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Governor Kevin Stitt

So You Think You Have A Non-REAL ID-Compliant Driver’s License, Huh?

Take Action Against Real ID

Today, Oklahoma Senator Kendal Sacchieri made an extremely important Facebook post.

I know. How unbelievable. Our Oklahoma government lied to us.

Seriously, in the world of “unfunny” this is it. Please contact Governor Stitt’s office and ask him to prevent Service Oklahoma from uploading ALL of Oklahoma’s driver’s license data to the national REAL ID database.

In America, everyone should have a choice as to how their data is shared. We should have the absolute RIGHT to say we don’t want an ID that could easily become a digital ID.

ROPE Report has followed REAL ID and it’s privacy concern for years. If you’d like more information, please see the following links for more on the topic:

https://atomic-temporary-96707944.wpcomstaging.com/2025/04/16/real-id-a-liberty-destroying-relic-of-the-war-on-terror/
https://atomic-temporary-96707944.wpcomstaging.com/2025/05/16/real-id-paving-the-way-for-an-american-social-credit-system/
https://atomic-temporary-96707944.wpcomstaging.com/2025/03/29/real-id-oklahomans-will-be-tracked-and-surveilled-by-the-government-unless-we-stop-it/

Here is a social media post you can download and use to help spread the word about this issue. We only have until FEBRUARY.

We simply can’t put this off! Once the data is UPLOADED, we’re toast. We can’t get it back.

A graphic urging action to protect privacy regarding Oklahoma driver's license data, featuring bold text and a phone number for Governor Stitt's office.
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Oklahoma Inc., Part 2 – Republican OK Governor Kevin Stitt Channels Democrat Obama With His New Education “Turnaround Team”

Oklahoma Inc.

First, why do you suppose it’s important to use the word “Workforce” to describe people who are – or will be employed? Answer: so that people become accustomed to being widgets – not individuals. Who is the Constitution made for? Individuals. Who votes in elections in our Democratic Republic? Individuals.

What about the phrase “community”? Answer: it’s a group of individuals. Groups are much more easily led and studies show this to be true. This is where we get the tongue-in-cheek term, “Sheeple”. So why move to this use of the word “community” to describe multiple groups of individuals? Because

What about the phrase “data-driven”? Answer: Data is science. Science has become the God of many today (COVID anyone?) Therefore, science knows better about people than people can know about people. There’s no argument about a child’s trajectory in life, then, if the “data” lines out that trajectory. No muss, no fuss, no messy, “but mom and dad, I’d like to be a firefighter when I grow up”. If the data says “aerospace engineer” (because the state is giving the industry millions in tax credits), then Johnny gets to be an aerospace engineer.

In 2008, Barack Obama became our 49th president. Let us never forget that under the one-word campaign slogan – CHANGE – Obama set about creating a socialist paradise in this country which dismantled nearly every LOCALIZED state institution – including education – almost thoroughly.

In the place of localized educational standards, Obama worked with the National Governor’s Association (of which Governor (King) Stitt just become Chair – please review his Igniting The Dream initiative below) and of which Mary Fallin was Chair during her term, 2013-14) and the Counsel of Chief State School Officers (all state superintendents) to create top down (national) educational standards to make sure every student in America was learning like every other student in America, which they called the Common Core State Standards. Unbelievably, (wink, wink) The CCSS have been found to be a failure in every state that adopted them (please internet search the term “Common Core failure” for more studies describing this boondoggle).

He also ramped up the State Longitudinal Database System. Working with the The National Center for Education Statistics, the Common Education Data Standards Initiative was created where thousands of data points were developed so that every school around the country could collect information on every student enrolled in public school in the United States to help them ‘learn’ better. (To find more information on Common Core and the SLDS, see our former blogspot.) This initiative has not failed, and in fact, has gained more steam the more tyrannical governments at every level realize how easy it is to control a populace on which they have millions of datapoints of information.

Besides an initiative to grade teachers (which has created part of the mess we now see in public education) – the Teacher Effectiveness system – the last of Obama’s four pillars was to create a TURNAROUND MODEL for ‘turning around failing schools, funded by School Improvement Grants. This roundly debunked initiative has been an absolute failure, yet it cost US taxpayers BILLIONS of dollars.

And so, this last week, Governor (King) Stitt, took full advantage of ELECTED Ryan Walters’ decision to quit his job instead of upholding his compact with his VOTERS to finish his term and made SWEEPING changes to Oklahoma’s upper education infrastructure – which he called Oklahoma’s “turnaround”. Hopefully, you’ll understand from the brief synopsis above, why I’m not in the least inspired by this turn of events.

Now, let’s review all that has happened since Ryan Walters quit:

  • Governor King-Stitt tells the public he’s going to ask the legislature to make the State Superintendent position appointed because there isn’t enough alignment between the Governor’s office and the state superintendent if the position is not appointed. (NO. JUST NO. This is at minimum a CHECK AND BALANCE. Number 2, I’ve had enough of Governor Stitt’s failed appointments and number 3, we are a Representative Government, not an oligarchy or a private business – things Governor King-Stitt forgets on a regular basis.)
  • Governor King-Stitt moves around his office staff – hiring what can only be called “swamp creatures” to help him finish out his term. This included trying to move long-time associate Donelle Harder into the Secretary of State position (don’t worry, after telling him to exit, I’m sure Stitt will find a cozy new deal for perennial government satellite Josh Cochroft) when she wasn’t eligible. How did no one in Stitt’s office seem to know the actual rules? If you’re King, or CEO, what do rules really matter?
  • Governor King-Stitt appoints a new Walters replacement – Lindel Fields – whose pronouns are “nice/kind”, who, in a very OPPOSITE RYAN WALTERS MOVE shed actual tears during the press conference, whose accreditations come from a place called Giant Worldwide (which includes a certification in “5 Voices“) – and include an SSGI/Baldrige Foundation Diversity and Inclusion Yellow Belt Certification from Six Sigma Global Institute. Very NOT GLOBAL! Don’t we have some law thingy against DEI?
  • Governor King Stitt appoints a new Secretary of Education, Daniel Hamlin, whose background includes University of Oklahoma professor, and who was educated both in Asia (MA Sejong University, Seoul, Asian Studies) and Canada where he received a Ph.D. from Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE) Educational Leadership and Policy. So, advanced degrees from socialist countries. That’s comforting. Though he’s worked at OU the last 7 years, before that, he was at Oxford for 8 and University of Toronto for 4. Very Oklahoman! He is also Jeb Bush adjacent and seems to have an itch to control HOMESCHOOLING!
  • Governor King Stitt appoints his Obama-styled “turnaround team” at the Department of Education that includes (among others):
  • Current Okemah Chamber of Commerce President Connie Reilly, will now take over for Oftedal as the head of OEQA. She was a decades-long educator in Okemah schools, who was appointed to the Board of Regents of the Regional University System of Oklahoma by Brad Henry in 2007 – a post she has kept through 2 successive Republican governors now. Why a retired teacher would want to suddenly become president of the local chamber flummoxes me. And yet she will now be in a position where she can work with the Chamber and Dr. Oftedal, to hook all the databases in the state together so we can follow all children from birth to grave. Yay.
  • Governor King-Stitt then replaced two of his friends he had earlier appointed to the Oklahoma State Board of Education, but who haven’t been showing up much lately – Zach Archer and Sarah Lepak (who was Assistant General Counsel at Gateway Mortgage Group, from Apr 2012 – Mar 2017) – with Brian Bobek and Wes Nofire. Stitt has already appointed Bobek to the state board, where he served from 2019 to 2023. Bobek left BP Oil after 23 years to come to work for Governor Stitt, where, so far, he’s been his Deputy Chief of Staff, Chief Operating Officer (of something, I guess Governor Stitt?) and his Director of Faith Based Initiatives (another made up job not found in the Oklahoma Job Catalog so we have no idea what taxpayers pay for his salary). Nofire – like all the others – has been appointed by Stitt to something before: he’s a Commissioner on the Board of the State Athletic Commission and he’s also the Native American Liaison to the Office of the Governor since 2024.

