possible WHAT TO DO other entities, often answerable to nobody in for the people to understand how the system • In order to create clear lines particular. works and follow what their government is of authority and responsibility, In Oklahoma, the buck stops nowhere. up to; this makes it easier for the people to Oklahoma lawmakers should Cans are endlessly kicked down distant roads. hold its officials accountable.” give the governor the power to If someone wanted to design a government It’s time for Oklahoma to reform the hire and fire agency leadership. to fail and best serve good ol’ boys, special structure of state government by seeing that interests, and career politicians, they would most agency heads are appointed directly • Oklahoma should reduce propose this kind of a structure. Even by the governor. It’s time to command the number of independently with well-intentioned people filling many performance, effectiveness, and efficiency. elected executive branch positions, such a government is confusing officials, reduce the number of and inefficient at best, and will inevitably tend Jonathan Small is the president of OCPA. A certified executive branch officials who toward waste and corruption. public accountant, he previously served as a budget are appointed by someone Many agencies are ostensibly run by boards analyst for the Oklahoma Office of State Finance, as other than the governor, and or commissions appointed by a combination a fiscal policy analyst and research analyst for the eliminate unnecessary boards of officials that can include the governor, the Oklahoma House of Representatives, and as director and commissions. leaders of the House and Senate, or other of government affairs for the Oklahoma Insurance officials. Many of these board members have Department.

6 PERSPECTIVE January/February 2019 By Andrew C. Spiropoulos

Stitt Aims for 21st-Century Governance

Most newly inaugurated governors of given to more than one person or when is responsible for poor government. In Oklahoma soon discover that they have the executive’s authority is subject to the other words, we have the worst of both little power to manage the government control of others. worlds: Nothing gets done, and nobody they have been elected to run. Both our Unfortunately, our state’s executive is responsible. Without clear lines of state’s constitution and the political branch is not unified. The Oklahoma authority, the people cannot exercise their structure built on it conspire to make it Constitution, rather than lodging all power—and responsibility—to make next to impossible for any governor to executive power in the governor, splits sure our public servants provide good effect positive change. power among a large number of elected government. It is no surprise, then, that Fortunately, Gov. officers who do not answer to the chief the quality of our governance never really understands this structural flaw in executive. improves. our government and has made it his But our structural problems go even The way to make most parts of highest priority to repair it. Legislators further. Both the constitution and the government responsible to the people and citizens of all parties and political Legislature, by statute, have created a is to make the governor responsible persuasions should help transform multitude of boards and commissions for them. Agency heads should be our executive branch into an effective that actually carry out most of the cabinet officers who are selected by and instrument for 21st-century governance. executive tasks. Many important state accountable to the governor. If you don’t A strong executive supplies what agencies are not run by a cabinet secretary like the way agencies are operating, we Alexander Hamilton called “energy” to who is subordinate to the executive. They know whom to blame. government. Energy is that indispensable are run instead by a board that is only in No constitutional structure, no matter virtue of individuals or organizations that part appointed by the current governor. how well designed, can guarantee enables them to accomplish tasks great The appointees often serve for a term good government. What an improved and small. We all know the difference of several years, making it possible that executive branch structure will do is between working with someone who is the governor will never name a majority make it easier for an engaged citizenry energetic and productive and someone of the board that operates the executive both to elect officials that will have the who is lethargic. It is the executive that department. power to carry out the will of the people carries out the policy schemes enacted by What happens when we try to hold our and to hold those officials accountable the Legislature; without executive action, public officials responsible for ineffective when they fail to carry out their the laws are just dreams and unfulfilled government? Well, if you try to blame responsibility. promises. the governor, he will argue that he didn’t The defining characteristic of an appoint the boards that are running the Andrew C. Spiropoulos (M.A., J.D., University of energetic executive is what Hamilton executive branch. The legislators will say Chicago) is the Distinguished called “unity.” Put simply, the executive they are not responsible because they did Fellow at OCPA and a professor of constitutional branch will possess energy only not appoint the members of the executive law at Oklahoma City University. From 2005 to 2006 he served as senior counselor to the Speaker when power is lodged in one person. board. of the Oklahoma House of Representatives, where This unity—and, consequently, the Well, if the Legislature isn’t his duties included serving as chief policy advisor effectiveness of government—is responsible and the current governor and negotiator. This column is adapted from the destroyed when executive power is isn’t responsible, the truth is that no one 2002 OCPA book Oklahoma Policy Blueprint.

