This Week In Oklahoma Politics

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and Civil Right Attorney Ryan Kiesel about supporters of abortion access dropping the initiative petition on the day they were supposed to start gathering signatures, a judge ruling against Oklahoma in the transfer of a federal inmate for the state to execute and a multitude of changes at Oklahoma City's Western Heights school.The trio also discusses the ban of TikTok on state-issued devices by Governor Stitt and a Mexican consulate for Oklahoma City sometime next year

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and Civil Rights Attorney Ryan Kiesel about the governor's cabinet releasing financial disclosure records, legislative leader releasing their priorities for the 2023 session and a Republican lawmaker filing a bill to lower the age for handguns.The trio also discusses a win in court for opponents of a turnpike expansion in Norman and the resignation of the CEO of the Oklahoma County Jail.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and Civil Rights Attorney Ryan Kiesel about a new initiative petition to allow Oklahomans to vote on protecting abortion access in the state, the U.S. Senate rejecting an amendment to a same-sex marriage protection bill ultimately passed in the chamber and the Department of Justice opening an investigation of the State of Oklahoma, Oklahoma City and the Oklahoma City Police Department over the treatment of people with behavioral disabilities.The trio also discusses an incident in October involving the son of Governor Stitt and the nomination of Kim Teehee as a nonvoting delegate to Congress from the Cherokee Nation.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and Civil Rights Attorney Ryan Kiesel about the low voter turnout in last week's General Election, the high number of Straight Party Voting on ballots and Senator Greg Treat's reelection as Senate President Pro Tempore.The trio also discusses the Oklahoma Southern Baptists coming out against a ballot measure to legalize recreational marijuana and the U.S. Supreme Court taking up a case against the Indian Child Welfare Act.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and Civil Rights Attorney Ryan Kiesel about the reelection of Governor Stitt, the election of Education Secretary Ryan Walter for State Superintendent and Republicans retaining control of all U.S. House, Senate and Statewide offices.The trio also discusses the election win by prosecutor Vicky Behenna for Oklahoma County District Attorney and no change in the political makeup of the state legislature as lawmakers get ready for the 2023 session.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and Civil Rights Attorney Ryan Kiesel about the race for governor between incumbent Kevin Stitt and State Superintendent Joy Hofmeister, the election for State Superintendent between Ryan Walters and Jena Nelson and the races for all U.S. Senate and House seats.The trio also discusses state Senate and House races as well as the election for Oklahoma County District Attorney between Kevin Calvey and Vicky Behenna.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and Civil Rights Attorney Ryan Kiesel about news from KOSU about Governor Stitt hiring outside counsel to fight a challenge to gaming compacts he signed in 2020, a State Superintendent debate between Republican Secretary of Education Ryan Walters and former Teacher of the Year Jena Nelson and the couple mentioned in the Oklahoma County District Attorney debate gets arrested in Mexico.The trio also discuss a series of legislative panels to deal with corrections reform in the coming session and we remember former Oklahoma State University President Jim Halligan who passed away earlier this week.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and Civil Rights Attorney Ryan Kiesel about Governor Stitt setting a March Seventh date for a special election on the legalization of recreational marijuana, a gubernatorial debate between the top two candidates and new polling showing a dead heat for governor and a lead for the Republican candidate for State Superintendent.The trio also discusses a new report on Governor Stitt's secret plan to build a new governor's mansion while he and his family are living in a $2.2 million dollar home in Edmond and the GOP candidate for Oklahoma County District Attorney accusing his democratic opponent of complicity in murder while he is facing an investigation on campaign-related expenditures.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and Civil Rights Attorney Ryan Kiesel about dueling polls showing different positions in the race for governor ahead of the November 8th General Election, Governor Stitt calling a $5,000 increase for teacher pay an "easy cop-out" and the Political Action Committee for the state employee's union backing Governor Stitt.The trio also discusses an endorsement for State Superintendent from the state's five largest tribes and a call by the same tribes to repeal House Bill 1775 also known as the Critical Race Theory ban.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and Civil Rights Attorney Ryan Kiesel about Governor Stitt signing a bill to give money for OU Health, but banning the use of medical treatments for minors while also calling on an all-out ban on the procedure next legislative session, lawmakers failing to get all of the COVID-19 pandemic relief funding spent on projects and the Osage Nation Congress calling for a repeal of House Bill 1775 also known as the Critical Race Theory ban.The trio also talks about an Oklahoma City council member appointing herself to a commission she opposed and Governor Stitt appointing the head of the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission to lead the embattled Tourism and Recreation Department.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and Civil Rights Attorney Ryan Kiesel about a call by Governor Stitt for lawmakers to eliminate the grocery sales tax during special session, a push by Republican legislators to withhold funding to OU Health if the money is going to go to gender affirming care and a new poll showing a narrow lead by Governor Stitt over Joy Hofmeister and a lead by Democratic candidate Jena Nelson over Republican Ryan Walters in the race for Superintendent.The trio also discusses an increase in open records requests to the Tulsa Election Board for voting records from the 2020 general election and the concern by the same election board about getting pollsters who fear harassment.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and Civil Rights Attorney Ryan Kiesel about the Supreme Court announcing a recreational marijuana measure will NOT be on the ballot in November, the high court striking down part of a law banning facemasks unless the governor declares a state of emergency and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Joy Hofmeister calling for a $5,000 raise for teachers.The trio also discusses the special session where lawmakers are poised to give more than a billion dollars to 45 projects across the state and the Department of Human Services promising $10,000 dollar per child grants for day care centers in "childcare deserts".