Interestingly – neither our new, nice, State Superintendent, nor King-Stitt, notified our friend – and former Oklahoma State School Board member Kendra Wesson, that she had been fired as the Chair of the Oklahoma State Textbook Committee. She only found out when I read it in a ‘news’ media article and shared the information with her. Just another way we know that King-Stitt’s agenda is NOT about We The People.

I think it’s worth noting that in SEVERAL articles I read, the local “news” media have managed to quote Oklahoma Edvocates (a group for leftist teachers, not for parents or students), President, Jami Jackson Cole on King-Stitt’s Obama-like Turnaround, which she appears to be all for.

So, in closing, let all that sink in. Governor King-Stitt has now put into place all the “yes” men he’s previously appointed/worked with in some capacity as stewards of our Oklahoma Education funds and students. It is clear to me that this “turnaround” is one in which parents will be left behind. It has to be that way for the Jeb Bush/Chamber of Commerce-focused agenda of driving students into jobs so the elites can save money on job training can play out in real time.

Gone will be the effort to remove predators from schools and smutty, developmentally-inappropriate books from the library. Incoming will be the giant cookie cutter of big government, stamping children into widgets through collection of reams of unnecessary and invasive data for the benefit of private businesses. Watch.

__________________________________________

Governor Stitt’s Reigniting The Dream initiative as Chair of the National Governor’s Association, 2025:

The yearlong Reigniting the American Dream initiative will focus on three policy pillars:

  • Unlocking Economic Opportunity: Advancing the American Dream through entrepreneurship, creating a good jobs economy and economic mobility
  • Empowering Every Learner: Reimagining education and creating real on-the-jobs experiences for youth
  • Energizing the Future: Powering America’s next chapter by powering our AI future

Throughout the year, Governor Stitt will lead a series of convenings bringing together governors, private-sector leaders, and changemakers to explore policy and practice to forge a more hopeful, prosperous future for every American.

NGA also announced leadership for NGA’s three Governor-led task forces. The task forces foster a collaborative environment for Governors to focus on NGA’s top federal priorities. The task force co-chairs are:

  • Education, Workforce and Community Investment: Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers, Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon
  • Economic Development and Revitalization: Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, North Dakota Governor Kelly Armstrong
  • Public Health and Emergency Management: Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe, North Carolina Governor Josh Stein
2

Oklahoma Inc. – Governor Stitt’s Appointment Swamp

Oklahoma Inc.

Governor Stitt has never had any problem appointing people during his terms.

In fact, the appointments he’s made during his time in the Governor’s chair tell us a story. They tell us that he doesn’t see a government that is Of The People, By The People, For The People, but more a government of the people, for the people, by the people he likes and does business with.

The people he appoints to his positions – and he’ll move people around wherever it suits him for whatever purpose he has – by and large, have worked with him previously, or come from Tulsa, or have donated to his campaign, or have ties to him through the Chamber, or Jeb Bush – they’re not We The People, they’re We The Buddies.

I’m not going to throw in a bunch of links in here to prove the veracity of this statement, a simple internet search on Governor Stitt and his appointments will bring those home for you. It’s all there. It’s not hard to find.

In order to drive the point home, however, here are several examples of my assertion.

Donelle Harder:

A Facebook post by Donelle Harder discussing her experience and reflections on serving as Chief of Staff to Governor Kevin Stitt, highlighting the importance of individual eligibility in the context of state appointments.

Here are Donelle’s stats from her LinkedIn page:

Screenshot of Donelle Harder's LinkedIn page showcasing her professional experience and current roles.

Here’s an article that doesn’t say why she left Stitt’s office in 2020 as his “Senior Advisor”, but the move didn’t hurt her.

She went on to DC (essentially) and started her own Consulting firm, Pliris Strategies, which she then sold to Pinkston (the company where she began her career), during which time she was not only appointed to the Gateway Banking/Mortgage Board, but was owner of Harder Consulting, LLC as well. Talk about landing on your feet.

Prior to that, however, she was

Communications Advisor U.S. House of Representatives May 2010 – Jul 2012

Communications Director U.S. Senate July 2012 – Nov 2016

Vice President Oklahoma Oil & Gas Association Nov 2016 – Dec 2017

Deputy Campaign Manager Kevin Stitt for Governor Oct 2017 – Jan 2019

Executive Team Member Governor-elect Kevin Stitt Transition Team Nov 2018 – Jan 2019

Doubtless, Mrs. Harder has worked very hard and had a very successful career – mostly in government, mostly with Governor Stitt.

As you can tell from the post above, Governor Stitt recently appointed Harder to the position of Secretary of State (after sitting SOS, Josh Cockroft suddenly decided to step down with four other Stitt appointees), only to find that Harder couldn’t serve as Secretary of State – a 4-year appointment that will extend into the next OK governor’s term and be a member of the next Governor’s cabinet whether they want them there or not – because she couldn’t fulfill the residency requirement of 10 years.

But no worries, again, the move won’t hurt her – she’ll now be Chief of Staff – an easy jump since she’s already been his “Senior Advisor”.

I personally think the most telling thing – the most infuriating thing – from Harder’s Facebook post is that she’s all good with her position. She’s giddy that the people she’s working with now – the same ones she’s worked within the past – are all back together and isn’t that grand? She is completely tone deaf to the fact that she doesn’t work for Kevin Stitt in a private business, she works for the people of Oklahoma, which is managed for We The People by Kevin Sitt. Her salary is paid by taxpayers, therefore her duty is to the taxpayers, not to a boss, or the buddies she’s worked with before, as would be the case in private business. But then, this is Oklahoma Inc. thinking for you.

Government is not to be run as a private business. It can’t be. The government of the state of Oklahoma is the PEOPLE OF OKLAHOMA, not the elected and appointed officials. The PEOPLE OF OKLAHOMA elect their fellow citizens to government office to manage the state for them using the dollars that are forcibly taken from them in the way of taxes and fees. Because they are forcibly taken, the employees of the PEOPLE OF OKLAHOMA have a duty to manage those tax dollars appropriately while working continuously to protect their liberty – the only job any elected official has.

Dustin Hilliary:

Notice he’s now Stitt’s “Chief Negotiator”. What is that? Well, we’ll never know because there is no job for that in the Oklahoma Job Catalog. Interesting. How much will this employee make off the back of taxpayers? How could we know?

Hilliary has donated quite a lot of money to Stitt – who appointed him to a 9-year term as an Oklahoma State Reagent (he’s now the Chair) though he never got a college degree. An article in the Oklahoman had this to say about Hilliary and Ostrowe – also included in Harder’s post.

