November 12, 2019 Issue, Page 4 of 10

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Page 4 The Elk City News, Elk City, Oklahoma Tuesday, November 12, 2019 Opinion Page Oklahoma making a different “ElkCituNews Serving Western Oklahoma since 1901 sort of news on corrections Interesting economic The Oklahoman, Okla- homa City drug possession as a misde- for consideration through “a moving experience to meanor instead of a felony the typical two-stage review see our state and commu- pitch by Democratic -On the issue of correc- tions, Oklahoma is making and raised to $1,000, from $500, the threshold for mak- process. Many of those who bene- nity partners” help with the cause. candidates a different sort of news. The ing property crimes a felony. fited from the commutations state that locks up more peo- This year, the Legislature were given not just an early More than 90 percent of The Oklahoman, Oklahoma City ple per capita than any other passed a bill making the re- departure from prison, but inmates are eventually re- -Those seeking the Democratic nomination for president is setting inmates free. forms retroactive. an improved chance of not leased from prison. These have an interesting economic pitch: Our proposals could The five-person Pardon The bill directed the parole returning. recipients of commutation put you out of work! and Parole Board voted board to establish an accel- In recent weeks, the De- have been given a much Many of those in the large field of candidates have em- unanimously last week to erated, single-stage com- partment of Corrections, higher profile than most -- braced the idea of ending U.S. reliance on fossil fuels in recommend that the sentenc- mutation docket for inmates governor’s office, state on Monday, Stitt joined oth- the next few decades. Never mind that petroleum, coal and es of 527 inmates be com- serving time for crimes that agencies, nonprofits and ers at Eddie Warrior Correc- natural gas accounted for roughly four-fifths of U.S. en- muted, in what state officials have been reclassified as other groups collaborated on tional Center in Taft to greet said was the largest com- misdemeanors. a series of “re-entry fairs” ergy consumption last year, making such a swift transition mutation in U.S. history. On “With this vote, we are inside prison walls. Inmates women being set free. impossible. Skeptics will be watch- According to the 2018 U.S. Energy and Regulatory Monday, following approval fulfilling the will of Okla- were put in touch with or- by Gov. Kevin Stitt, more homans,” Steven Bickley, ganizations that help with ing to see how many of the Report, traditional energy and energy efficiency sectors than 450 of the nonviolent, executive director of the pa- housing, transportation, em- beneficiaries don’t make the employed roughly 6.5 million Americans in 2018. Many low-level offenders were re- role board, said at Friday’s ployment, mentoring, health most of this opportunity. would wind up out of work under Democratic policies, al- leased. meeting. care, substance abuse and Meantime Robert Gilliland, though some candidates say they would pay to send those Those inmates are “getting Board members consid- other resources. parole board chairman, of- folks back to school or train them for renewable-energy a second chance,” Stitt said, ered 814 cases. Inmates who Bickley notes that all jobs. fered sentiments that no and they have Oklahoma were denied single-stage along, the goal of this com- doubt are shared by many A $15-per-hour minimum wage is another must-have for voters and the Legislature to commutation relief had miti- mutation effort has been not most of the candidates. A report by the Congressional Bud- thank for it. gating circumstances, such just the release of inmates others: “We hope and pray get Office found that a $15 minimum wage could help 17 In 2016, voters approved a as protests by prosecutors or but “the successful re-entry they will be great examples million workers, a fact the candidates like to tout. They’re piece of criminal justice re- victims or records of serious of these individuals back of the fruit of criminal jus- not as quick to mention that the CBO also said the move form that reclassified simple misconduct. They may apply into society.” He called it tice reform in our state.” could result in 3 million or more workers losing their jobs. When the Democratic-controlled U.S. House approved such a bill this year, Rep. Kendra Horn, D-Oklahoma City, voted against it, to her credit, noting that the mandate could Academic results show why put many Oklahoma businesses out of business. Last week, Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who is closing in on front-runner Joe Biden in the RealClearPoli- families voting with their feet tics average of national polls, and leads him in Iowa and By Jonathan Small homa students’ scores de- failing to stem the bleeding, the results of state “invest- New Hampshire, acknowledged that “Medicare for All” Government officials of- clined in every subject this let alone generate improve- ment” in districts like Tulsa, could mean job losses for 2 million Americans. During an ten refer to government year. In fact, 46 percent of ment, then more is needed. and are responding by voting spending as an “investment” students failed to meet ACT Policy changes must also be with their feet and moving interview on New Hampshire Public Radio, the interview- to suggest a business ap- college-readiness — bench- adopted. And parents in one children to schools that pro- er referenced an assertion by University of Massachusetts proach is being applied to marks in any of the subjects of the state’s worst school duce better outcomes. The economist Robert Pollin that Medicare for All would slash public policy. But if spend- tested. systems have highlighted greatest challenge for those roughly 2 million jobs, mostly within the health care in- ing equals investment, then When Oklahoma state test ‘one solution. families is not a lack of state dustry. Oklahomans must ask, results were released months Tulsa Public Schools faces “investment” in schools; it’s “T agree,” Warren said. “I think this is part of the cost “What are the results?” ago, they showed academic a $20 million shortfall. The a limited array of school issue and should be part of the cost plan.” She encouraged When it comes to our achievement was lower in district’s leadership blames choices when their geo- the interviewer to “recognize on this what we’re talking school system, results are 2019 than in 2017. In every its financial problems on graphically assigned school about, and that is in effect how much of our health