www.ocpathink.org 7 By Staci Elder Hensley

“Non-academic outcomes interest me because teachers and schools can do so much more than nudge standardized test scores, and our broad goals for education cannot be captured in something as simple as a math or reading test,” DeAngelis said. “There is so much evidence indicating that school choice leads to more student safety and fewer Study Finds School Choice disciplinary problems, which may mean that schools of choice have environments that are more conducive to stable mental health in the long run.” The study by DeAngelis and Dills “is the Improves Mental Health only study linking school choice to mental health,” DeAngelis said, “and we find that school choice improves mental health for students. Trapping kids in schools that aren't working for them (through residential school School choice plays a significant role in assignment) can have extremely harmful improving overall student mental health, effects that must be considered seriously.” including lowering adolescent suicide rates. That’s according to a groundbreaking new Henry Program study by Corey DeAngelis, a policy analyst at the Cato Institute, and Angela Dills, a Boosts Self-Esteem THE ISSUE professor of economics at Western Carolina In Oklahoma, the creation of the Lindsey Parental Choice in Education University. Nicole Henry Scholarship Program is proving itself to be a significant force for change in THE PRINCIPLES The study, “The Effects of School Choice Parents, not government on Mental Health,” utilized public- and boosting students’ mental health. Launched officials, have the right and private-school data collected from 49 states in 2010, the scholarships are a state initiative the responsibility to direct the plus information directly obtained from a making private-school tuition assistance upbringing of their children. nationally representative sample of 4,353 available to special-needs students, foster Taxpaying parents should not be students. children, and children adopted out of state punished financially for choosing “By joining forces, we were able to custody. These funds enable parents to a school not operated by the tackle this question from different angles,” place their child in a more sympathetic and government. DeAngelis said. “The state-level data give effective school environment, where they us a high-level picture, while the student- may experience lower rates of depression and WHAT TO DO level data allow us to zoom in on individual anxiety. • Raise the cap on Oklahoma’s students. This is the first study linking school The Henry program has been essential successful tax-credit scholarship choice to teen suicide and mental health. to the educational and emotional success of program. Previous studies did not look at these; the students at Trinity School in Oklahoma City, closest ones studied things like feelings of which is a private school for students with • Expand eligibility for safety and bullying.” learning disabilities. Jennifer Vaught, Trinity’s Oklahoma’s current private- DeAngelis and Dills reached two head of school, said that students often arrive school scholarships. conclusions—that school choice directly at their doors with depression or severe translates to fewer mental health issues for anxiety caused by their struggle to adapt • Enact an individual tax credit teens overall and significantly lower rates of to a public-school system that’s unable or for certain public-, private-, and suicide. The expectation is that the improved unwilling to provide for their specific needs. home-schooling expenses. mental health benefits will carry over from Many have been victims of intense bullying, the teen years into adulthood. which also plays a role in the development “After controlling for factors such as of depression, anxiety, and in severe cases, demographics and economic output, our posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), self- state-level results generally find that the harm, or suicide. In most cases, the private enactments of private- and public-school school setting allows the healing process to choice laws reduce teen suicides,” DeAngelis begin. said. “The Lindsey Nicole Henry Scholarship has

8 PERSPECTIVE January/February 2019 Survey Shows Support for Ed Choice greatly improved education and self-esteem for our students,” Vaught said. “I believe that the program Yet another scientific survey of Oklahoma voters—the tenth one since should be expanded to allow students with mental 2014—has found strong support for educational choice. This statewide health issues to attend schools with specialized survey of 500 registered Oklahoma voters was commissioned by OCPA and programs for their specific needs. conducted by WPA Intelligence from January 29 to January 31, 2019. The “I would encourage parents to look at the margin of error is ±4.4 percent. educational and social experiences of their students in their current setting and examine how that “If you could select any type “A proposal has been made could be affecting their overall mental well-being,” of school in order to obtain the to enact an individual tax she added. “I would also encourage everyone to best education for your child credit for approved educational examine what barriers are preventing their student or children, and financial costs expenses. Oklahoma parents from experiencing this and see what changes can be and transportation were of no could receive a state tax credit made to increase their student’s self-esteem. Trinity concern, what type of school of up to $2,500 per child for School, for example, focuses on providing a safe and would you select?” public-school expenses such nurturing environment for children with learning as costs for band instruments differences through programs designed to meet Traditional public school 46% and uniforms, athletic their individual academic specific needs. Providing Charter school 9% equipment, and other public- this environment helps ease the self-esteem issues Private or parochial school 34% school activities. Or, they could in students who are struggling in an academic Home school 7% receive the tax credit for costs setting.” Don’t know/refused 4% associated with private school According to the Mental Health Association of tuition or homeschooling. Oklahoma, 20 percent of the state’s K-12 students “A proposal has been made Would you support or oppose have some sort of mental illness, primarily to create an educational this proposal?” depression, anxiety, ADD, and ADHD. Often these choice program in Oklahoma issues go hand in hand with students who are which provides private-school Strongly support 42% battling autism or specific learning disorders. On scholarships to public-school Somewhat support 22% a par with the rest of the nation, teen suicide rates students who are bullied or TOTAL SUPPORT 64% in Oklahoma are rising, along with rates of mental are victims of violence. Would Somewhat oppose 11% illness. you support or oppose this Strongly oppose 17% Nationally, between 2007 and 2015, suicide rates proposal?” TOTAL OPPOSE 28% for males age 15 to 19 have increased by 31 percent, Don’t know/refused 8% while the rate for females in the same age bracket Strongly support 45% has doubled, DeAngelis said. Somewhat support 19% “More research into this issue is vitally TOTAL SUPPORT 64% important,” he said. “Increased research on treating Somewhat oppose 11% mental health problems in children and adolescents Strongly oppose 18% can greatly reduce the problems that these TOTAL OPPOSE 29% individuals experience in adulthood. Don’t know/refused 6% “Families know what their children need,” he “Now I am going to read you a current educational choice program added. “Families also care about the safety and available for certain demographics in Oklahoma. After I read the program, mental stability of their children more than anyone please indicate if you would support or oppose the program being else. Allowing families to select their children’s expanded to include any of the following demographics. The current schools based on these important aspects can lead to program makes private-school scholarships available to special-needs better lives for their kids.” students, foster children, and children adopted out of state custody."

