On Deck, Ep. 37: "Appointments and Budgets"

We’re back! After a brief, 10-month hiatus we’re back with a new episode of On Deck. The 2021 legislative session recently wrapped up. There were many, many, many highlights from the budget (which saved $800 million, invested new money in education, and cut taxes) to several policy reforms. Senate President Pro Tem Greg Treat discusses the terrific 2021 session on this episode.

When the Legislature is not in session, lawmakers take time to study issues more in depth through interim studies. Senate President Pro Tem Greg Treat talks about some of the study requests for the 2020 interim. Senator Treat and House Speaker Charles McCall filed a lawsuit saying two new tribal gaming compacts were not valid - and the Oklahoma Supreme Court agreed. Senator Treat tells us the lawsuits were more about checks and balances among the branches of government than compacts. Finally, the Senate recently announced more details of its process to ensure the public's role in the redistricting process and Senator Treat gives us an update.

Senate President Pro Tem Greg Treat recaps the 2020 legislative session, highlighted by the COVID-19 quarantine. The pandemic posed serious challenges this year from a shortened session to a huge budget shortfall, and Senator Treat gives us his insight into how the Senate managed those obstacles. We also touch on what’s On Deck during the summer and fall in the Senate.

The Oklahoma Senate has been hard at work during the ongoing covid-19 health care crisis. Senate Pro Tem Greg Treat gives an update on how the Senate is working remotely during this time - including holding virtual committee meetings. Senator Treat also gives us an update on the current state budget as well as next year's state budget talks.

Pension reform and cost of living adjustments (COLAs) are a big topic this year in the Oklahoma Legislature, and in this episode of On Deck, Senator Treat tells us about a new COLA proposal making its way through the legislative process. The action in the Senate is focused on the floor as March 12 is the deadline for Senate bills to make it off the floor for them to remain alive this session. Senator Treat tells us what to expect this week on the Senate floor.

Deadline week! This past week was the deadline for Senate bills to advance out of committee to continue in the legislative process. Senator Greg Treat walks us through that process and tells about a couple of his bills that made it out of committee this week. Senator Treat also tells about a very special moment this week as the Oklahoma Senate celebrated the 100th anniversary of the day Oklahoma became the 33rd state to ratify the 19th Amendment, giving women the right to vote.

On this episode of Oklahoma Senate On Deck, Senator Greg Treat walks us through the latest budget numbers to be released. We also talk about two of Senator Treat's bills: one to consolidate the Oklahoma Department of Transportation and the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority; and the other deals with modernizing the Merit Protection Commission. It's an issue that's been talked about for years at the Oklahoma Capitol, and this week the Senate took a big leap forward by passing a bill dealing with Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists. Senator Treat gives us some of the history of this bill.

Hundreds of college kids visited the Capitol this week for Higher Ed Day. Senator Greg Treat shares with us the message he delivered to students on the important role of higher education. Health care is heating up at the Capitol so Senator Treat shares the latest on the Senate's efforts to work deliver better access to quality health care for Oklahomans.

Want to know what to expect in the 2020 session? We’ve got you covered. Senator Greg Treat, leader of the Oklahoma Senate, gives a preview. We also discus Governor Kevin Stitt’s big health care announcement, with the announcement of SoonerCare 2.0. Finally, Senator Treat gives us his take on a recent letter on Oklahoma education from everyone’s favorite Democratic socialist, Bernie Sanders.`

On this episode of the On Deck podcast, Senator Greg Treat talks about his recent appointments to the governing board of the boards of the Department of Corrections and the Office of Juvenile Affairs. We also discuss the state budgeting process, and the work ongoing in the Senate on next year’s state budget. Senator Treat also talks about the process by which bills are being filed for next year’s session.