Kurt Gwartney

Budget With $5 Million For Legislative Offices Passes Senate

Kurt Gwartney — Tue, 14 May 2013 21:46:20 +0000

Gov. Mary Fallin is expected to sign a bill heading her way that would provide $7.1 billion to fund state government.

The state Senate gave final legislative approval to the general appropriations bill Tuesday that increases spending by nearly $270 million over the current year’s budget.

Eight Republicans joined the dozen Senate Democrats in opposing the legislation.

Prison Workers At "Breaking Point," Seek More Funding

Kurt Gwartney and Associated Press — Thu, 09 May 2013 14:28:47 +0000

Oklahoma prison workers say they are worn out due to staffing shortages, low wages and the increasing prison population.

About a dozen uniformed prison guards visited the state Capitol Wednesday, urging lawmakers to reconsider their decision not to support a pay raise for workers at the Department of Corrections.

“DOC is at a breaking point,” said Sgt. David Edelman, an officer at the Lexington Assessment and Reception Center. “We are being forced to do 60-to-80 hours a week, and used to we could ask for overtime, but not anymore, we’re being forced.”

A $12 million proposal to give prison workers a five percent pay increase stalled earlier this session in a House committee.

Two Options: Choices Near for State Employee Retirement Plans

Kurt Gwartney — Tue, 07 May 2013 23:35:15 +0000

The Oklahoma House has approved a bill to create a defined contribution option for state employee retirement benefits.

Fallin Signs Sweeping Workers' Compensation Bill

Kurt Gwartney — Mon, 06 May 2013 21:08:33 +0000

Gov. Mary Fallin signed into law Monday a sweeping overhaul of the way Oklahoma treats workers hurt on the job. Senate Bill 1062 changes the state’s court-based workers’ compensation system to an administrative plan.

Supporters of the bill, including its authors, Senate President Pro Tem Brian Bingman and House Speaker T.W. Shannon, say it will reduce costs for businesses.

But detractors, including many Democrats, say the new law saves money at the expense of injured workers and does nothing to reduce medical costs associated with workers’ compensation claims.

U.S. Civilian Economy Grew During World War II

Kurt Gwartney — Mon, 06 May 2013 20:45:52 +0000

Of all the major countries fighting in World War II, the United States is the only nation whose civilian economy grew during the conflict, according to David Kennedy, Pulitzer Prize–winning author and historian.

“In this country and this country alone, the civilian portion of the economy grew by 15 percent,” Kennedy said. This is in contrast to allies Great Britain and the Soviet Union where that sector of the economy shrank by one-third.

Kennedy made those comments during his presentation, “A Tale of Three Cities: How the United State Won World War II,” at the second annual Teach In at the University of Oklahoma.

Lawmakers Approve Income Tax Cut Despite Threat of Reimbursment Costs

Kurt Gwartney and Associated Press — Mon, 06 May 2013 13:08:02 +0000

A lawsuit by an out-of-state company that challenges a tax break on capital Lawmakers have until the end of this month to complete their work, including the passing of a state budget. The adjournment date might come sooner with the announcement of an agreement on how to spend the state’s money.

The budget to pay for Oklahoma’s government will be $7.1 billion for the fiscal year beginning July 1, under an agreement between Gov. Mary Fallin and legislative leaders. For most state agencies the amount of money they’ll receive in the new budget year is the same as last, but Fallin says the largest increase in the budget is for public schools in Oklahoma.

Senate Sends Workers' Comp Overhaul to Fallin

Kurt Gwartney and Associated Press — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 16:59:45 +0000

The Oklahoma Senate has approved a Republican-backed plan to overhaul the state's workers' compensation system, sending the proposal to Gov. Mary Fallin for her likely signature.

Lessons Learned, Lessons Lost in The Great Depression

Kurt Gwartney — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 18:40:30 +0000

The Great Depression is often used as an economic touchstone when the United States suffers difficult economic times.

That is one of the reasons President Barack Obama tapped Christina Romer as the chairwoman of his Council of Economic Advisers, a post she left in 2010.

Her experience and research in studying the fiscal crisis of the late 1920s and 30s became important to the Obama administration as it navigated the nation’s deep recession.

KGOU Journalist from Bangladesh Provides Insight Into Deadly Building Collapse

Kurt Gwartney — Sun, 28 Apr 2013 19:30:50 +0000

Sima Bhowmik, a journalist with ABC radio in Bangladesh, is working at KGOU for several weeks as part of a U.S. State Dept. program. She is following the unfolding events of the building collapse in her country.

Bhowmik made contact with another reporter in the country, and provides details of the connection between the owner of the building and a political party.