“Do you support or oppose “Do you support or oppose Former newspaper reporter Staci Elder Hensley is a freelance expanding eligibility to children expanding eligibility to writer, editor, and columnist. A graduate of the , she is a former news coordinator for both the of incarcerated parents?” homeless students?” Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department and the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. She served as Strongly support 52% Strongly support 65% a regular columnist for The Daily Oklahoman and Distinctly Somewhat support 24% Somewhat support 17% Oklahoma magazine, and her credits also include articles TOTAL SUPPORT 76% TOTAL SUPPORT 82% produced for multiple state and national publications, including Somewhat oppose 10% Somewhat oppose 6% The Journal Record, The Times, The Dallas Morning Strongly oppose 10% Strongly oppose 8% News, and others. TOTAL OPPOSE 20% TOTAL OPPOSE 14% Don’t know/refused 5% Don’t know/refused 4%

www.ocpathink.org 9 By Jonathan Small

OKLAHOMA VOTERS SAY OF EVERY DOLLAR SPENT BY 47¢ STATE GOVERNMENT IS WASTED. Better Service Source: WPA Intelligence WPA Source:

Tennessee spends under $8,800 per student at a Better Price and ranks 30th. What matters is not just how much you spend on schools—or any endeavor, in government or the private sector—but rather how you spend it. Whether dealing with auto repair shops The WPA Intelligence survey also asked or Internet service providers or any number respondents: “For every dollar paid in taxes of businesses, we’ve all heard the promise of that goes to the Oklahoma state government, “better service at a better price.” how many cents out of each dollar do you Well, taxpayers should demand the same. believe are wasted?” Taxpayers are both the owners and the Only 7 percent of Oklahoma voters think THE ISSUE customers of government. Their tax dollars government waste is minimal (less than 10 Fiscal Responsibility finance it, and they consume its services. cents of every dollar). Incredibly, registered voters overall THE PRINCIPLES That’s why Oklahomans should be grateful to believe that 47 cents of every dollar is being Government officials who our new governor, Kevin Stitt, who has made wasted. That’s not a misprint. (The number extract money from free citizens it clear in bringing his business background is 45 cents among Democrats, 48 cents through the coercion of taxation to state leadership that he intends to deliver among Republicans, and 50 cents among have a solemn duty to spend better service at a better price. Independents.) that money as carefully as From his personnel appointments to his Not exactly a resounding vote of confidence possible. insistence on efficiency, accountability, and economy in his inaugural message and State in state government. Which is why the time WHAT TO DO of the State address, Gov. Stitt has made it is right for a governor who, unlike many • Lawmakers should create an clear that he intends to bring the idea of good politicians, has balanced the books of a office for accountability and service at a fair price into state government. business, made a monthly payroll, and dealt oversight within the Legislature No longer will we be asked to throw more with the need to deliver good service at a fair which will allow it to exercise the tax dollars at problems without seeing a clear price to customers. power it was always supposed to return on that investment. That’s good news. Gov. Stitt knows that spending more dollars have: to stand up for taxpayers According to a new survey commissioned by does not necessarily lead to better service. by digging into agency budgets, OCPA and conducted by WPA Intelligence, And he knows that a business that spent as spending, and results. taxpayers are skeptical of the old approach. freely and irresponsibly as some government For example, when asked about agencies do would soon be out of business. • In order to create clear lines Oklahoma’s public-school revenue per Former Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels said, of authority and to promote student of $9,219, only a third of respondents at an OCPA speech in Tulsa in 2011, “Never fiscal responsibility, Oklahoma said taxpayers are getting a good return on take a dollar from a free citizen through the lawmakers should give the investment. Just over half (51 percent) say the coercion of taxation without a very legitimate governor the power to hire and return on investment is lacking. purpose.” He pointed out that those in fire agency leadership. Consider the new ranking of state government “have a solemn duty to spend education systems by scholars Stan Liebowitz that dollar as carefully as possible because, and Matthew Kelly of the University of when we took it, we diminished that person's at Dallas. They show that New York freedom.” state spends more than $22,000 per student Oklahoma taxpayers want and deserve to achieve a quality ranking of 31st—while better service at a better price.

