Right Thinking: Opportunity at OSU as other universities fail
Andrew C. Spiropoulos
Fortunately for incoming Oklahoma State University president Dr. Kayse Shrum, she takes office riding on a tidal wave of excitement generated by her compelling life story, in which, as a young college student hailing from rural Oklahoma, she was advised by her teachers, somewhat to her surprise, that she possessed the ability to practice medicine. She became a pediatrician, eventually becoming the successful head of OSU’s medical school, a respected member of Gov. Kevin Stitt’s Cabinet, ending in her inspiring appointment as OSU’s first female president.
According to the text of the law, if the Oklahoma Health Care Authority properly promulgates rules implementing the act and uses the rules to establish,
Right Thinking: Momentum builds for school choice as realistic response
Andrew C. Spiropoulos
Political reporters are calling this legislative season the year of school choice. In the past several months, several states have enacted new choice programs or significantly expanded their existing offerings. Arkansas, for example, established a tax-credit scholarship program, while West Virginia moved from no choice vehicles to enacting the nation’s most capacious education savings account program, empowering all families to choose how to employ their students’ education funding dollars. Several other states, including Oklahoma, expanded their existing programs –our revamped tax-credit scholarship program may increase the number of assisted children by a factor of seven.
As we enjoy the fruits of a productive state legislative session in which the House, Senate, and governor were able to reach meaningful compromises that gave
Right Thinking: Sensible compromises lead to layup budget
Andrew C. Spiropoulos
A layup may seem like a guaranteed basket, but, as basketball fans know, even professional players sometimes miss the easiest of shots. The game of government also has its layups, and, like in basketball, you shouldn’t take making them for granted. From the look of last week’s announced budget agreement, state Republican political leaders made their shot, earning some cheers.
Republican leaders possess enormous structural advantages. Given their overwhelming majorities in both houses, party legislative leaders can gather enough caucus votes to do anything they please. On the financial front, despite the coronavirus, state revenues increased enough so that leaders can spread enough money around to please a variety of constituencies, but they haven’t yet gone up enough to start a war over how to spend the extraordinary bounty. In addition, any inclination of Republicans to fight each other is being