From the Pro Tem: Latest Media and News
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.
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.
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.
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.
The latest On Deck podcast is here and focuses on Oklahoma redistricting and the importance of accountability when using federal grants. In this episode, Senator Greg Treat explains to us how Oklahomans need to be involved in the 2020 census to make sure all Oklahomans are well represented and also what the legislature is doing to make sure our tax dollars are being spent responsibly.
Along with the President Pro Tem Senator Greg Treat, we have our guest State Superintendent Joy Hofmeister on the show to discuss the importance of student engagement and also to get an update on the impacts of the huge investments by the Legislature into classroom funding and teacher pay raises made this year!
Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs President Jonathan Small joins Pro Tem State Senator Greg Treat to discuss the furthering efforts to use data tracking to increase government efficiencies and also discuss the importance of the Electoral College for our state! #OKSenateOnDeck #OKSenateGOP
President Pro Tempore Senator Greg Treat and I host the Co-Chair of the Health Care Working Group, Senator Greg McCortney, to discuss Medicaid reform, tribal health clinic services, and all the work that is being done by the Legislature to improve the availability of health care for all Oklahomans!
Senator Paul Scott joins President Pro Tem Treat on the latest episode of OK Senate On Deck to discuss everything from Foster Care to stopping Robo Calls to the Rush Springs Watermelon Festival.
In this latest On Deck episode, President Pro Tem Senator Greg Treat explains the important role interim studies play in the legislative process and we also discuss a new working group that is being developed to work on the future of Oklahoma Medicaid and health care
July 1 marked the start of our new state budget! On this week's #OnDeck podcast, State Senator Greg Treat breaks down his favorite parts of the budget and also discusses the Legislative Office of Fiscal Transparency Oversight Committee! #BrandNewBudgetYear #OKSenateGOP
The latest OK Senate On Deck episode is here! In this week's podcast President Pro Tem Senator Greg Treat breaks down all of the latest Oklahoma Legislature accomplishments from this year that have furthered the fight for Criminal Justice Reform and also gives us a vision for the future in this area.
Government Reforms are the focus on this week's OK Senate On Deck podcast! President Pro Tem Greg Treat walks us through all of the biggest reforms that were enacted this year that have enabled our state government to be more transparent and efficient!
The 2019 Legislative Session came to a close last week, but not before some amazing accomplishments were completed by the Oklahoma Legislature! This week's On Deck podcast focuses on all the key legislative highlights that were accomplished this year to make our state even better! A few of the topics talked about this week are Education, Government Accountability, Criminal Justice Reform, and Budget Transparency. Let us know if you have any questions by emailing us at OnDeck@oksenate.gov!
The FY'2020 State Budget has been agreed upon and announced! On this latest episode of OK Senate On Deck, Senator Greg Treat explains to us why the key focuses in this budget agreement were on #Education, #GovernmentReforms, and #PublicSafety!
In this week's On Deck episode, Senator Roger Thompson joins President Pro Tem Greg Treat to discuss all the latest budget news! We will get into Education funding, Criminal Justice Reform, and even how much the Senate expects to put into Savings this year.
On this week's #OnDeck episode, Senate President Pro Tem Greg Treat gives us the latest news going on in budget negotiations. #OKSenateGOP
On this week's episode of OK Senate On Deck, Senate Judiciary Chairwoman Senator Julie Daniels joins President Pro Tempore Senator Greg Treat to discuss the OK #SupremeCourt's rulings on cases and all the progress that has been made to make Oklahoma a more business friendly state!
COLAs & Deadline Week! In the latest episode of #OnDeck with President Pro Tem Greg Treat, he explains that latest news on COLAs for retirees and also gives us some insight on what is to be expected during deadline week the next few days!
Senator Bill Coleman substitutes on the show for President Pro Tem Greg Treat. This week we get to know Senator Coleman more and also talk about the #CriminalJusticeReform measures he is fighting for this year in the Senate!
Pensions and Cost of Living Adjustments (COLA’s) are one of the hot topics for legislators this year! But how much do you know about the topic? In this week’s On Deck episode, Senator Jason Smalley joins President Pro Tem Greg Treat to explain the historical context and further details of the pensions conversation to help us get a better grasp of the ideas being presented!