10 PERSPECTIVE January/February 2019 By Mike Brake

Transparency Office Will Hold Agencies Accountable

When officials of the Oklahoma State Department of Health announced in the fall of 2017 that they were $30 million in the red and needed to lay off 198 employees and cut services, many Oklahomans wondered how a major public agency could find itself in such a crisis. When the multicounty grand jury later reported that the agency actually had the $30 million all along, blasted its “reprehensible (and) inept practices and processes” and lamented that Pro Tempore and House Speaker. The new office will be able to “hold there was no criminal statute to punish The Legislative Office of Fiscal agencies accountable,” Treat said. Most its “mismanagement, deception, and Transparency itself will have a staff and importantly, the key word in its title is obfuscation,” many Oklahomans were executive director paid by the Legislature. “transparency,” indicating that taxpayers outraged and wondered when state Its task, Treat said, will be to serve as the will be able to examine the agency reports government would get its fiscal act “watchdog of the . that it forwards to the Legislature. together. It will provide both the Senate and House Treat said at least 38 other states State Senator (R-Edmond) with detailed and consistent financial have similar offices. Once our state’s hopes it is soon. The Senate President Pro information on our state agencies and Legislative Office of Fiscal Transparency Tempore made it a point to file his most help the Legislature have more complete begins operating, its regular reports will vital piece of legislation for 2019 as Senate information when making budgeting essentially serve as frequent audits to, as Bill 1, which will create the Legislative decisions.” Treat said, “ensure that government funds Office of Fiscal Transparency. Under the Historically, the only information are expended in a fiscally responsible bill, a special joint legislative committee legislators had as they drafted agency manner.” will oversee and receive regular reports budgets was provided by the agencies For those who recall the Health from that office, which will be tasked with themselves, which inevitably had an Department mess and countless other examining the budgeting and spending interest in expanding their annual symbols of waste and mismanagement of practices of every agency under the state appropriations. In many years, tax dollars, it can’t come too soon. government umbrella. lawmakers simply ratified the previous The committee will include the chairs year’s budget plus a few percent increase, Mike Brake is a and writer who recently of the House and Senate committees with little examination or questioning. authored a centennial history of Putnam City dealing with financial and budget issues, That’s how the Health Department Schools. He served as chief writer for Gov. Frank four members from both the House and managed to misspend millions of tax Keating and for then-Lt. Gov. and Congresswoman , and has also served as an adjunct Senate drawn from both parties, and two dollars for years and create what turned instructor at OSU-OKC. co-chairs selected by the Senate President out to be a largely bogus crisis.

www.ocpathink.org 11 By Mike Brake

fees. Under Young’s bill, a judge would hold a hearing to determine if the offender is able to pay the assessments. Only if the answer is yes could the judge then issue a bench warrant for contempt of court. The judge could also allow the fines or fees to be paid in installments. The bill also mandates that if a person is Criminal-Justice arrested for failure to pay, a hearing on the case would be held within 24 hours. It also asks the Court of Criminal Appeals to create rules for how indigents can satisfy monetary judgments imposed by a court. Reform Takes Aim at High fines, court costs, and fees are a perennial issue in the area of criminal justice reform. Many county jails in Oklahoma charge inmates a daily per ‘Debtors’ Prisons’ diem, and offenders often leave prison or a courtroom carrying mandates to pay a variety of assessments, from fines imposed as part of their punishment to such costs as probationary supervision and even the cost of court-ordered drug tests. SB 203 is designed to remove, or at least THE ISSUE Most of the lower, the chances that an offender could be Criminal-Justice Reform 28,772 inmates returned to custody for failing to pay. Some in the custody of advocates of criminal justice reform have THE PRINCIPLES the Oklahoma likened jail terms for financial default to Nearly every person who enters State. Sen. George Young Department of debtors’ prisons. the criminal justice system will Corrections will leave prison at some point, Another bill, Senate Bill 42, aims to help return to society. Some people while others sentenced to probation will face ease the transition from prison to freedom. return to crime, others become some of the same issues as former inmates. In Sadly, given persistent recidivism rates of productive members of society. both cases, offenders receive the admonition two-thirds or more, many offenders won’t Criminal-justice policy should be to report to a parole officer and go and sin no stay out of prison. Young is proposing a pilot calibrated to maximize the latter more—but they may also face costly fines and program designed to intervene with inmates result. court costs or a difficult period of adjustment. even before they leave prison and offer them WHAT TO DO State Sen. George Young (D-Oklahoma support and help during those crucial first Change current Oklahoma law City) has introduced two bills that seek to few months at home. so as to make it more difficult for make the transition from prison or jail less SB 42 would establish the program first in authorities to return a parolee stressful and expensive. His goal is to help Oklahoma County for prison inmates due or person on probation to jail or reduce recidivism. to be discharged there. The bill would pair prison for failing to pay various Senate Bill 203 would change current laws the Department of Corrections with a local court costs, fines, or fees. that allow authorities to return a parolee counseling agency in a cooperative effort to or person on probation to jail or prison for make the transition from prison to freedom a failing to pay various court costs, fines, or smoother one.

Don’t Throw Away the Key Oklahoma is the most locked-up state in the country. More of our fellow residents are in prison or jail, as a share of our population, than in any other state. It will cost $1.5 billion this year to operate the Oklahoma Department of Corrections. That does not include what taxpayers pay for local jails. A dollar spent on incarceration is a dollar that cannot be spent filling a pothole or buying a math book. But that’s just the financial cost. What about the human toll? When a woman with a drug addiction winds up in prison for five years, or a teenager who can’t make bail gets used to living in the county jail, who is better off? Putting people who are not violent away for years—away from families and jobs—imposes social costs on our communities. Oklahoma puts too many people in prison, often for too long. Helpful reforms have passed over the last few years, but more are needed. Gov. Kevin Stitt and the Legislature need to break Oklahoma’s incarceration addiction. —Jonathan Small

