This Week in Oklahoma Politics - podcast cover

This Week in Oklahoma Politics

A weekly look inside Oklahoma Politics with KOSU's Michael Cross, Republican political consultant Neva Hill and civic leader Andy Moore.

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Episodes

Revenue Shortfall, Lethal Injection Executions, Medicaid Expansion & More

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and ACLU Oklahoma Executive Director Ryan Kiesel about the State Equalization Board certifying revenue estimates showing Oklahoma will have about $85 million less to spend then the current year, state leaders say they have the drugs to resume lethal injection executions for the first time since 2015 and Governor Stitt wants to expand Medicaid by July of this year. The trio also discusses the...

Feb 20, 202025 minEp. 65

Gaming Compact Mediation, Abortion Bill Battle, New State Brand and More

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and ACLU Oklahoma Executive Director Ryan Kiesel about a judges order to send the legal battle over tribal gamin compacts into mediation, Governor Stitt hiring a Washington, DC firm to re-imagine the structure of the state government and the battle of abortion bills at the state capitol between revoking the license of a doctor who performs abortion and an outright abolition of the practice. ...

Feb 13, 202028 minEp. 64

Medicaid 2.0, State of the State, Redistricting Initiative Petition & More

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and ACLU Oklahoma Executive Director Ryan Kiesel about the governor's plan to use federal block grants to expand Medicaid, his State of the State Address focusing on government efficiency, health care and even gaming compacts as well as releasing his executive budget for the coming fiscal year starting on July First. The trio also discusses a ruling from the state Supreme Court sending an in...

Feb 06, 202028 minEp. 63

Mental Health Vacancy, Tribal Gaming Compacts, Four-Day School Weeks & More

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and ACLU Oklahoma Executive Director Ryan Kiesel about the announcement from Mental Health and Substance Abuse Commissioner Terri White stepping down from her position and the House Speaker opposing Governor Stitt by saying the tribal gaming compacts automatically renewed for another 15 years on January First. The trio also discusses the legislature getting new rules fro the State Board of E...

Jan 30, 202027 minEp. 62

SB 608 Declared Unconstitutional, Redistricting Argued in Court, Senator Smalley Quits & More

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and ACLU Oklahoma Executive Director Ryan Kiesel about the Supreme Court declaring unconstitutional a bill requiring the top 25 alcohol brands make their products available to all distributors and justices hearing argument from supporters and opponents of an initiative petition to change the way Oklahoma redraws its district lines. The trio also discusses the Muscogee (Creek) Nation consider...

Jan 23, 202022 minEp. 61

Opioid Distributor Lawsuit, Corrections Reform Task Force, Recreational Marijuana Opposition & More

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with ACLU Oklahoma Executive Director Ryan Kiesel and Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill about Attorney General Mike Hunter filing a lawsuit against major opioid distributors in the state, the governor's task force on corrections reform releases its report while also asking for more time to come up with detailed plans to reduce the state's prison population and two initiative petitions to make recreational marijuana legal in the s...

Jan 16, 202027 minEp. 60

Tribal Gaming, Recreational Marijuana Petitions, Raising the Minimum Wage & More

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and, sitting in for Ryan Kiesel, ACLU Oklahoma Director of Policy and Advocacy Nicole McAfee about the impasse between the governor and the tribes over gaming compacts which now looks headed to court, dueling ballot initiatives to legalize recreational marijuana are getting ready for voter signatures, while medical marijuana provided the state with an additional $55M in its first full year o...

Jan 09, 202026 minEp. 59

Recreational Marijuana Petition, Tribal Gaming Compacts, Four-Day School Weeks & More

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and ACLU Oklahoma Executive Director Ryan Kiesel about a petition filed to allow voters to add recreational marijuana to the state constitution, the battle between Governor Stitt and tribal leaders over gaming compacts heats up as the end of the year gets closer and Oklahoma City Democratic Representative Shane Stone delays his resignation by one day removing the need for a special election....

Dec 19, 201925 minEp. 58

MAPS4 Passes in Landslide, Pardon & Parole Cases, Corrections Task Force Extension & More

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and ACLU Oklahoma Executive Director Ryan Kiesel about the passage of MAPS4 by a wide margin garnering more than 70% of those voting, the Pardon and Parole Board sees a 118% increase in the number of docketed cases with commutations jumping 426% since 2018 and Governor Stitt gives an extension to his criminal justice reform task force. The trio also discusses an announcement from the Oklahom...

Dec 12, 201923 minEp. 57

OKC Democrat Resigns, MAPS 4 Election, Presidential Primary Filing & More

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and ACLU Oklahoma Executive Director Ryan Kiesel about the resignation announcement by Oklahoma City Democratic Representative Shane Stone which could trigger a special election and voters are heading to the polls this Tuesday to decide on MAPS 4 to raise nearly $978M for 16 different projects. The trio also discusses the record number of candidates in the coming Super Tuesday presidential p...

