April 9, 2019 Issue, Page 4 of 10

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Opinion “ElkCitw ty Serving Western Oklahoma Since 1901 Election integrity key to process ——— Enid News & Eagle, Okla. Oklahoma State Election Board is about to begin the pro- cess of purging its voter rolls. That means thousands of residents would be deleted, and Concerns about teacher pay prompt deja vu would not -- if they are still alive or still living in Oklahoma -- be able to vote unless they registered again. It's something Oklahoma does in April in odd years. ‘The reasons for the election board to do this make sense to us. Election Secretary Paul Ziriax told Oklahoma Watch that The Oklahoman, Oklahoma the classroom every year is experiencing union unrest on strike. The same thing deleting the names of inactive voters helps to maintain the City for more financially reward- amidst familiar complaints, is true in Oklahoma, where integrity of elections. Purging the rolls is a way of making ing professions," Candelaria and the outcomes of that last year's walkout occurred sure registration lists are accurate and up to date. For years, it's been said wrote. Sound familiar? unrest echo those of Okla- after a $6,100, across-the- "Voter fraud is exceptionally rare in Oklahoma and not that Oklahoma teachers are Candelaria also argued homa. In Denver, teachers board teacher pay raise was a major issue here," Ziriax told Oklahoma Watch. "But for fleeing to Texas for higher the "modest salaries" of recently went on strike over approved, and no substan- someone who wanted to commit fraud, the less updated your salaries and better working Texas teachers are "further how base pay was calculated. tive changes were enacted in voter records are, the easier it is to do that." conditions. Recent comments eroded by rising health The president of the Denver by the president ofa teachers’ insurance premiums, now Classroom Teachers warned response to the strike. Oklahoma goes through a lengthy process to delete people association undermines the averaging $359 a month ..." there was a “teacher turnover Its notable that last year’s from voter rolls. It's not done spur of the moment. It basi- narrative of Texas as an edu- In Oklahoma, the state pays crisis in Denver." teacher pay raise, perhaps cally covers an eight-year period of not voting. cators' Nirvana and shows the 100 percent of the cost of a What were the results of the biggest in Oklahoma his- Before June 1, the state will send an address confirmation problems noted in Oklahoma teacher's health insurance the strike? Chalkbeat Colo- tory, reportedly did nothing to voters who haven't cast a ballot in either of the last two are widespread. policy, a benefit that is often rado reports, "Teachers were to reduce the state's teacher general elections or any state or local elections in that time Ina recent column, Noel overlooked. getting a raise no matter shortage. This year, once Candelaria, president of the Candelaria continued that what." Before the strike, again against a backdrop period. Texas State Teachers Associ- Texas teachers spend an Denver teachers were offered of threatened union unrest, If the voter doesn't respond within 60 days of receiv- ation, complained that Texas average of $738 per year "on an average 10 percent raise. lawmakers are poised to raise ing the letter, they are put on "inactive status" but still are teachers "are paid $7,300 a classroom supplies for which Afterward, the size of the teacher pay some more. cleared to vote. year less than the national they are not reimbursed.” raise was increased --to an Perhaps the outcome will ‘The voter can regain active status at any time by voting average" and called a $5,000 He also claimed, "Anywhere average 11.7 percent. be different this time. But in any election or updating their voter registration informa- raise that has been proposed from 30 percent to 0 percent Families whose children's events in Texas and Colorado tion. this year only "a start in the of Texas teachers have quit lives were disrupted by the right direction.” or will quit the profession by strike may question if the cost suggest that, no matter what But if the voter, while on inactive status, doesn't partici- "Virtually all of Texas’ the time they finish their fifth to and impact on those not Oklahoma policymakers do pate in an election for two more general election cycles, 350,000 schoolteachers are year in the classroom: working for schools exceeded this year, the education nar- their voter registration will be purged and they will need to underpaid, and thousands of ‘Texas isn't the only in- the gains reaped by educa- rative next year may remain re-register if they want to vote again. effective teachers are leaving stance where a nearby state tion employees who went much the same. That means the voters to be purged this year didn't vote in 2012 or 2014 elections, didn't respond to the address confir- mation letter and haven't voted since. Opponents of the purge process say people never should be stricken from the rolls. They say the system hurts minorities and Democratic voters. Bills would cost Oklahoma Watch's review of the state's latest purge of inactive voters in 2017 showed Democrats were dispropor- tionally affected. Of the 167,011 who were deleted due to inactivity, about 46 percent were Democrats. Oklahoma consumers Voter registration statistics before the purge, on Jan. 1, 2017, show Democrats made up about 39 percent of all The Oklahoman, Oklahoma with the insurer. Supporters an open specialty pharmacy mission has warned that pro- registered voters. City argue it's unfair some phar- network ..." An earlier fiscal posals similarto SB 841 and Republicans made up about 33 percent of the purged macies currently are treated impact statement warned that HB 2632 could "undermine inactive voters while making up nearly 46 percent of the Who thinks health insur- differently than others, but consumers could be subject the ability of some consumers pre-purge voter registration totals. ance is too inexpensive? For since when do we force to balance-billing by pharma- to obtain the pharmaceuti- However, the purge system is not an attempt by the state most people, the answer is, people to buy products at a cies. Put simply, a pharmacy cals and health insurance "Not me!" But Oklahoma higher price when another can accept payment from an they need at a price they to target voters of a certain party or group. lawmakers apparently think provider will sell the same insurer, then turn around and It's a thought-out, rational process to keep Oklahoma's otherwise because they have thing for less? ding a patient with a second can afford." There's a reason voter rolls up to date. advanced two bills that could Also, if any pharmacy bill that is much larger than the list of those opposed to increase citizens’ insurance is guaranteed access to an what is now allowed when these bills reads like a who's costs by millions. insurance network, what's the pharmacies agree to PBM who of Oklahoma, including Prescription drug benefit incentive for any pharmacy to contracts. everyone from Boeing to the Have a letter to managers (PBMs) use bulk- negotiate? That alone guaran- The legislation impacts Muskogee Nation to the Tulsa purchasing power to negoti- tees higher prices. state workers, but also the far the editor? Email Fraternal Order of Police. ate for lower drug prices. If you doubt it, look at the larger group of people receiv- It's easy to see why phar- This is akin to the model used various fiscal impact state- ing insurance through an em- macists like these bills, but it to editor@ to provide low-priced goods to consumers by companies like ments for HB 2632. State officials warn that the bill will ployer or those buying indi- vidual policies. It's estimated for average Oklahomans, the legislation promises mostly Amazon and Walmart. ecdailynews.com Senate Bill 841 and House increase costs for government employees on the state insur- PBMs will save Oklahomans on employer plans roughly to increase costs, encourage price-gouging and divert tax Bill 2632 would make it much ance plan by $5 million annu- $7.5 billion over 10 years, but or stop by 206 W. more difficult for PBMs to ally, saying, "The significantly much of that savings could be money away from things like schools. When that happens, achieve drug savings for deeper discount rates Health- erased by this legislation, and Broadway, Elk City. consumers by mandating that insurers use all pharmacies, Choice currently has with an exclusive specialty provider working families would pay the price. it won't be insurance compa- nies that are to blame, but the even those that don't contract network would be lost under The Federal Trade Com- Legislature.