12 PERSPECTIVE January/February 2019 By Kaitlyn Finley and Curtis Shelton Over and over, Oklahoma has wisely rejected Obamacare’s Medicaid expansion. But like a recurring nightmare, proposals just keep turning up. Expansion states have added millions of able-bodied, working-age adults to welfare—more than double the number predicted, generating massive cost overruns. This has depleted resources for traditional Medicaid beneficiaries— low-income pregnant women, children, the aged, blind, and disabled—and strained funding for other core services, like education and public safety. Louisiana’s cost overruns were $1.3 billion in the first year. Arizona’s expansion cost $698 million more than predicted within the first two and a half years. Ohio expanded Medicaid in 2014, and the latest figures available show the Reform Health cost has exceeded projections by an astounding $7.1 billion so far. The latest state data show that the Obamacare Medicaid expansion has signed up more than double the number of people predicted—110 percent more. These people were not all uninsured; many canceled private insurance to move on to the welfare program. The total cost overrun in expansion states is 157 percent Care, Don’t more than what was initially promised. A 2013 report commissioned by the Oklahoma Health Care Authority showed that 628,000 Oklahomans would be eligible for expanded Medicaid. Given the average cost overruns from previous expansion states and total possible enrollment, Oklahoma taxpayers could be on the hook for as much as $321 Expand Welfare million annually. And every additional dollar means spending less on education or another program, or paying more in taxes. Even without the Obamacare expansion, Oklahoma’s Medicaid population has grown 132 percent since 1997. Our state’s population grew just 17 percent during that time. As the number of people on medical welfare grew, the federal government’s reimbursement rate dropped from 71 to 59 percent. THE ISSUE Oklahoma’s massive growth in enrollment, coupled with lower federal Health-Care Reform reimbursement rates, has increased our share of Medicaid costs from $536 million in 1997 to $2.3 billion in 2017 (adjusted for inflation). THE PRINCIPLES Obamacare proponents have tried to lure Oklahoma into expanding Medicaid State government should not with a federal waiver, claiming they can craft a “conservative” option. But other further disincentivize work and state experiments relying on temporary federal waivers and blending private create a new dependency class insurance and government subsidies have been failures. by expanding medical welfare Arkansas’ “Insure Oklahoma”-style expansion plan cost taxpayers $778 million entitlements. more (from 2014 to 2017) than if the state had opted for the traditional Obamacare Medicaid expansion. Indiana’s “Insure Oklahoma”-style expansion plan cost WHAT TO DO taxpayers an additional $365 million in the first year. And any unique benefits • Avoid Obamacare’s Medicaid of these states’ plans can be eliminated with the stroke of a pen by the next expansion, including via a liberal president. In fact, the Obama Administration did just that to the Insure federal waiver under the Oklahoma plan when it forced changes on the state that dumped thousands guise of an alternative, more of people out of that successful program and into the failed Obamacare health “conservative” or “Oklahoma- insurance exchange. This is what it means to rely on a federal waiver. specific” plan. Sadly, Obamacare’s Medicaid expansion and other Obamacare provisions have served to provide big urban hospitals more cause to buy rural hospitals. • Dedicate all new tobacco- Instead of begging for more federal funds—which simply adds to the national settlement payments to debt—Oklahoma should reform health care. An easy reform would be to redirect improving Oklahoma’s rural future tobacco-settlement dollars to cover actual losses at rural hospitals and health-care infrastructure. to incentivize doctors to serve rural communities. Another would be to set Medicaid payments to providers based on need, since providing care in smaller communities is often more expensive. Oklahoma can improve health care, especially for our rural communities, without expanding an entitlement program to create more dependence on government. Let’s learn from other states’ mistakes—not join their failed experiment.

Kaitlyn Finley and Curtis Shelton are policy research fellows at OCPA.

www.ocpathink.org 13 By Greg Forster

Don’t Let the State Dox Its Citizens

An Oklahoma agency recently demanded professional mean-wellers endorsed the the power to take away the free-speech and proposal, after all. free-association rights of its political enemies. This may seem like a small issue. But Like all who seek to take away others’ rights, it strikes at what has always been a vital it justified its power grab with specious element of real freedom. From the authors appeals to the common good. While the of Papers in the 1780s to the THE ISSUE attempt has been shelved for the time being, it National Association for the Advancement First Amendment Rights will likely return in some form. Everyone who of Colored People during the civil rights era,

some groups have kept their memberships THE PRINCIPLES cares about real protection for free-speech If you can’t speak anonymously rights should be watching this apparently confidential in order to facilitate speech and or join confidentially, you have esoteric case. civil activity. Call them shadowy cabals or no zone of privacy and the state The Oklahoma Ethics Commission wanted secret societies if you like; there has never has no limits. the power to compel private groups to been a time when anonymous speech post their membership rolls online if they and confidential associations were not an WHAT TO DO expressed an opinion on legislation. As a important part of the rough and tumble of a Continue to resist efforts, either sinister cherry on top of the sundae, they free society. administrative or legislative, to didn’t just want names; they wanted to I made a decision years ago that I would take away Oklahomans’ free- compel people to post home addresses and always use my real name in all my speech, speech and free-association even their employers. This was needed, even online, and be transparent about what rights. they said, to ensure transparency in public I belong to and why. I wanted to make it discourse about legislation. We need to know easy for others to find and criticize my ideas. who is saying what, who is hiding behind Sure, it’s embarrassing when people catch the innocent-sounding names of groups that me making mistakes or bad arguments, but it engage in free speech—and, apparently, we helps me learn and grow. also need to know where they work and But I’m a public intellectual. It’s my job where they sleep. to be held publicly responsible for what I The proposal was quietly set aside after say and join. I signed up for that and take public comment exposing its dangers, paychecks for it. The risk of what might including expert testimony and an OCPA happen to me because I’m in the public eye petition. But “set aside” does not mean is part of my job, just as the risk of a highway “dropped forever,” and attempts of this kind accident is part of a driver’s job. are growing more frequent nationally. Some Most people aren’t in that situation. If alternative form of the proposal is likely to they’re going to participate in the public emerge—if not at the ethics commission discourse and also keep their jobs, they often then possibly from some other agency, or need anonymity. If they’re going to participate a legislative proposal. The Tulsa World in civic activity, they often need to join groups and a conga line of Oklahoma pundits and confidentially. And even I don’t post my