Hilliary is a co-owner of Lawton-based Hilliary Communications, a telephone and broadband service provider that has more than 15,000 customers in Oklahoma, Texas and Iowa. Ostrowe is the president and CEO of O&M Restaurant Group, an Oklahoma City company that operates Taco Bell franchises. Harder has clients through her public relations and consulting work.

All three have donated to Stitt’s campaigns in the past, records show. Hilliary donated $9,000, and Ostrowe donated $8,300. Harder, who has also worked for Stitt’s campaign, donated $1,000.

Abegail Cave, the communications director for the governor’s office, would not say whether the appointees would be required to step away from their non-government work. She also would not say how much each of Stitt’s new appointees will be paid.

What? Can you do that? SHOULD you do that as THE CENTRAL STEWARD OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS? How is this not the perfect example of “he who has the gold makes the rules”?

Benjamin Lepak:

Benjamin is the son of current Representative Mark Lepak.

His sister Sarah Lepak was Governor Stitt’s Assistant General Counsel at Gateway Mortgage Group, LLC, for five years from Apr 2012 – Mar 2017. She also served on the Oklahoma State Board of Education – one of two not fired when Governor Stitt fired Donald Burdick, Kendra Wesson, and Katie Quebedeaux – until Governor Stitt removed she and the other member, Zach Archer quietly on October 2nd. (In their place he has appointed Brian Bobek and Wes Nofire. Both have been appointed by Stitt to other Oklahoma boards previously.)

Benjamin is the current General Counsel to the Governor – since October of 2024. Might it be worth asking how Lepak’s “brilliant mind” didn’t know that Harder couldn’t be appointed SOS? Prior to that, Benjamin was the Executive Director of the State Chamber Research Foundation Oklahoma 21st Century from November 2020 until taking the General Counsel position.

Why Is Any Of This A Problem?

Here’s why. There is a process set up by which We The People may send in application to be appointed to serve on a Board, or a Commission in Oklahoma.

Ideally, qualified individuals from the population of We The People in Oklahoma use this form to submit an application for specific appointments in which they have interest. People from the Governor’s office, then, ideally, look over the applications and move forward those most qualified to the Governor for his selection.

This is clearly not happening – certainly, not at top levels.

Let’s review some of the most controversial of Governor Stitt’s appointments so far.

Shelley Zumwalt – according to her LinkdIn page, Zumwalt graduated from University of Central Oklahoma in 2002 with a BS in Business/Corporate Communications. There is nothing on her LinkdIn that accounts for the years 2002-2012, but in 2012, she became the “Communications Manager” for OMES. After that, it was off to the races with one government job after another; Director of Public Affairs for Governor Mary Fallin, Director of Public Affairs for OMES – then, in 2019, she was appointed “Chief Communications and Strategic Engagement Officer Oklahoma” of the Oklahoma Health Care Authority by Governor Stitt – yet another job not in the Oklahoma Job Description Manager. After that, she was in another made up job – Chief Innovation Officer at OMES – and then an actual job posting, Executive Director, Oklahoma Employment Security Commission and finally Executive Director at the Oklahoma Tourism Department.

Essentially forced out of office after Cindy Bird’s scathing audit about her use of taxpayer dollars during the pandemic – where it was found that she essentially paid her husband’s firm for software work and then told the public it wasn’t a big deal because there was nothing going on.

Jefferey Cartmell – Cartmell got his JD in 2012 from OU, after which he became Governor Mary Fallin’s General Counsel. Gosh. One minute you’re an OU law student and the next you’re the Governor’s General Counsel. Amazing.

After that, it was nearly just one government job after the next for Cartmell; Director and Counsel State of Oklahoma – Gaming Compliance for two years, Associate Attorney Lytle Soule & Curlee, for 2 years, Deputy General Counsel Office of Governor Kevin Stitt (starting from the time he took office in 2019) for 2 years, Counsel to Secretary of State – Oklahoma Secretary of State 2 years, Executive Director – Office Of Juvenile Affairs 1 year, Director, Oklahoma DHS.

Now mind you, Cartmell may be a great attorney, but I see nothing that would make him even eligible to be appointed to the Executive Director of the Office of Juvenile Affairs or OKDHS positions. In fact, after allegations of widespread abuse at the Tulsa Juvenile Center resulted in lawsuits, investigations and at least one person charged for having sex with a minor, Carmell was moved from the OJA to OKDHS. How many people do you know are moved to a larger oversight job when they’ve apparently failed at the lesser oversight job? It’s worth it to ask.

Now Cartmell is in a position over an agency that we know – thanks to the wonderful detective/reporting work of Katy Smith at V1SUT – has – at minimum – trafficked children to pedophiles and taken them away from their parents for forced medical treatment. Unfortunately, swamp creatures are much better at landing other government jobs than protecting We The People from the agencies they head. It is actually disgusting.

I can only hope that Oklahomans have learned valuable lessons from King – sorry – Governor Stitt’s tenure and that they’ll never again fall for a fast-talking businessman with an ethically iffy business background who wants to turn Oklahoma into a business his buddies can run on the backs of We The People.

2

Our Latest Interview With V1SUT – You Have To See It To Believe It – Action Needed

Where Is Lincoln?

This morning, we had our friend Mary with V1SUT on the podcast to talk about another horrific case that has been completely mishandled by Oklahoma DHS.

Normally, I take the longer, live video and cut it down into a few smaller segments so people can get an idea of what the podcast is about until they have time to watch the full video (on YouTube or Rumble), or to share with people on social media. I just can’t do that for this podcast. The case we talked about is so utterly awful, there really isn’t a way to understand it without seeing the whole video – or reading Mary’s reporting on her Substack.

I’m not sure we’ve had more people comment on a video than we had the one this morning – and it was clear – most viewers believe the little boy in this case was trafficked by DHS. Yes. Trafficked.

How does that happen anywhere, let alone Oklahoma? Numerous factors, but none more prevalent than our utterly collapsed court system and the DHS shift in ideology from keeping babies/children with families to providing children to same sex couples. Several people commenting on the live broadcast told about how they’ve actually witnessed DAs, judges and attorneys believe DHS workers over other observers in the system, leaving children in unsafe situations or returning them to unsafe situations.

Clearly the child and family in this case are being grievously harmed by Oklahoma government and Oklahoma taxpayers need to know how bad this case is and how much damage is being done to Oklahoma citizens who try to stand up for their rights.

Please take the time to watch the full video – the comments made by the mom and several other knowledgeable viewers will help bring home the severity of this case. Then, after watching, please, PLEASE, take the steps Mary’s outlined at the end. This family needs our help – and by all accounts – they deserve it.

I’m dropping the podcast below, so that you can share this article with friends and family – which we all hope you will.

Lastly, please note that while AG Gentner Drummond is running for Governor, he hasn’t lifted a finger to help stop the horrors happening at DHS. Neither has our Governor, who has the ability to convene a Grand Jury to look into any of these cases. It’s truly unbearable that people who talk about the importance of keeping children safe in political stump speeches can’t be counted on to do their jobs when elected – which – fundamentally means protecting the liberty and sovereignty of Oklahoma families. That fact needs to be remembered at every voting booth in every county in Oklahoma next year.

