The money Oklahoma saved from sending fewer people to prison was supposed to finance county mental health programs. But the Legislature has never sent any money to the fund and no rules have been written for how the money can be spent.
“People would gravitate toward him.”
Vaccination rates in Oklahoma have been on an upswing in recent weeks, and state health officials hope the numbers reflect a growing willingness among the unvaccinated to get their shots and stave off an oncoming surge of new cases.
“She loved helping everybody.”
The Oklahoma Department of Human Services permanently shuttered dozens of offices over the last year in the face of the coronavirus pandemic and state budget cuts. The move left schools and law enforcement to fill the gaps in some rural parts of the state.
Displeased by hospitals’ support for Medicaid expansion, some Republicans believe increased fees should start before available federal funds are used up.
Once fully implemented, the tax cuts would eliminate an estimated $280 million in annual tax revenue for the state.
Some lawmakers said they weren’t willing to use the budget as a lever to stop managed care.
