August 27, 2019 Issue, Page 4 of 8

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Page 4 The Elk City News, Elk City, Oklahoma Tuesday, August 27, 2019 Opinion Page “ElkCituNews Serving Western Oklahoma since 1901 SQ 802 holds more promise than legislative panel Muskogee Phoenix, Okla. Lawmakers who assembled this past week during the NAW = JUST inaugural meeting of the bipartisan, bicameral Healthcare TRUMPS RE-ELECTION Working Group formed with the stated goal to develop ways to increase access to health care in Oklahoma re- vealed why that probably won’t happen. It might have been an inadvertent slip of the tongue as they attempted to carefully craft a message to counter the efforts of those trying to get State Question 802 on the 2020 ballot. The ballot initiative, which requires the sig- natures of nearly 178,000 voters, would expand Medicaid coverage in Oklahoma to an additional 196,000 low-in- come uninsured adults and bring in federal funding. The co-chairmen of the working group hit the right notes with their message, stating the overall goal “is to create a healthy Oklahoma,” which ranks 47th in the nation right now because of public policies and lifestyle choices. In doing that, they “improve access” and “make it more af- fordable.” Those are laudable goals alright, but the co-chairmen went on to say there likely will be no action taken by the Legislature in the near future. The immediate goal it seems is to gather as much information as possible and then fig- ure out what they need to do next. Well, that train has left the station -- nearly a decade has passed since Congress passed the Affordable Care Act. If lawmakers wanted to pursue an alternative they should have been gathering information and assembling a plan Oklahoma’s schmoozer general years ago. The assembly of this working group now ap- pears to be a frantic effort to derail efforts to get the signa- The Ada News, Okla. it’s about making sure Okla- thing in return. It’s pretty sure we don’t fall through tures needed to put SQ 802 on the ballot. Gov. Kevin Stitt’s office homa receives all the fed- ironic that the state is go- the cracks? We hope with The Oklahomans Decide Health Care campaign wants to hire a full-time per- eral dollars we can. Sounds ing to fund a liaison to help all the oversight boards and launched in June in response to lawmakers’ failure to re- son for a Washington D.C. good. Sure enough, Oklaho- capture federal dollars, you committees the state is cre- gig, to act as a liaison for the ma uses federal money. And know, everything except the spond to the will of their constituents. Petitioners need ating to watch over our state state. Nondoc.com’s Tres yes, we've missed some of millions we’ve paid into one nearly 178,000 signatures before 5 p.m. Oct. 28 in order Savage reported that the ad- that in the past. particular federal program. dollars we can put the same get SQ 802 on the ballot. ministration would begin the If you’re wondering why The thing is, if this job kind of care into making There are many Oklahomans who work for employers hiring process in September. the governor’s office is finds untapped money for sure this new job pays divi- who don’t offer health insurance or work part time and are If you’re thinking, “don’t somehow wanting someone the state, it’s a good thing. dends. ineligible for plans that are offered. There are many more we elect people to represent to make sure the state cap- It’s fair to ask, though, is our interests in Washing- tures federal funds, while this not something that can Is it just about rubbing el- who are ineligible for SoonerCare and don’t qualify for bows with the right people? ton?” you're not alone. So, being opposed to captur- be done from home with subsidies offered for insurance plans offered through the why? We know this per- ing hundreds of millions of some folks already on pay- To be fair, the current White ACA marketplace. son isn’t going to work for dollars in federal funds a la roll? In the digital age, are House staff probably likes a Lawmakers who have blocked Medicaid expansion in free. We’re all about small Medicaid expansion, wel- the people in our state gov- good schmoozer. Hey, that’s Oklahoma have kept more than a billion dollars of our tax government and state sover- come to the club. ernment unable to connect eignty, right? not bad. How about we call dollars from coming back home from Washington every Oklahomans have been to those in D.C.? Are the Deputy Secretary of State paying into Medicaid for staffs of our DC representa- it the office of the Schmooz- year. That money could have kept hospitals from closing and created jobs, boosted our economy, but it went to 36 Donelle Harder told Savage years without getting any- tives not big enough to make er General? other states that expanded Medicaid. SQ 802 needs to be on the ballot in Oklahoma. We can no longer wait on Oklahoma lawmakers -- those who are at the Capitol are dragging their feet because they are Workforce development a ideologically opposed to expansion. Support Oklahoma Decides Healthcare, find a petition and sign it -- get SQ 802 on the ballot. needed focus in Oklahoma Don’t get hoodwinked by this working group. The Oklahoman, Oklaho- Stitt’s administration is grammers, etc. -- good-pay- in a recent interview, “but “We're really excited to get started,” said Amber Eng- ma City looking to expand on those ing jobs available through for either real or perceived land, spokeswoman for the Oklahomans Decide Health Kevin Stitt is new to the ideas and produce new ones. two-year programs. reasons, they decided not Care campaign. “Since we launched the campaign in mid- governor’s office but one At the CareerTech sys- The state Commerce June and with the Supreme Court decision, we have had of his chief concerns is not: tem’s recent summer confer- Department recently an- to come here because they tons of people across the state reaching out and wanting workforce development in ence, Stitt said it was a must nounced that the state’s Of- didn’t have the confidence to volunteer on the campaign. That’s an indication of how Oklahoma. that the state “do a better job fice of Workforce Develop- they could invest millions of much Oklahomans want to decide this issue.” Many of Stitt’s predeces- of breaking down those silos ment will be moved back dollars and when they open sors have spent consider- between common ed, Ca- to the agency after having doors, they would then have able time looking for ways reerTech and higher ed and been under the umbrella of enough qualified resumes.” Have something to help ensure that Oklaho- focusing on our students.” Oklahoma State University- mans have the skills neces- “We have to put that to- Oklahoma City. Commerce The administration will sary to meet job demands, gether and get this lined up Secretary Steve Kouplen look to establish work- and thus help existing local so we can focus on what’s said he and the governor force teams in communities to share? businesses grow and bring new businesses to the state. Most recently, former best for our kids getting ready for the workforce.” He’s right. We have writ- agree that “the No. 1 imped- iment to economic develop- ment is the Oklahoma work- across the state and try to better align education with Send your Gov. Mary Fallin had her ten numerous times about force. It’s such a big deal.” local industry. One goal is Complete College America the need for Oklahoma to Brent Kisling, executive to better direct resources to produce more college grad-initiative, which sought to director of the Commerce create centers of excellence Department, says Oklahoma increase by 1,700 per year uates, as our state has long editorial to in different fields of work. the number of degrees and lagged the national average has many assets that make it certificates earned in Okla- in the percentage of resi- attractive to businesses con- One challenge, Kisling homa. She also had an ini- dents with bachelor’s de- sidering moving in, such as says, is “making sure we're grees and higher. Oklahoma inspiring young people ... editor@ecdaily- tiative called Oklahoma its location, its strong work Works, which sought to absolutely needs to produce ethic and a low cost of doing to get into the pipeline, and increase degree/certificate more physicians, engineers, business. But workforce can get into it searching for jobs completion by coupling be a sticking point researchers and the like. news.com available at the other end.” “We have had a couple K-12 schools, higher edu- But it also needs more cation, CareerTech and the welders, electricians, health projects we were very It’s a pursuit well worth business community. care workers, computer pro- close to closing,” he said the administration’s time.