1

According To Grok, Oklahoma’s Tax Credits Are Not, “publicly available in a straightforward way”

Oklahoma Business Tax Incentives

As many of you know, I’ve been hammering away for years about the massive number of tax credits/incentives our Oklahoma legislature is giving away so we can become a “Top 10 State” – whatever the heck that means. I’m not really sure, frankly, and according to the ways in which Governor Stitt is incentivizing businesses, it would be very hard to determine.

Look at Canoo, for example, and the Denmark deal for ‘green’ energy? How did Canoo’s bankruptcy help Oklahomans? How are deals brokered with other countries really going to help Oklahoma businesses, or help Oklahomans afford to be able to buy things from Oklahoma businesses to keep them going?

Recently, I decided to try and decipher all the tax incentives Oklahoma actually offers, so I started doing some basic internet searches. I always ended up back at the Oklahoma Commerce Department. On the website they do have a page for Business Incentives. On this page, you’ll actually find – make sure you’re sitting down – a SIXTY PAGE booklet that describes all the tax credits Oklahoma provides select businesses.

I say “select” businesses because do not forget – tax incentives don’t help ALL Oklahoma businesses, only SOME businesses – only those businesses that the Governor and his team ‘select’. And also don’t forget – the government only has the money they take out of our pockets – We The People are its only source of funding.

Because I think you might be interested, I’ve uploaded the booklet below so you can see it for yourself. There are SIXTY-SEVEN ways in which our Oklahoma government STEALS money from “We The People” and then redistributes it to ‘select/preferred’ businesses. I don’t know about you, but I’ve never been offered even ONE way to get out of paying my income or the tax on the home I’ve paid for but the government could take if I don’t provide them a yearly check (aka property tax/ad valorem taxes). I guess I’m not a ‘select/preferred’ citizen.

So now you have an idea of how many tax incentives Oklahoma has for private businesses.

How much money would you say we spend on those tax incentives? Well…here comes GROK.

I’m a writer/researcher. I don’t like data centers and I don’t love the idea of AI, HOWEVER, it certainly does come in handy when search results are not forthcoming in a reasonable amount of time. Consequently, I asked GROK today, “What is the amount of money paid by the state of Oklahoma in tax incentives in 2024?” I’m posting GROK’s answer below.

Researching tax incentives

  • I’m looking into the user’s request about Oklahoma’s tax incentives in 2024. It’s a specific figure, so I’ll check official state sources or financial reports first.

Searching for “total tax incentives paid by Oklahoma in 2024”

What Is The Oklahoma State Income Tax In 2025?

  • The search shows Oklahoma offers various incentives like the Quality Jobs Program and film tax credits. Still, there’s no single total for all incentives paid in 2024.
  • It seems the state doesn’t publish a unified report summing up all incentives for that year. That explains why I can’t find a direct figure.
  • I’m thinking I need to dig deeper, maybe checking annual reports from the Oklahoma Department of Commerce or Tax Commission for more details.

Browsing okcommerce.gov for “total tax incentives paid in 2024”

  • The Oklahoma Department of Commerce website doesn’t have the info on their homepage. I’ll try searching for a specific report or section next.
  • Just found a document called “2024-OKLAHOMA-BUSINESS-INCENTIVES-AND-TAX-GUIDE.pdf” that might help. Let’s check if it has the total for tax incentives paid in 2024.

Browsing okcommerce.gov for “total tax incentives paid in 2024”

  • Hmm, the PDF doesn’t directly provide the total tax incentives paid in 2024 either. It seems to be a guide on available incentives rather than a report on expenditures.
  • From the web search, budget documents mention FY24 totals, like $12.8 billion, but that’s the overall budget, not tax incentives House Approves.
  • Another result talks about grocery tax elimination, reducing revenue by $418 million annually, but that’s a cut, not the total incentives paid Fiscal Year 2025.
  • The Oklahoma Tax Commission has publications, but no “2024 tax incentives report” is listed. Still, there’s a “2024 Summary of Tax Legislation” that might have details on incentive changes.

Browsing oklahoma.gov for “2024 Summary of Tax Legislation”

  • The browse result shows COPO documents for 2024, but no specific “2024 Summary of Tax Legislation” is listed in the provided content.

Searching for “Oklahoma Tax Commission 2024 Summary of Tax Legislation”

  • From the fifth web search, there’s a document titled “2024LegislativeUpdate.pdf” on the Oklahoma Tax Commission’s site. It might be the summary we’re after.

Browsing oklahoma.gov for “total tax incentives paid in 2024”

  • The “2024 Legislative Update” mentions the Parental Choice Tax Credit Act, but no total for 2024 tax incentives is given. It does say the OTC must publish monthly updates on payments claimed each year, though.
  • I’ve exhausted several avenues and can’t find a single figure for Oklahoma’s total tax incentives paid in 2024. I think it’s safe to say this info isn’t publicly available in a straightforward way.

And so, there you go. Oklahomans have no idea how much of their hard-earned dollars are going to fund business incentives in the state.

We do know, however, that Governor Stitt AND A WHOLE LOT OF HIS STAFF went to PARIS for the Paris airshow this year where they announced three new business deals; Kratos Defense and Security Solutions (I wrote about the 1.7 million dollars Oklahoma has given this HUGE publicly-traded defense giant, you should check it out), Dawn Aerospace (which is apparently working out a deal with Oklahoma Commerce and the Oklahoma Space Industry Development Authority (OSIDA), but Subsidy tracker has no idea what and it’s not found anywhere for public eyes according to GROK) and MST Manufacturing (which has so far received apparent COVID bailout dollars in the amount of $130,000, but doesn’t appear to be taking tax dollars for this new venture).

But it doesn’t stop there, my friend and amazing researcher herself, Nancy McDaniel collected the number of pieces of tax incentive legislation that were brought to the capitol this year. The list is SHOCKING. The ones below PASSED this last session:

SB44 (2025) Rader/Fetgatter – SALES TAX EXEMPTIONS to contractors with a tax exempt entity.

SB119 (2025) Green/Archer – REBATES for hydrogen industry.

SB234 (2025) Rader/Lepak – 50% TAX CREDIT for remodeling old buildings for rentals.

SB235 (2025) Pugh/Kerbs – Grow Your Own Educator GRANT program.

SB239 (2025) Wingard – This bill TRIED to repeal Oklahoma statute O.S. 68 (2021) Section 2357.32A which relates to TAX CREDITS on the sale of electricity generated by zero-emission facilities. There were two years remaining. The Senate Revenue and tax committee voted 5 to 5, a tie, therefore considered the measure as failed and the TAX CREDITS continue for 2 more years.

SB249 (2025) Thompson, K/Townley – Extends the expiration date for TAX INCENTIVES provided by the Oklahoma Tourism Development Act to January 1, 2032.

SB287 (2025) Pugh/Miller -TAX CREDITS for aerospace industry.

SB324 (2025) Thompson, K/Hill – TAX CREDITS for research and development with no specific industry named.

SB469 (2025) Boles/Woods – Oklahoma Emission Reduction Technology REBATE Program.

SB578 (2025) Coleman/Kelley – Quality Events Act – Extends GRANTS for 5 MORE years.

SB663 (2025) Pugh/Hill – The Workforce Coordination Revolving Fund may be used to create a workforce data integration system as well as provide GRANTS for critical workforce needs.