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and Civil Rights Attorney Ryan Kiesel about new recommendation by Governor Stitt's task force regarding expectant mothers in light of the state banning abortions, a Sooner Poll showing Stitt with a marginal lead over his Democratic opponent, State Superintendent Joy Hofmeister and the same survey showing Democratic Jena Nelson leading against Republican Ryan Walters.The trio also discusses a call by 14 Republican lawmakers for the State Department of Education to investigate a Norman teacher who left her job after she shared a link to banned books and the Oklahoma Supreme Court hearing arguments for and against a turnpike expansion in Norman.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and Civil Rights Attorney Ryan Kiesel about the Supreme Court choosing to take up whether a recreational marijuana initiative petition should be on the November ballot, the State Board of Education choosing to not hear appeals from Mustang and Tulsa schools about a downgrade to their accreditation because of violation to HB 1775 and the board releasing rules to deal with compliance to Senate Bill 615 banning transgender bathrooms in schools.The trio also discusses a protest at a Governor Stitt fundraising luncheon by opponents of a turnpike expansion in Norman and a new conservative group calling on lawmakers to rethink their opinion on the death penalty.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and Civil Rights Attorney Ryan Kiesel about Republican Congressman Markwayne Mullin winning the runoff to face Democrat Kendra for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Jim Inhofe, Democratic candidate Madison Horn winning her primary to face incumbent Republican Senator James Lankford and Josh Brecheen winning his primary runoff to advance to the General Election in November for Congressional District Two in eastern Oklahoma.The trio also discusses Secretary of Education Ryan Walter Republican nomination win for State Superintendent and a win by incumbent Republican Labor Commissioner Leslie Osborn as well as a possible ballot measure this November for recreational marijuana.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and Civil Rights Attorney Ryan Kiesel about a lawsuit filed by Labor Commissioner candidate Sean Roberts against State Representative Carol Bush for voicing concerns over domestic abuse in Roberts' 20 year old divorce, the race for US Senate by Republicans Markwayne Mullin and TW Shannon and Democrats Jason Bollinger and Madison Horn.The trio also discusses the Republican Congressional District Two race between Avery Frix and Josh Brecheen as well as April Grace and Ryan Walters vying for the Republican nomination for State Superintendent.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and Civil Rights Attorney Ryan Kiesel about calls from five Republican female lawmakers for Labor Commissioner candidate Sean Roberts to drop out of the race after accusations from his ex-wife of abuse and mistreatment, the ACLU of Oklahoma citing the downgrade of the Tulsa Public Schools accreditation in its opposition to House Bill 1775 and the Stitt Administration leveling a lawsuit of the Florida company in charge of handling COVID-19 education money following a scathing audit from the federal government.The trio also discusses a new poll finding Governor Stitt's approval rating has slipped 12 points since January and Attorney General John O'Connor refusing to hear new evidence in the case of death row inmate Richard Glossip which could have an impact on executions in the state of Oklahoma.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and Civil Rights Attorney Ryan Kiesel about Oklahoma falling behind in online registration for new voters in the states, Education Secretary Ryan Walters releasing funding to Tulsa Public Schools for early childhood education and federal auditors want Oklahoma to return COVID funding money they say was misspent by the Stitt Administration.The trio also discusses a call by the State Chamber to return to supply side economics to include cutting taxes and three Oklahoma City Republican lawmakers are pushing an initiative petition to freeze property taxes for all seniors.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and Civil Rights Attorney Ryan Kiesel about a deal with Panasonic falling through after the electronics company picked Kansas to build a new manufacturing plant and what will now happen to the nearly $700M set aside to entice the business to come to the Sooner State.The trio also discusses a recount in the Oklahoma County District Attorney race resulting in very nearly the same result as on primary election night and Epic Virtual Charter School giving an apology and a $500,000 check to former State Senator Ron Sharp.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and Civil Rights Attorney Ryan Kiesel about a request by Governor Stitt for an investigative audit of the Tulsa Public School District and an inquiry by the State Bureau of Investigation of the Commissioners of the Land Office.The trio also discusses the closing of an influential Republican Political Action Committee by the State Ethics Commission and a low voter turnout for the primary last month.