Dec 05, 201926 minEp. 56

Cost of Living Adjustments, Governor Stitt Testimony & Tribal Gaming Compacts & More

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with ACLU Oklahoma Executive Director Ryan Kiesel and sitting in for Neva Hill is Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs Director of External Relations Dave Bond about renewal of calls to provide a Cost of Living Adjustment for state retirees, Governor Stitt goes before the U.S. Senate to support a federal proposal to stop states from using the Clean Water Act to block energy projects and time is running out in the stalemate between the gove...

Nov 21, 201921 minEp. 55

Medicaid Block Grants, Sentence Enhancements, Real ID Compliance & More

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and ACLU Oklahoma Executive Director Ryan Kiesel about Governor Stitt's suggestion for Oklahoma to use Medicaid block grants rather than going with Medicaid expansion, an initiative petition to end certain sentencing enhancements for nonviolent offenses and the State Insurance Commissioner chooses to not enforce a law giving patients the right to choose a pharmacy provider. The trio also dis...

Nov 14, 201924 minEp. 54

Mass Inmate Release, Permitless Carry Concerns, President Trump Highway & More

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and ACLU Oklahoma Executive Director Ryan Kiesel about the commutation of more than 500 prisoners in state custody, the concerns growing from law enforcement and citizens over permitless carry and the State Supreme Court listening to the challenge of a controversial alcohol distribution law. The trio also discusses a call by two state Senators to name a portion of Route 66 after President Do...

Nov 07, 201923 minEp. 53

Redistricting Initiative Petition, Oklahoma County Jail, Permitless Carry & More

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and ACLU Oklahoma Executive Director Ryan Kiesel about a push to change the way Oklahomans draw political districts by putting it in the hands of an independent committee rather than politicians, the Oklahoma County Sheriff plans to hand over control of the jail to a newly formed trust whether it's ready or not and the attorney general meets with tribal leaders to discuss gaming compacts. Th...

Oct 31, 201926 minEp. 52

Governor's Medicaid Consultant, Yes on 802 Petitions, State Agency Oversight & More

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and ACLU Oklahoma Executive Director Ryan Kiesel about the Oklahoma Health Care Authority proposal to hire a Medicaid consultant to help the governor with his health care plan, the supporters of Yes on 802 to get Medicaid Expansion on the ballot file their petitions with the Secretary of State's office and House Speaker Charles McCall wants more oversight of state agencies by getting lawmake...

Oct 24, 201922 minEp. 51

Lawmaker Pay Raises, MAPS 4 Challenge, State Republican Party Woes & More

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and ACLU Oklahoma Director of Policy and Advocacy Nicole McAfee (who is sitting in for Ryan Kiesel) about the Legislative Compensation Board giving legislators a 35% pay raise to $47,000 a year, the Oklahoma Supreme Court rejecting a constitutional challenge against MAPS 4 and the state Republican Party is facing financial issues along with disputes from within its own party. The trio also d...

Oct 17, 201924 minEp. 50

Permitless Carry Lawsuit, MAPS Four Challenge, Tondalao Hall Commutation & More

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and ACLU Oklahoma Executive Director Ryan Kiesel about a challenge from gun control advocates to the constitutionality of permitless carry, MAPS Four is also facing a legal challenge ahead of a vote by citizens on December 10th and the commutation of Tondalao Hall, who was sentenced to 30 years for failing to protect her children from her abusive boyfriend, is heading to the governor's desk....

Oct 10, 201926 minEp. 49

No Topless in Oklahoma, At-Home Rape Kits, Athletic Endorsements & More

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and ACLU Oklahoma Executive Director Ryan Kiesel about the Attorney General's announcement saying despite a Tenth Cicuit ruling, women in Oklahoma don't have the right to go topless, also the AG's cease and desist order against at-home rape kit companies he says aren't admissable in courts and a bipartisan group of lawmakers come out in support of a California law allowing college athletes t...

Oct 03, 201922 minEp. 48

Energy Lobbyist Apartment, Agency Grant Applications, Epic's Cease and Desist Order & more

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and ACLU Oklahoma Executive Director Ryan Kiesel about campaign reports showing House Appropriations Chairman Kevin Wallace is renting a garage apartment from former House Appropriations Chair and now OG&E lobbyist Ken Miller and Governor Stitt signs an executive order requiring all state agencies to get approval from his office for grant applications more than $50,000. The trio also dis...

Sep 26, 201923 minEp. 47

Glen Johnson Retires, AG Hires Michigan Law Firm, DOC Locks Down Prisons & More

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and ACLU Oklahoma Executive Director Ryan Kiesel about the announcement by Higher Education Chancellor Glen Johnson to retire from the position effective at the end of next year, AG Mike Hunter announces the state is hiring a Michigan law firm for $250,000 to deal with tribal gaming compacts and the Department of Corrections locks down state prisons after gang-related violence kills one inma...