SB687 (2025) Hall/Caldwell, T – Broadband SALES TAX REBATE PROGRAM.

SB688 (2025) Hall/Hilbert – EXEMPTIONS OF AD VALORUM TAXES for payroll for manufacturing aerospace equipment.

SB713 (2025) Jech/Newton – TAX INCREASE FOR THE PEOPLE via bonds. A county can issue revenue bonds to purchase light mitigating technology for EXISTING windmills that do not currently have the technology. (If the windmill private companies are to pay for NEW wind turbines to have these lights, then they should also pay for THEIR EXISTING wind turbines to have them NOT tax the people through bonds).

SB987 (2025) Thompson, K/Osburn – Creates the Oklahoma Department of Commerce Board consisting of 9 voting members. The board must meet within 60 days of its creation, may create working groups to help carry out its responsibilities, and may accept GIFTS, GRANTS and DONATIONS from NON-GOVERNMENTAL SOURCES. (ARE THESE FROM LOBBYISTS???)

SB998 (2025) Green/Caldwell, T – Allows a utility to start recovering work-in-progress expenses prior to the commercial operation of a new, or newly expanded, natural gas facility. The Commission is required to permit a SPECIAL RATE for the recovery of such expenses. (the customers get screwed again with utility rate increases).

SB1150 (2025) Hall/Caldwell, T – Appropriates $15,000,000.00 from the PREP Fund to the Oklahoma Department of Aerospace and Aeronautics for the construction or upgrades to a primary commercial airport. There is a $15,000,000.00 impact to the state budget. (who exactly is benefiting from this?)

SB1438 (2025) Patzkowski/Kern – Rural Economic Development GRANTS. Raises the cap, from $150,000 to $350,0000, on certain Rural Economic Action Plan (REAP) grants administered by the Oklahoma Water Resources Board.

HB1571 (2025) Lawson/Gollihare – Removes the expiration date for the Route 66 Commission who is responsible for funds awarding of GRANT funding for projects on the historic highway Route 66.

HB1727 (2025) Moore/Pugh – College SCHOLARSHIPS only for public teachers’ kids.

HB2019 (2025) Pae/Pugh – A TAX CREDIT for aerospace industry extended to 2032.

HB2260 (2025) Miller/Haste – Establishes 3 TAX CREDITS for civil engineers and their employers beginning tax year 2026. Qualified engineering businesses that employ a civil engineer will receive a TAX CREDIT equal to 5% of the compensation paid to an engineer until January 1, 2031, or 10% if the engineer graduated from an Oklahoma college or university. The TAX CREDIT is capped at $12,500 per employee, per year, and may claimed for up to 5 years. An employer can also CLAIM ANOTHER TAX CREDIT for up to 50% of the tuition reimbursed to an employee for up to 4 years of employment until January 1, 2031. Additionally, the engineer hired is eligible for a TAX CREDIT of $5000 per year, for up to 5 years until January 1, 2031.

HB2402 (2025) – Fetgatter/Murdock – INCOME TAX ABATEMENT for manufacturing of electricity from low grade heat.

HB2407 (2025) Fetgatter/Coleman – Oklahoma “Main Street” GRANT program.

HB2645 (2025) Hilbert/Paxton –    HB2645 provides a $20,000 INCOME TAX CREDIT for doctors that practice medicine in a rural area for up to four years. A rural area is considered a city or town with a population of less than 25,000 that is at least 25 miles from the nearest city or town with a population greater than 25,000. The TAX CREDIT is available beginning tax year 2026 and is limited to $1 million in total claims each year.

HB2753 (2025) Caldwell, T/Howard – TAX CREDITS for Rural Jobs Act.

HB2767 (2025) Caldwell, T/Hall – Transfers $255 million to the ROA-25 Revolving Fund which was created to support industrial projects. The program is part of the Reindustrialize Oklahoma Act run by the Dept of Commerce to incentivize manufacturing companies to invest in Oklahoma.

HB2768 (2025) Caldwell, T/Hall – AMENDS the EXISTING Oklahoma Quality Jobs Incentive Leverage Act by increasing the maximum allowable investment for qualified establishments to $700,000,000.

HB2778 (2025) Caldwell, T/Hall – Creates the Teacher Recruitment and Retention Program, which exempts household income from being factored in when determining eligibility for the Child Care Subsidy Program for employees of child care facilities.

HB2781 (2025) Caldwell, T/Hall – Creates the Reindustrialize Oklahoma Act (ROA-25) investment REBATE PROGRAM. The program will be administered by the Oklahoma Department of Commerce (ODOC), run through July 1, 2045, and provide rebate payments to a manufacturing establishment that makes a capital expenditures investment of at least $2 billion in the state and creates 700 or more new direct jobs by year one of the rebate period. By year two, the jobs threshold is increased to 1000 and will remain so for the remainder of the rebate period. The establishment must also meet the program requirements under the Oklahoma Quality Jobs Program

HB2792 (2025) Caldwell, T/Hall – Makes changes to the Progressing Rural Economic Prosperity Fund to create a revolving fund and reappropriates to projects funds that were originally appropriated in 2022; a continuation of funds as several projects still have on-going expenses. The amounts for those projects are:

  • $25,000,000.00;
  • $1,000,000.00;
  • $20,000,000.00;
  • $20,000,000.00:
  • $20,000,000.00;
  • $22,350,000.00;
  • $14,000,000.00;
  • $4,000,000.00;
  • $22,500,000.00;
  • $5,000,000.00;

These ones below were brought to committee and thankfully VOTED DOWN: (notice this is a MUCH smaller list!!!)

SB119 (2025) Green/Archer – Creates an investment REBATE program for investments on property for the purpose of refining, manufacturing, and processing compounds or elements into hydrogen-based products. (NO senate floor vote).

SB236 (2025) Haste – Establishes an INCOME TAX CREDIT for employers required to comply with Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) requirements. Individual claims for the credit shall not exceed $50,000.00. The credit may be carried forward for a period of 5 years. NO vote in senate rev/tax committee.

SB241 (2025) Thompson, K – Appropriates $20 million from the General Revenue Fund to the Oklahoma Department of Commerce to provide a REBATE for capital investments in an establishment that refines, manufactures, or processes compounds or elements into hydrogen-based products. NO appropriations committee vote.

SB271 (2025) Rader – A repeat of HB2305 above. (Did not get a senate committee vote). Creates the Oklahoma Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Act. The measure stipulates that passive receivers of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) providing essential services shall NOT be civilly liable to the state for costs associated with the release of PFAS to the environment. NO senate energy committee vote.

SB820 (2025) Boren/Gise – Amends the Oklahoma Five Major Sports Leagues REBATE Program Act which expands eligibility to the Womens Nat’l Basketball Association, Womens Professional Fastpitch and National Womens Soccer League. This Act provides a REBATE PROGRAM similiar to the Oklahoma Quality Jobs Program with a maximum annual rebate of $10 MILLION per qualifying entity or establishment. NO house floor vote.

SB938 (2025) Kirt – Creates the Municipal Workforce Housing Development GRANT PROGRAM within the Oklahoma Housing Finance Agency to provide financial assistance to municipalities for the purpose of increasing the availability of workforce housing. NO senate ecomonic development committee vote.

SB1501 (2024) Paxton – Income tax credit for geothermal. (NO senate floor vote).