14 PERSPECTIVE January/February 2019 home address online. Father State loves his children, and he guides the American political and legal Try posting the home address or the can’t make omelets to feed them without tradition on the question of where rights employer of another person on any of breaking a few eggs. start and stop. the major social media platforms. Your These days, we’re hearing a lot of The has never adhered to account will be swiftly disciplined— irresponsible talk about limits on free the view, common in European liberalism suspended or terminated. It’s called speech. If you criticize someone’s ideas, since Kant, that people surrender all “doxing” and it’s a serious infraction or refuse to host their speech on your their natural rights when they enter civil of their terms of service. Social media platform, before you’re done speaking society, and get civil rights in exchange. companies police doxing more they’re already wailing “stop taking We hold Locke’s view, that although we aggressively than almost any other away my freedom of speech!” But this do gain some civil rights in civil society, offense. is different. This is a real and dangerous we also retain natural rights. We give the The reason we need rules against threat to basic rights. state the authority to resolve conflicts that doxing is obvious. People post this To understand the difference, it’s arise as we use our natural rights, but not information for only one reason: to important to grasp that freedom of the authority to take those rights away. facilitate violence and harassment. I speech is closely connected to freedom Kantians can demand a liberal state, don’t have to shoot you or beat you. of association (protected in the First but can’t justify any hard limits on the I don’t have to spread toxic lies about Amendment as “the right of the people scope of that state’s power. Lockeans can you that will make you unemployable. I peaceably to assemble”). Your right to justify, and must demand, such limits. don’t have to smear your little restaurant free speech includes the right to associate The right to privacy—secrecy—is a or shop so it will go under. Others with groups you choose to associate with, test of the difference. If you can’t speak do the dirty work. All I do is provide and not associate with groups you do not anonymously or join confidentially, you information about you, so the doers of choose to associate with. have no zone of privacy, and the state has dirty deeds can find you. That is why it isn’t necessarily a no limits. “There are few more toxic practices violation of your “free speech” if Twitter It’s the same old story, century after online than doxing,” wrote Lily Hay doesn’t let you post on their platform. century. Whoever is riding high on the Twitter has free-speech and free- political waves of the moment wants association rights, too. (Of course, to grant themselves all the power they “Twitter” is not a real person, can, because of course they mean well but the people who own Twitter and will use that power only for good. are, and Twitter’s rights are their Anyone who wants to limit their power rights at one remove.) There are, must be up to something nefarious. Father State loves his children, and admittedly, other issues involved What are they hiding? If they were doing in the complex world of online nothing wrong, they’d have nothing to he can’t make omelets to feed them speech law. And of course if fear. without breaking a few eggs.” Twitter makes decisions we don’t But do those currently on top have like, we’re free to criticize those any right to the power they seek? Will decisions. But the platforms still they continue to “mean well” after they come to the table with rights that have it—are they the sole exception to Newman in Wired in 2017. “It’s… need to be respected in law. the otherwise universal rule that power deployed regularly and devastatingly as a One of the rights we all bring to corrupts? And what will happen when means to harass and intimidate….Doxing the table is the right not to reveal the current political waves crest, and new is an effective tool for bad actors.” membership in groups we create. The political waves rise, sweeping the people But it’s different, of course, when the most relevant question here is not why on the other side of the political spectrum state does it. The state is never a “bad a group wants to keep its membership into the positions of power now being actor.” It only has the public good at secret. There are often very good reasons, built up? heart. Everything the state does is rightly but that’s beside the point. The relevant Everyone who wants to take the ring of motivated, as is proven by the fact that question is not why we want secrecy, but power always sees themselves as Frodo. the state did it. The state exists to enforce whether we have the right to it. They only take it because they have to. justice, therefore whatever the state does The phrase “right to privacy” has been No one is ever Denethor, who thinks he is justice. much abused. But the Constitution does wants freedom and justice, but really just Father State doxes you for the public protect some privacy rights. Consider, for wants more muscle for himself and his good. And if you’re murdered, or you example, “the right of the people to be own people. Not to mention that even lose your career, or your business is secure in their persons, houses, papers, Frodo succumbed to the temptation of the destroyed, you can take comfort in and effects, against unreasonable searches ring in the end. knowing that you were sacrificed by and seizures.” This privacy right is a Father State for the public good. After all, specific instance of a general rule that

www.ocpathink.org 15 By Byron Schlomach

Oklahoma Teachers Deserve Liability Insurance

While I was in Texas working for a pay significant dues, just so they can get legislator who was then the first Republican the liability insurance those organizations since Reconstruction to become chairman of offer. For a variety of reasons, whether the House Public Education Committee, a it’s scare tactics by unions, scare tactics by lobbyist for one of the teacher organizations administrators, or just urban legends arising asked me an interesting question. He asked if from the occasional story based in fact, THE ISSUE I thought it was possible statutorily to grant teachers worry about being sued. Teacher Pay teachers greater legal protections against The liability insurance bought through

