Randy Krehbiel
Tulsa World Reporter
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Public health: Gov. Kevin Stitt and 10 other Republican governors asked the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration to revoke Planned Parenthood’s eligibility for the federal 340B Drug Pricing Program.
That program allows certain health care providers to buy prescription drugs at reduced rates from manufacturers, who claim some hospitals and clinics use the system to subsidize other operations.
In the case of Planned Parenthood, Stitt and others allege the drug discounts are indirectly paying for abortion services.
“While proponents often argue that federal dollars are not ‘directly’ used for abortion, this ignores the economic reality that money is fungible,” says the governors’ letter to HRSA. “Federal support through the 340B program allows Planned Parenthood to reduce its overhead, redirect unrestricted funds, and expand abortion operations elsewhere.”
Mental health: Legislative Democrats said they are concerned the beleaguered Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services will not ask for sufficient funds when it submits a budget request next week.
“When we don’t fund mental health services in our communities, the problems just get worse,” said Senate Minority Leader Julia Kirt, D-Oklahoma City. “Instead of adding help, the Department of Mental Health cut 300 service contracts. Even worse, many of the contracts are for programs that stop people from reaching a crisis. … We’re asking the department to show how big the need really is, including asking for the extra money it takes to fix the gaps.”
ODMHSAS is struggling to meet the conditions of a consent decree regarding treatment of mentally incompetent prisoners in county jails and to sort out tangled finances that for months left officials unable to determine the agency’s exact financial condition.
Gov. Kevin Stitt has said the state will continue to fund the department at current levels, but the contract cancellations and alterations mentioned by Kirt suggest that might not be enough to maintain services.
“Providers across the state, some who have been operating for decades, are being forced to consider closing their doors or cut treatment and prevention services,” said House Minority Leader and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Cyndi Munson, D-Oklahoma City. “Mental health is already severely underfunded in Oklahoma, and forcing more cuts to care will cause harm to Oklahomans. The agency must request a budget increase.”
Meetings and events: Mayor Monroe Nichols will speak to the Tulsa 9.12 Project at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at Spirit Life Church, 55th Street and Peoria Avenue. The event is open but pre-registration through Eventbrite is required.
Campaigns and elections: American Farmers and Ranchers PAC endorsed Meramec rancher and business owner Dillon Travis in the upcoming House District 35 special election.
Travis operates Southern Plains AG-CO, a regional agricultural supply company.
Attorney General and Republican gubernatorial candidate Gentner Drummond was quick to attack outgoing state Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters and, through him, Gov. Kevin Stitt — who cannot run for reelection but has nevertheless been the target of Drummond’s campaign.
“We weren’t 50th in education when Governor Stitt endorsed Ryan Walters to be superintendent of schools, but we are now,” Drummond said in a campaign press release.
Through the AG’s office, Drummond said, “Ever since Gov. Stitt appointed Ryan Walters to serve as Secretary of Education, we have witnessed a stream of never-ending scandal and political drama. From the mishandling of pandemic relief funds that resulted in families buying Xboxes and refrigerators to the latest squabbling with board members over what was or wasn’t showing on TV, the Stitt-Walters era has been an embarrassment to our state.
“Even worse, test scores and reading proficiency are at historic lows.
While Stitt is ineligible for another term as governor and does not seem to be actively campaigning for anything, his Political Action Committee 46 Forward is running social media ads extolling his time as governor.
Republican Attorney General candidate Jon Echols campaigned in Tulsa last week and picked up endorsements from the Tulsa Firefighters PAC.
Attending a press conference with Echols at the Tulsa Fire Museum were Tulsa Firefighters Union President Matt Lay, Tulsa County Sheriff Vic Regalado, Creek County Sheriff Bret Bowling, Rogers County Sheriff Scott Walton, Ottawa County Sheriff David Dean, Craig County Sheriff Heath Winfrey, Brandi Pond with Oklahoma Non-Profit EMS, and Michael Korb and Dustin Lott of the Professional Firefighters of Oklahoma.
In memoriam: Former state Rep. Richard Morrissette, a Democrat who represented central Oklahoma City for six terms, died last week at 69.
A University of Tulsa law school graduate, Morrissette also served in the New Hampshire Legislature before moving to Oklahoma.
randy.krehbiel@tulsaworld.com
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Randy Krehbiel
Tulsa World Reporter
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