HB2305 (2024) Rader/Pfeiffer – Oklahoma PFAS Act which said receivers of PFAS shall NOT BE LIABLE for the release into the environment. Also, that Oklahoma will accept other states’ PFAS. Oklahoma is not a toxic waste dump site! (Died in conference committee 5/30/24).

HB1848 (2025) Thompson, K/Schreiber – Committee substitute grants a TAX CREDIT to employers that provides a childcare subsidy to its employees or operates a childcare facility for its employees. The credit is equal to 30 percent of the subsidy amount or operating cost, limited to $30,000 per employer. The credit may be claimed for tax year 2026 through 2030 and capped at $5 million in total claims each year. NO senate floor vote.

HB2026 (2025) Archer/Haste – RENAMES the Oklahoma Aircraft Engine Testing Development Grant Program to the Oklahoma Aircraft and Rocket Engine Testing Development GRANT PROGRAM. (an EXISTING GRANT program). NO senate aeronautics committee vote.

Bottom line – this giving away money to PRIVATE BUSINESSES has to stop. Period. I don’t care if you’re a Republican or Democrat, tax incentives are NOT A PROPER FUNCTION OF GOVERNMENT.

If you’re a REPUBLICAN, however, and you’ve had anything to do with business incentivizing tax credits, you need to change your political affiliation. The Republican platform includes planks on our belief in the Free Enterprise system (which can’t exist side-by-side with tax credits for businesses of any kind) and our belief in SMALLER GOVERNMENT, which will never happen when new employees have to be hired to maintain and care for another system of tax dollar giveaways. Sadly, note that the same legislators appear to be running tax credit legislation and they are nearly all Republicans.

Please, PLEASE, share this information with anyone you know and ask them to contact their Senator and Representative (at the Oklahoma Capitol – you can find yours here) and tell them that – if they want YOUR vote – they need to stop authoring and/or voting for tax incentives for businesses of any kind. We’ll never be able to lower income tax rates or try to divorce ourselves of property taxes if the government keeps stealing from us to fund pet business projects. Period.

1

Oklahomans Denied Substantive Tax Relief While Providing “New” Private Defense Contractor Kratos $1,728,394.00 In Subsidies From 2019

1.7 million in tax subsidies for Kratos

Today, a press release from Senators Kristin Thompson and Todd Golihare, “Thompson, Gollihare Applaud New Kratos Facility in Bristow; Senators Highlight Major Aerospace Investment and Job Creation in Rural Oklahoma” was sent to Oklahomans. Since it was not posted to the Senate media page, I’ve copied and pasted the message from my inbox below.

Thompson, Gollihare Applaud New Kratos Facility in Bristow
Senators Highlight Major Aerospace Investment and Job Creation in Rural Oklahoma

OKLAHOMA CITY – Senate Economic Development, Workforce, and Tourism Chair Kristen Thompson, R-Edmond, and Sen. Todd Gollihare, R-Kellyville, today celebrated the announcement of a new Kratos Defense & Security Solutions facility coming to Bristow. The advanced manufacturing site will produce tactical jet engines for U.S. defense systems and is expected to bring dozens of high-quality jobs to Creek County and surrounding areas.

“This is a major win for Oklahoma,” said Thompson. “We’ve made targeted investments in research, development, and workforce to attract exactly this kind of advanced industry. The Bristow facility strengthens our national security footprint while delivering real economic opportunity to our communities.”

As Co-Chair of the Senate’s LEAD Committee (Legislative Evaluation and Development), Thompson has championed policies that support high-tech growth sectors like aerospace, defense, and advanced manufacturing — aligning long-term economic planning with real-world job creation.The 50,000 square-foot facility — expandable to 100,000 square feet — will house up to five production lines for Kratos’ GEK-series engines and include on-site test cells funded in part through state incentive programs. Kratos plans to begin hiring in late 2025 with full operations expected by the end of 2026.

Senator Gollihare, whose district includes the Bristow area, emphasized the regional impact:

“This is a big win — not just for Bristow, but for our region, for the state, and for the country,” Gollihare said. “We’re talking about high-quality jobs and cutting-edge manufacturing right here in rural Oklahoma, supporting our local economy and strengthening America’s defense capabilities. I’m proud to support projects that deliver for our communities and for the nation.”

The announcement was made at the Paris Air Show, where Oklahoma aerospace officials joined Kratos executives to highlight the state’s growing role in defense manufacturing. For more information, contact: Senator Kristen Thompson (405) 521-5592 or kristen.thompson@oksenate.gov

Since my reporting on Canoo and it’s detrimental effects on Oklahoma, I’ve been concerned about the use of Oklahoman’s tax dollars as business ‘incentives’. Consequently, I did some basic research on Kratos.

Kratos is an enormous, publicly-traded, investor-owned, company headquartered in San Diego, California, devoted to six areas of defense contracting; C51SR Systems, Defense and Rocket Support Systems, Microwave Electronics, Space, Training and Cybersecurity, Turbine Technologies and Unmanned Systems. It has international offices in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Norway, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Singapore and the UK and trades in the $40/share range. It also has offices in the US in Alabama, California, Colorado, Florida, Maryland, Michigan, New Hampshire, New York, Texas, Virginia – and now (?) Oklahoma.

Just this year (January), the Pentagon award[ed] Kratos a megadeal worth nearly $1.5B for a new hypersonic testbed. Kratos’ press release announcing the ‘award’ said, “Kratos is honored to receive the largest contract award in our company’s history, a testament of the value Kratos’ employees and team bring both to our Company and United States National Security,” Eric DeMarco, president and CEO of Kratos Defense and Security Solutions, said in a statement. “This programmatic milestone underscores our unwavering commitment to making upfront investments for rapidly developing, and being first to market with affordable, mission-critical solutions that meet the evolving needs of the warfighter.”

Unfortunately, a few things cropped up in my research. Let’s start with this: though the good Senators use the wording, “celebrated the announcement of a new Kratos Defense & Security Solutions facility coming to Bristow“, Oklahoma has been doling out tax dollars to Kratos since 2019 to the tune of $1,728,394. Here are the credits in chronological order:

If Kratos is a NEW business in Oklahoma, why are there tax credits go back to 2019? Why was there no mention of them previously having had an office/manufacturing plant in Oklahoma before – either in the Senators’ press release or on Kratos’ website?

Here’s another issue. Kratos works out of locations in 10 other states. Not one single state – excepting Maryland ($126,414) – has given Kratos any kind of tax break at all according to the Subsidy Tracker website.

Kratos was the recipient of a $689,876 federal grant in 2019 tagged to their facility in Colorado, however, for, “SOUTHERN RESEARCH INSTITUTE LIFE MODELLING OF CRITICAL STEAM CYCLE COMPONENTS IN COAL-FUELED POWER PLANTS”.

According to Google Maps, this is the building currently housing Kratos in Bristow:

Exterior view of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions facility located in Bristow, Oklahoma.

This building is also the site of Consolidated Turbine Specialists LLC.

A Google Maps screenshot featuring the location of Consolidated Turbine Specialists, LLC in Bristow, Oklahoma, showing the building and surrounding area.

According to a Bristow News article published Wednesday, March 17, 2021, “In 2019, Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc., a California based company, purchased the parent company of Consolidated Turbine Specialists, aka CTS, which was originally founded in 2012.”

