Ray Carter

Center for Independent Journalism

Ray Carter is the director of OCPA’s Center for Independent Journalism.

Hunter’s agreement with the tribes raises troubling questions

July 23, 2020 Ray Carter

Oklahoma Attorney General Mike Hunter says he has reached an agreement with five tribal governments on proposed federal legislation that would address issues raised by a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling. However, the proposed agreement may raise more questions than it answers since its provisions appear to open the door for tribal governments to exercise…

GOP pays a political price for approving tax increases

July 16, 2020 Ray Carter

In 2018, the Republican-controlled Oklahoma Legislature approved some of the largest tax increases in state history. Ever since, GOP supporters of those tax increases have proclaimed their moral courage and insisted voters endorsed their decision. But the results of the June30 elections provide evidence to the contrary, as the political bodies continue to pile up….

Private schools aren’t getting CARES aid from OSDE

June 4, 2020 Ray Carter

The federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which included $161 million for Oklahoma’s K-12 schools, requires public schools to coordinate with private schools on “equitable services funding” that can cover a host of costs. But the Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE) and local public schools appear to be violating provisions of…

Journalism professors demand censorship of Trump

May 7, 2020 Ray Carter

A group of journalism professors, including three from colleges in Oklahoma, have called on television networks to stop the live airing of President Donald Trump’s briefings on COVID-19. “We write to demand that the live, unedited airing of the Daily White House Task Force Briefings stop,” the group letter states. “Because Donald Trump uses them…

Shutdown didn’t deter crime; lawsuits on the horizon?

April 30, 2020 Ray Carter

The statewide COVID-19 shutdown may have dramatically impacted most Oklahomans, but it may not have deterred serious crimes, law enforcement officials told lawmakers. At the same time, the state could soon face a rash of lawsuits challenging the legality of government actions that forced business closures and the loss of citizens’ jobs. Officials made those…

Lankford says ‘stimulus package’ is really ‘stabilization’

April 9, 2020 Ray Carter

In 2009, as the Great Recession roiled the economy, Congress responded with an enormous “stimulus” package that supporters claimed would reignite economic growth. However, the $2 trillion legislation recently passed by Congress has more modest goals, according to U.S. Sen. James Lankford. “That’s not what this is,” said Lankford, R-Oklahoma City. “This is trying to…

Kids penalized for grandmother’s care

March 5, 2020 Ray Carter

Born in 1952, Linda Lewis did not envision being a caretaker for two young children during her golden years. But when her grandson was incarcerated and the mother of her great-grandchildren ran afoul of the Department of Human Services, the Oklahoma City resident became the legal guardian for two of her great-grandchildren: a seven-year-old great-granddaughter…

628,000 able-bodied Oklahomans could get Medicaid?

January 30, 2020 Ray Carter

Many Oklahoma Republican politicians say they continue to oppose expansion of Oklahoma’s Medicaid program as allowed by the federal Affordable Care Act, better known as “Obamacare.” But at the same time, many of those officials say they are exploring other options. The expansion of Medicaid enacted in Indiana when Vice President Mike Pence was governor…

Joy Hofmeister is silent on Obama’s LGBT bathroom policy

January 16, 2020 Ray Carter

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Joy Hofmeister is refusing to meet in public with a state lawmaker and citizens concerned about an August Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE) newsletter that focused on “best practices” to create a “safe and valued climate for LGBT students.” Among other things, the newsletter recommended that Oklahoma schools allow…

More education money yet results remain stagnant

December 12, 2019 Ray Carter

Despite a dramatic increase in school funding and the adoption of what state officials say are higher academic standards, Oklahoma students’ academic performance on state tests mostly remained stagnant in 2019 or lower than in 2017. That has some officials asking how long Oklahomans will have to wait to see promised results. “When do you…