care now worse than they were subject and grade tested, a state funding cuts. But, as fails to deliver results. dollars have not gone to health care.” before the “investment” of majority performed below noted, the state has not been Combining school choice Unlike Medicare for All’s leading advocate, Sen. Bernie the past two years. grade level. tightfisted over the last two with greater education fund- Sanders, Warren has refused to acknowledge that paying On the National Assess- Those declining results years. Instead, Tulsa’s true ing is policymakers’ best for the plan would require tax increases on middle-class ment of Educational Prog- have occurred even though problem is that students are path to improving Okla- Americans. She has insisted instead that costs will be borne ress, often called the na- lawmakers increased K-12 leaving the district in droves homa’s education system by the ultra-wealthy, with the middle class ultimately see- tion’s report card, Oklahoma school appropriations by 20 and state funding is follow- and student outcomes. Oth- ing savings through lower insurance premiums. student scores declined in percent over the last two ses- ing them out the exits. erwise, next year may end fourth and eighth grade read- sions. Where are those students the same as this year—with Yet it’s largely the middle class that would feel the brunt ing, were stagnant in fourth Some will object it’s unre- going? According to the policymakers baffled that of those 2 million job losses if they were to happen. War- grade math, and improved alistic to expect a dramatic Tulsa World, 3,700 students schools not only failed to im- ren says displaced workers could move to other insurance slightly in eight grade math turnaround in just over a left TPS for Epic Charter prove after tax-and-spending areas, such as auto and life insurance, and she’s promising (by a margin considered year. I don’t disagree. But Schools, an online provider, increases, but actually got five years of “transition support.” statistically insignificant). is it unrealistic to think aca- from summer 2013 to June worse. These proposals may appeal to the party’s base, which Oklahoma students remain demic results should at least 2019, while another 3,300 Jonathan Small serves as is what the candidates are striving for at this stage of the below the national average stop declining after such students left for brick-and- president of the Oklahoma campaign. But they are less likely to fly on Election Day in all NAEP subjects. huge spending increases? mortar charter schools. Council of Public Affairs 2020 with voters who like their jobs and wish to keep them. On the ACT exam, Okla- If “investment” alone is Parents are taking stock of (www.ocpathink.org). The international fix to rural America’s healthcare crisis Muskogee Phoenix, Okla. that rural America faces. ter of rural residents did not counterparts, according to a and to live and work in ru- chiatrists attended medical By Dr. G. Richard Olds Consequently, the country get care when they needed it. 2013 study published in the ral areas” than U.S.-trained school outside the country. Imagine going into cardiac must look abroad, to gradu- Several specialties are es- American Journal of Preven- graduates. One-third of graduates arrest and the closest emer- ates of international medical pecially short on doctors. tive Medicine. According to a Johns Hop- of the school I lead, St. gency room is more than schools, to fill its yawning Nearly 80 million Ameri- Unfortunately, these kins analysis, “Compared George’s University in Gre- 30 miles away. Or suppose physician shortage. cans live in federally-desig- trends could worsen over with U.S. graduates, inter- nada, practice in medically your child is struggling with International medical nated “primary health care the next several years, The national medical graduates underserved areas. All told, depression, but there isn’t a graduates have a long his- health professional shortage country will need upwards tend to practice in primary St. George’s is the second- single psychiatrist in your tory of providing care for areas.” Roughly two-thirds of 122,000 additional doc- care and in underserved and largest provider of doctors county. Or consider expe- underserved populations. of rural counties don’t have tors by 2032. The Associa- rural areas.” to the U.S healthcare sys- riencing unexpected preg- Many of them are U.S. citi- a single psychiatrist. Just 6 tion of American Medical In parts of the country tem. Our graduates pursue nancy complications -- yet zens who chose to pursue percent of OB-GYNs work Colleges predicts that “rural with per-capita incomes of careers in a number of spe- living hours away from a their studies abroad -- and in rural parts of the country. and historically underserved less than $15,000 annually, cialties -- from emergency hospital that has the resourc- now want to return home to Without sufficient access areas may experience the nearly half of doctors were medicine and psychiatry to es to help. practice. to care, rural Americans shortages more acutely.” trained overseas. pediatrics and surgery. This is the reality for Roughly 20 percent of post worse health outcomes International medical Doctors trained abroad are Rural America is facing much of rural America -- Americans reside in rural than their peers elsewhere. graduates could help turn particularly prepared to fill a healthcare crisis. Inter- where limited access to care areas. Yet only about 10 Rural Americans are more back these trends. Consider gaps in critical specialties national medical graduates is the norm. Absent action, percent of doctors work likely than those living in a recent study published in that U.S. graduates tend to have proved that they’re this public health crisis will there. As a result, many ru- non-rural areas to die from the medical journal BMC shun. In 2019, international well-suited to address it. We worsen over the next decade. ral Americans struggle to ac- heart disease, cancer, and Family Practice. The analy- medical graduates opted for should invite them to do so. US. medical — schools cess care. One recent survey stroke, Americans in ur- sis concluded that IMGs are primary care residencies at Dr. G. Richard Olds is aren’t turning out enough found that at some point in ban areas live almost three more likely “to look after twice the rate of U.S. grads. president of St. George’s doctors to fill the gaps in care the past few years, one-quar- years longer than their rural underserved populations, About three in ten U.S. psy- University (www.sgu.edu). Have something to share> Send your letter to [email protected]