Interestingly, Consolidated Turbine Specialists LLC was given ‘grants‘ – Quality Job Incentive Payments – from 2019-2022 in the amount of $345,432, during the same time period Kratos was ALSO receiving Quality Job Incentive Payments from Oklahoma. While the Kratos ‘grants’ during that time period were given for “unmanned arial systems”, no specific category is listed for the Consolidated Turbine Specialists’ ‘grants’.

A table displaying subsidy records for Consolidated Turbine Specialists LLC, detailing locations, subsidy sources, years, values, and types of subsidies received in Oklahoma from 2019 to 2022.

These businesses have been sharing the same space from 2019 and until – according to Kratos’ press release – the new building can be built in Bristow. Whether or not the ‘grants’ were for different reasons, this looks a whole lot like double-dipping. If Consolidated was merged with Kratos in 2019 – then, according to the idea of a merger – these two entities became one entity. Why would Oklahomans give double Quality Jobs ‘grants’ to one company?

But that’s not the only issue. Why are we – under a REPUBLICAN governor and a REPUBLICAN legislature – superseding the FREE MARKET by giving out so much money in SUBSIDIES?

Many of Oklahoma’s elected officials commented on Kratos’ announcement, but Governor Stitt was in Paris for the Paris Air Show when the announcement was made. He said, “This is a big win for American workers, for our military, and for every Oklahoman who believes in freedom, innovation, and strength. Kratos could’ve gone anywhere in the world, but they choose to continue investing in Oklahoma because it is the best place to build, grow, and do business. Oklahoma is proud to be a hub for national defense that is leading the way in rebuilding America’s industrial base and powering the technologies that keep our country safe.”

I wonder if Kratos didn’t go anywhere else in the world because Oklahomans have given a publicly-traded company with a billion and a half dollar contract with the federal government (also our tax dollars) over a million dollars ALREADY to do business in our state?

The President and CEO of Kratos said, “Kratos is truly honored to expand our presence in Oklahoma with this new, state-of-the-art propulsion production facility in Bristow. This new Kratos investment reflects our continued commitment to delivering high-performance, affordable jet engine technology to support the Department of Defense and our allies and answers the rising demand for propulsion systems for cruise missiles and CCA-type aircraft, while being targeted and optimized for cost reduction. The Bristow facility will play a critical role in accelerating production of the GEK family of engines, including the GEK800, and strengthening America’s industrial base in this decisive era. We thank Governor Stitt and the State of Oklahoma for their partnership in helping us build the future of high-performance propulsion right here in the heartland.”

So, if that’s the case, and they are CONTINUING to produce jet engines and nothing was said about unmanned arial systems having been a course of manufacture in Oklahoma, that the double-dipping theory might hold some water? Yes, it could also be that the CEO of a HUGE investor-held corporation with multi-billion dollars in contracts is very untethered to the day-to-day business of all their companies, but then, why is he CEO?

At the bottom of the Kratos press release is a required statement from the SEC about the fact that, since this is a publicly traded corporation which is telegraphing doing business in a way they can’t be certain of, investors must consider the statement “forward looking”. In other words, don’t make a stock purchase solely based on this announcement because Kratos might not be able to undertake the actions they’ve described. Seriously. Think on this.

Yes, Bristow may get a brand new Kratos building and yes, they may get new jobs from this business proposal – but then, they might not.

Aerial view of the Kratos Defense & Security Solutions manufacturing facility in Bristow, Oklahoma. The modern building features the company's logo prominently displayed on the front, surrounded by landscaped grounds and parking areas.

Kratos has to use the term “expected” in terms of their plans, but then they also indicate that Oklahoma will CONTINUE to give them further Oklahoma tax dollars to meet their expectations.

So why wouldn’t investors (like Markwayne Mullin?) want to invest in Kratos? What’s the downside? Oklahoma’s government will rob Oklahomans to make sure Kratos makes its projections for its investors.

Or, maybe not. Maybe, like Canoo, Governor Stitt will dig into the pockets of Oklahomans and the jobs WON’T materialize, nor the building in which to house them. But by then, our Governor will have left his position, and possibly the state – along with big holes in the pockets of Oklahoma tax payers and an uneven playing field for Oklahoma businesses.

*An email to Senator Kristin Thompson was sent regarding information in this blog. She did not return the email before this article was published. If she does respond at any point, I will add her response below.

1

Legislative Retaliation Against Ryan Walters For Neutrality On Jeb Bush’s Plan To Collect Data On Your Kids?

Retaliation Against Ryan Walters?

Today, at nearly 3pm, Representative Dell Kerbs and Senate Pro-Temp Paxton took a bill already on the floor calendar in the House for today under Title 20 – SB646 (An Act relating to judicial and federal official security and privacy😉 – gutted it and amended the entire bill to amend the education statutes under Title 70 to An Act relating to education which relates to State Board of Education membership;).

The bill now creates a board of 10 members from 7. One will be the Secretary of Education who will be the chair plus, five members shall be appointed by the Governor by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, two members shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and two members shall be appointed by the Pro Tempore of the Oklahoma State Senate.]. It also changes the way items may be added to the agenda. If three or more Board members wish to add an item to the agenda, they may – it does not have to be approved by the State Superintendent who is the chair of the board. (it was not heard 5.8)

This is a problem because if the governor has five appointments to the Board and the governor is interested in making changes to the Oklahoma State Department of Education, policy or procedure, he could conceivably ask Board members to take that issue to the full board by asking for an item to be added to the agenda. As we’ve seen, Governor Stitt – who has about a year left on his term – has made radical changes to the board in just this year alone because he didn’t like collecting data on illegal children (even though we already do that) so that conception isn’t really out of the question.

Why would this bill be changed just today?

Possibly because our friend Mary with V1SUT Vantage published a story on SB224 – the government data sharing bill we’ve been pushing back on for weeks – OEQA Will Hold Oklahomans’ Lifelong Data Under SB 224: Why You Should Be Concerned. I urge you to read it. It’s eye opening about so many things!

Midway down the page, Mary reports:

During committee hearings, Caldwell claimed the SDE under State Superintendent Ryan Walters’ (R) supports SB 224. We reached out to Supt Walters who denied any public support and asserted his agency’s neutrality concerning the bill.

“I have never publicly supported the bill. Not sure where that would be coming from,” said State Supt Ryan Walters of SB224. “SDE has always been neutral on the bill. We are required to provide data to legislators when they request it.”

OEQA’s claims of having “worked collaboratively with SDE, Regents, OESC, and CareerTech to advance the development of a Statewide Longitudinal Data System (SLDS)” are also exaggerated.

When asked if he had personally attended any meetings with any OEQA personnel concerning SB 224 or a centralized database over the last year, Walters replied, “No, I was not personally involved in that.”

Until today, the Superintendent of Public Instruction had not made a comment – publicly – about whether or not he supported the bill.

Now, put the two things together.

WHAT IS JEB BUSH’S INVOLVEMENT WITH OKLAHOMA AND SB224?

Let me be clear – I do not definitively know. What I’m about to report is pure speculation, but speculation that deserves real consideration.