Sep 19, 201923 minEp. 46

Epic Wants Senator Investigated, OK Number Two in Uninsured, Commutations and Paroles Increase & More

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and ACLU Oklahoma Executive Director Ryan Kiesel about Epic Virtual Charter School calling for an investigation of State Senator Ron Sharp over "defamation" of the institution, Oklahoma still ranks second in the number of uninsured people in the state and more people are getting recommendation for commutations and paroles. The trio also discusses a call by House Speaker Charles McCall to beg...

Sep 12, 201923 minEp. 45

Signature Counting Starts, Anti-Red Flag Legislation, Department of Public Safety Shakeup & More

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU' Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and ACLU Oklahoma Executive Director Ryan Kiesel about the decision by the Secretary of State's office to move forward with counting signatures on a petition to stop permitless carry rather than waiting on a ruling from the State Supreme Court, Broken Arrow Republican Senator Nathan Dahm creates legislation to protect Oklahomans from Congressional "Red Flag" laws and Governor Stitt appoints a...

Sep 05, 201923 minEp. 44

Oklahoma Wins Opioid Trial, Permitless Carry Permit, MAPS 4 Goes to Voters & More

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and ACLU Oklahoma Executive Director Ryan Kiesel about the ruling by a Cleveland County district judge awarding the state $572 million in its opioid lawsuit, supporters of a petition to stop permitless carry hope to gather enough signatures to get State Question 803 on the 2020 ballot and the Oklahoma City Council unanimously passes MAPS 4 and sends it to voters on December 10th. The trio al...

Aug 29, 201926 minEp. 43

Higher Education Chancellor, QuikTrip Thefts, Cherokee Congressional Delegation & More

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and sitting in for Ryan Kiesel is ACLU Oklahoma Director of Policy and Advocacy Nicole McAfee. They discuss the call by Governor Stitt to remove Glen Johnson as Higher Education Chancellor, a claim by QuikTrip of an increase in property thefts since State Question 780 was passed by voters and the Cherokee Tribe pointing to a nearly 200 year old treaty in calling for representation in Congres...

Aug 22, 201926 minEp. 42

Permitless Carry, Alcohol Distribution, Medicaid Expansion & More

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and ACLU Oklahoma Executive Director Ryan Kiesel about an attempt to stop a permitless carry law taking effect by November First, an alcohol distribution law getting ruled unconstitutional and Medicaid Expansion supporters working to gather nearly 178,000 signatures to get the proposition before voters in 2020. The trio also discusses a call by Governor Stitt to renegotiate gaming compacts w...

Aug 15, 201926 minEp. 41

Medical Marijuana Anniversary, Tinker Military Housing & Prominent Democrats Reprimanded

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and ACLU Oklahoma Executive Director Ryan Kiesel about the first anniversary of medical marijuana and Oklahoma already near the top nationwide in patient participation, Senator Inhofe vows to crack down on the private company reportedly leaving military families in disrepaired and dangerous homes at Tinker and other bases in the U.S. and the State Supreme Court refuses to hear a controversia...

Jun 27, 201926 minEp. 39

Medicaid Expansion Win, Traffic Ticket Amnesty & OKC Pride Week

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and ACLU Oklahoma Executive Director Ryan Kiesel about a win for supporters of a ballot initiative petition on Medicaid Expansion when the state Supreme Court ruled it could move forward, the fate of $85M in an opioid settlement with Teva Pharmaceuticals awaits a judges ruling and Oklahoma City passes an ordinance allowing for an amnesty period for past due parking offences and low level off...

Jun 20, 201925 minEp. 38

Medicaid Expansion Campaign, Joe Allbaugh Retires & Democrats Elect a New Chair

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and ACLU Oklahoma Executive Director Ryan Kiesel about an awareness campaign from supporters of Medicaid Expansion as they get ready to gather signatures pending a legal challenge to their ballot initiative, Oklahoma Director of Corrections announces his retirement abruptly at a meeting Wednesday and the Pardon and Parole Board discusses implementation of House Bill 1269 which makes could re...

Jun 13, 201927 minEp. 37

Alcohol Law Faces Challenge, Hoskin Wins Cherokee Chief Job & Rep. Stone Calls it Quits

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks to Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and ACLU Oklahoma Executive Director Ryan Kiesel about a challenge to a new alcohol law requiring the manufacturers of the top 25 brands to offer products to all distributors, recent flooding brings national attention in the form of visits from Vice President Mike Pence and Democratic Presidential candidate Beto O'Rourke and the Cherokee Nation elects Chuck Hoskin, Junior to be its next Princi...

Jun 06, 201925 minEp. 36
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