THE PRINCIPLES potential lawsuits, given that his members such teacher professional organizations and Oklahoma teachers, in their were clamoring for it. unions is cheap, of course. Indeed, it’s very compensation packages, The honest truth was that nothing more nearly pure profit for those who sell it. Why? deserve the respect and could be done. It is only a slight exaggeration Well, because, as I said, a teacher in nearly protections afforded to many to say that under the law in Texas, a teacher every state would practically have to commit other professionals in this state. would have to commit cold-blooded, cold-blooded, pre-meditated murder to lose a pre-meditated murder of a student in order lawsuit over something that happened while WHAT TO DO to lose a liability lawsuit. That’s because performing official duties. (And Oklahoma Oklahoma policymakers should the law in Texas so thoroughly indemnifies law guarantees that teachers, unlike other provide liability insurance for teachers from any liability while performing people, get reimbursed for court costs if they teachers. official duties that even grossly irresponsible are sued and prevail.) behavior is unlikely to result in a finding of Nevertheless, teachers want insurance. personal liability. In fact, this is almost just as And it can be a troublesome proposition for true in nearly every state. a teacher to buy liability insurance on her In 2002, the federal government added to own, outside of being a member of a union or state protections when the Paul D. Coverdell other teacher group. It’s not as if these sorts of Teacher Protection Act of 2001 was signed into policies are readily available. The minimum law. Its purpose is to prevent lawsuits against that can be found online for this insurance educators who take “reasonable actions to bought individually is $94 per year. That is a maintain order, discipline, and an appropriate bargain for $1 million in coverage, if it were educational environment.” Educators in ever used. Meanwhile, dues for the Oklahoma any state school system receiving Title I Education Association are $513 per year, with money, and meeting several other conditions liability insurance included as one of the that generally apply in a public school benefits. In that case, though, all the shopping environment, enjoy this protection. has been done. Yet, some teachers are afraid. They In 2000, an American Federation of seem to see a lawsuit hiding behind every Teachers (AFT) representative revealed that corner. Consequently, teachers join teacher the insurance benefit was a major tool for organizations and unions, to which they their organization to attract teachers and

16 PERSPECTIVE January/February 2019 Former Teacher Sponsors Legislation to Provide Liability Insurance

An Oklahoma state senator who is also a former teacher wants to create a system of taxpayer-funded liability insurance to protect educators from lawsuits. that it cost AFT only $12 per year provided liability insurance, teachers Sen. Micheal Bergstrom (R-Adair) has per member. In other words, many would likely feel assured that at least introduced Senate Bill 750, which would create teachers and other educators are the legislature has their back. a system much like one in Florida that provides paying dues costing them 30 to 40 In Florida for a time liability liability insurance for all state teachers there times the price of the benefit they insurance was provided by the state, at no cost to them or the districts that employ actually care about. and then it was canceled after five them. Bergstrom taught at Bluejacket Public Let’s suppose that since the year years, only to be reinstated recently. Schools before his election to the Legislature. 2000, the liability insurance benefit During that initial five-year span, The Florida Educators Professional Liability provided by AFT has doubled in $4.4 million in premiums were paid Insurance Program is operated through price to $24. That insurance could while only $50,000 in claims were the state education agency in cooperation be provided to every full-time- paid out, resulting in arguments that with a private vendor. All school staff equivalent public-school employee the money was ill-spent. Actually, members engaged in instructional work are in Oklahoma for a mere $2 million. these circumstances only raise the automatically covered. There is a coverage If the cost were $99 per year per question of why Florida did not drive limit of $3 million per occurrence, and liability employee, providing liability a harder bargain. It also is reason to coverage can be primary or secondary if a wonder why a state teacher is already covered by a private or could not self-insure district-provided liability program. for teacher liability “The purpose of this bill is to provide and contract with protection to our teachers from lawsuits,” able attorneys on a Bergstrom said. “It is one more way that we contingency basis in the Legislature can demonstrate to our If the legislature provided liability to provide legal educators how much we value them and want counsel. to keep them in our schools.” insurance, teachers would likely feel Regardless of Bergstrom noted that many teachers assured that at least the legislature how the state already purchase liability coverage. “My bill, of Oklahoma by creating a massive insurance pool, will has their back.” might structure significantly reduce the cost of insurance for the provision of each teacher to the point that it is a benefit liability insurance the state can provide. As a former classroom insurance for all teachers would for teachers, it is a bargain. And it teacher, I understand the value of this. It will still be less than $8 million. In fact, would help debunk the notion that be one thing teachers will no longer have to be both of these estimates are likely too teachers have to be constantly afraid concerned about.” high because of the state’s buying of being sued just for doing their jobs. Data from Florida show the cost is minimal. leverage. In 2015-16 a statewide Teachers might just feel freer to do Audrey Walden, speaking for the Florida premium for Florida to provide $2 their jobs well. Department of Education, said “premiums million in liability coverage for all its paid annually have decreased each year since public-school teachers cost less than the inception of the program. For the period $850,000. Byron Schlomach (Ph.D. in economics, of 8-17-18 through 8-17-19, the premium is When it comes to providing Texas A&M University) is director of the $616,434,” she said, or $3.07 per full-time 1889 Institute, an independent research benefits to teachers, liability instructional employee (FTE). For 2019-20 the organization. He is a scholar in residence at insurance is a bargain. Many teachers cost will be $585,612, she said, or $2.91 per the Institute for the Study of Free Enterprise FTE. would appreciate not feeling that at Oklahoma State University. He previously they have to join a union or other served as director of the Center for Economic —Mike Brake organization in order to get the Prosperity at the Goldwater Institute, and insurance they think they need. prior to that was chief economist for the Texas What’s more, if the legislature Public Policy Foundation.

