Ray Carter

Center for Independent Journalism

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

Jenks Schools says: ‘Gender’ lesson an enrollment mistake

February 27, 2025 Ray Carter

During a recent weather-related “virtual” day in the Jenks school district, some parents got a glimpse of course content—and didn’t like what they saw. One lesson informed students that sex and gender are two different things. Images from that online course quickly spread on social media. A Jenks spokesman says that course content is the…

Stitt shows how to cut taxes during ‘down’ year

February 20, 2025 Ray Carter

When Gov. Kevin Stitt announced that he wants to cut the state’s personal income tax from 4.75 percent to 4.25 percent this year, some officials scoffed. House Democratic Leader Cyndi Munson of Oklahoma City dismissed the tax-cut proposal, saying the state is projected to have $300 million less revenue this year than last year. Senate…

OK House, Senate advance school-board election reform

February 20, 2025 Ray Carter

Committees in both the Oklahoma House of Representatives and the state Senate have advanced bills that would move school-board elections to the November ballot to dramatically increase voter participation. House Bill 1151, by state Rep. Chris Banning, R-Bixby, would shift school board elections to June and November from the current February and April election dates….

Oklahoma House, Senate advance School-Board Election Reforms

February 13, 2025 Ray Carter

Stitt calls for tax cuts, spending restraint

February 6, 2025 Ray Carter

Gov. Kevin Stitt called on lawmakers to cut Oklahoma’s personal income tax by a half-point, restrain spending, and preserve state savings in his annual State of the State address. “We have a mandate to support and pass conservative, limited-government legislation that makes the American Dream possible for all four million Oklahomans,” Stitt said. The governor’s…

Bills to repeal Oklahoma Income Tax Increase In Number

January 30, 2025 Ray Carter

Another state lawmaker is urging his colleagues to repeal Oklahoma’s personal income tax, which is often referred to as the state’s penalty on work and investment. State Sen. Dusty Deevers, R-Elgin, has filed two bills that would get rid of the personal income tax, either in one fell swoop or gradually over time. Senate Bill…

Sen. Education Committee Leaders Seek Longer School Year, Other Reforms

January 30, 2025 Ray Carter

The leaders of the Senate Education Committee have unveiled a wide range of bills that would address problems in Oklahoma’s K-12 and college-education systems. The proposed agenda includes lengthening the school year in Oklahoma to meet national norms, moving school-board elections to boost public input, and eliminating “diversity, equity, and inclusion” (DEI) programs on college…

OKC conference will explore Christian Worldview

January 30, 2025 Ray Carter

Many public debates in recent years have, at their root, been driven by more than differences of opinion, and have instead been grounded in the wildly divergent worldviews being contested. A Feb. 1 conference at Oklahoma Christian University in Edmond, conducted by Colorado-based Summit Ministries, will offer Oklahomans the chance to review the Christian worldview…

Court ruling bolsters Oklahoma anti-ESG law

January 23, 2025 Ray Carter

A U.S. district court judge has ruled that “environmental, social, and governance” (ESG) investing violates the fiduciary duty of pension plan managers since it is not based solely on maximizing returns and pensioners’ retirement security. In a Jan. 10 order, U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor concluded that “the facts compellingly demonstrated that Defendants breached their…

Oklahoma lawmaker seeks end of wind-power subsidy

January 23, 2025 Ray Carter

A newly elected state senator says it is time to end taxpayer subsidization of wind farms. “Oklahoma taxpayers have already invested hundreds of millions of dollars in subsidies for wind farms across the state, and it’s beyond time to end this costly practice,” said state Sen. Jonathan Wingard, R-Ada. “While new wind projects no longer…