www.ocpathink.org 17 NOVEMBER-DECEMBER IN THE NEWS

NOV-DEC 113 MEDIA HITS OCPA president Jonathan Small (left) discusses the Obamacare Medicaid expansion with FOX 25 reporter Caroline Vandergriff.

School choice should be highest Judge rules health care overhaul What happens when an efficiency- priority unconstitutional minded businessman takes over a The Journal Record KFOR major university? Oklahoma votes for responsible First Amendment threatened by government Ethics Commission OU’s burgeoning diversity The Edmond Sun Boise City News bureaucracy continues to monitor speech OCPA upset about proposed ethics Oklahoma ballot measures CapitolBeatOK commission rule explained Tulsa World The Vici Vision States turn to work requirements to fight escalating Medicaid costs TSET needs different direction State Question 801 fails to pass by Kingfisher Times & Free Press when new director comes on board small margin El Reno Tribune KTUL Boom and bust: Oil and gas prices push and pull state tax collections Racism and the government school Health care to continue draining Durant Daily Democrat monopoly budgets CapitolBeatOK The Journal Record Enid nightclub partnering with TSET to offer smoke-free Economic report brings optimism Happy birthday, Oklahoma environment ahead of legislative session Nowata Star Enid News & Eagle The Journal Record Republicans’ trust in media Throw away the key? Who’s like whom? decimated The Journal Record Elk City Daily News The Journal Record Our government a fragmented, A new direction for Tobacco Oklahoma voters reject State fractured mess Settlement Endowment Trust Question 793 by slim margin El Reno Tribune Poteau Daily News FOX 25 Medicaid health outcomes Valid numbers needed in Oklahoma Ethics Commission to questionable Oklahoma budget writing hear rule changes to lobbying Kingfisher Times & Free Press The Oklahoman Weatherford Daily News

18 PERSPECTIVE January/February 2019 1

@OCPAthink

Lili Zheng (right), a reporter for KFOR, the NBC 1 affiliate in Oklahoma City, interviews OCPA’s Trent England about the economic effects of a proposed minimum-wage hike in Oklahoma.

2 Keith Jacobs of the Florida-based organization Step Up 2 for Students discusses Florida’s newest parental-choice program, the Hope Scholarship for bullied students, at a recent meeting of the Oklahoma School Choice Coalition. Florida is a pacesetter in school choice, with nearly half of the state’s pre-K through 12th grade students attending something other than their assigned district school. Fully 45 percent of Florida students attend district choice schools, charter schools, virtual schools, home schools, private schools that accept choice scholarships, or some other option.

OCPA’s Trent England (right) discusses the legislative 3 3 process with Grant Hermes, a journalist for News 9, the CBS affiliate in Oklahoma City.

4 OCPA’s Jonathan Small discusses teacher 4 compensation on FOX 25 in Oklahoma City.

www.ocpathink.org 19 QUOTE UNQUOTE

“OU provides more than “Oklahomans ... are working hard, taking risks, opening new “33%” 100 academic programs. businesses, and creating jobs. The government does not create wealth, The percentage of Oklahoma voters who believe taxpayers Alarmingly, 46 of them only only the private sector can.” are getting a good return on Gov. Kevin Stitt, in his 2019 State of the State address produce 10 graduates or investment for Oklahoma’s annual fewer.” public-school revenue per student Elliott Cole, a program officer at of $9,219, according to a January the American Council of Trustees “[W]e thank you for your service and we respectfully ask you to give 2019 WPA Intelligence poll. and Alumni, writing December 2, due consideration to public policies which respect the rich diversity of Fifty-one percent say taxpayers 2018 in The Oklahoman are getting a bad return on educational approaches in Oklahoma.” investment. Several Oklahoma ministers, in an open letter to policymakers at www.okpastors.com

“$99,678” “Oklahomans like to boast that our state is a good place to raise a family. But ...the The annual pension now being drawn by a former Bixby monotony of signs advertising marijuana products is only occasionally broken by ads for superintendent who resigned after his home was the scene of at least two sexual assaults. He also received the lottery or a local casino. We better save some money to help the addicts and broken severance pay and bonuses totaling $167,028 for a year families we’re about to help create.” in which he did no work. OCPA distinguished fellow Andrew Spiropoulos, writing in The Journal Record