We know that Jeb Bush has a long history of involvement with Oklahoma education policy. He was heavily involved in pushing Common Core here in our legislature. We know that Superintendent Barresi and others got a free trip to Bush’s – then Foundation for Educational Excellence, now ExcelInEd – during her tenure. We also know that he has come to Oklahoma – at least once – to push school “choice” in 2021.

Here’s a bit of an article summing up Bush’s influence here in Oklahoma, but let’s also not forget, that – not only does Jeb have his own educational policy-pushing organization – his father was the guy who STARTED THE IDEA OF TAKING DATA ON KIDS FOR ‘EDUCATIONAL’ PURPOSES.

The many of us who are trying to stop this bill from passing the legislature this year have heard that ‘someone big from outside the state’ is interested in seeing this bill pass. A few names ran across my brain, but Jeb was at the top. On his ExcelInEd website is something called, “Pathways Matter: How The Right Combination of State Policies Builds a Skilled, Educated Workforce“.

So, this initiative by the non-profit ExcelInEd organization run by Jeb Bush, has a MODEL POLICY that states can use to create an initiative in their state to allow kids to be tracked from birth through workforce to make sure they can get a job.

No, scratch that – make sure our businesses have the workers they’ll need to keep their business open, pay taxes and wine and dine legislators to create policy to help them do business. Listen below.

Notice “How Can We Fix It?”. Gosh. That sounds a whole lot like what bill SB224 is attempting to do, doesn’t it?

Here’s the Power Point program all about Oklahoma where – shockingly so much legislation stacks up to mesh with the intent of Bush’s initiative. Look specifically at the last three pages on data collection. So uncanny!

BOTTOM LINE

Do we know that Jeb Bush is influencing Oklahoma education? No. Do we have enough evidence to believe so? YES.

I fought hard to have Oklahoma repeal the Common Core State Standards from law. I never really thought anything had been accomplished afterward, because teachers/schools went right back to using them and there was nothing to make them stop. After reading the contents of a search I asked Grok to run for me, I’m having second thoughts.

Groks analysis indicated that the 2014 Common Core data repeal and NCLB waiver revocation “created policy turbulence, potentially disrupting COWIBs alignment with Oklahoma Works’ educational goals. Political resistance to federal mandates may have complicated WIOA implementation”.

So, call your Senator and Representative RIGHT NOW and tell them you

  1. don’t want Oklahoma to be like every other state,
  2. you don’t want your kids to be trained to fill a job, you want your kids to be educated so they can make up their own mind about what they want to be when they grow up
  3. and Oklahoma doesn’t need an out-of-state globalist, policy-monkey ,wrenching up Oklahoma’s education policy.

We MUST defeat SB224 and keep the Oklahoma State Department of Education data from being hooked up with Workforce data (collected at the Department of Commerce) at the Oklahoma Educational Quality and Accountability board, helping to create the Planned Economy our overlords – like Bush! – want!

0

Timeline – How Education Became About Building Students Into Cogs In A Planned Economy Instead Of Educating Them – Understanding SB224

SB224 and Preparing Kids For A Planned Economy

This is a post that will go with several other posts to come, but because we’ll be going live on Monday morning at 9am to talk about this specific issue (5.5.25), I wanted to be able to get this timeline I constructed out into the public view so the discussion was easier to follow.

The information below is just in a raw format, but it was information I collected via internet searches and using the AI research tool, GROK on X. I have saved all that information, so if you have questions, I can help answer those with the saved information.

Also, I’ve included URL linkages wherever I can so that you can see where the information came from and how to get their yourself.

The BOTTOM LINE?

Oklahoma is pushing federal Workforce policy as education and has been THROUGHOUT the years since the 1990’s assuredly. It doesn’t matter if you’re a Republican or a Democrat, this timeline makes it very easy to see how the Powers That Be, direct policy statewide (regardless of the 10th Amendment) through the carrot and string approach of federal grants to be used to create federal programming.

There is NOTHING good about tracking students across the years of their lives while saying that we’re doing it for them. WE’RE NOT! We’re doing it because the Powers That Be want a PLANNED ECONOMY which will enrich their toady friends and the useful idiots that carry their water, while making the poor poorer, decimating the middle class and turning our children into cogs to fit into the planned economy jobs machine.

SB224 was about using DASH – OMES new data sharing hub – to fit the State Longitudinal Database System holding educational data together with the Data Quality Workforce Initiative holding employment and workforce data – TOGETHER to create a seamless way of sharing data on kids from cradle to the grave. It sounds crazy, but I’ve put enough of the policy below for you to determine whether that assertion is crazy or not.

The worst part is that our STATE GOVERNOR is selling this as something good for kids. IT’S NOT! It’s good for business. Kids should be educated classically in as many subjects as we can stuff into their little heads and then they can use that information to INFORM THEIR OWN DECISIONS ABOUT WHAT THEY WANT TO DO. We don’t need the government MINIMALLY educating our students (What? Proficiency ratings are above 50% in reading and math? No.) so they know just enough to think that they’re deciding what they want to be when they grow up when the counselor at school gives them ‘suggestions’. We need WELL-EDUCATED kids.

If the repeal of Common Core from state law and the inability to secure an NCLB waiver caused the state an inability to secure a completed SLDS (to create widgets of Oklahoma kids that are only educated to fill the need for jobs), WHY WOULD WE WANT TO HOOK THESE TOGETHER NOW? Oklahomans didn’t like it in 2014, but they’re going to want that now? Not only that, but if we did that back then, what could we do NOW if we unite against this?

Help us STOP SB224. Share this. Share the video from Monday morning. Let your senators know they’ll be primaried if they vote for this nonsense. Educate others about what is going on in this state. We made a difference with Common Core – we can do it again!

1965 – President Lyndon Banes Johnson creates the first Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) to dovetail with his War On Poverty. It has been reauthorized every 5 years since.

1990 – President George H.W. Bush created Goals 2000 after he signed an international agreement entitled, “World Declaration on Education for All” 42 (EFA), the result of a summit sponsored by the United Nations, called “The World Conference on Education for All”

  • Included the call for the nation’s FIRST State Longitudinal Database to track student progress

1990 – Oklahoma legislature creates the Office of Accountability

  • Tasked with overseeing school performance through the Oklahoma Educational Indicators Program (OEIP) and the Oklahoma School Performance Review program (OSPR)
  • OEIP developed standards to gauge performance of schools
  • Required by Goals 2000 legislation

1994 – Bill Clinton’s ESEA called, “Improving America’s Schools Act of 1994. Also created School-To-Work Opportunities Act and the Goals 2000 Act in conjunction with the ESEA

  • School boards and elected legislators would be bypassed as applications would be made and federal funds received by state Governors and their appointees on workforce development boards.  
  • A computer database (aka Labor Market information System) would be used into which school personnel would scan information about students and their family including medical and psychological data that could be shared from the school to others deemed important in the student’s education

1995 – Oklahoma Commission for Teacher Preparation (OCTP) created by legislature (HB1549)

  • Created teacher preparation system
  • The non-profit, Oklahoma Workforce Investment Board, Inc. (OWIB) was formed in1998 and established under the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (WIA), which required states to establish state workforce investment boards to oversee workforce development programs.

2001 – George W. Bush – renames Clinton’s ESEA, “The No Child Left Behind Act”

  • Included Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) required testing public school students in 3rd, 8th and twice in high school. State set benchmarks they then had to meet with 100% proficiency. Schools missing target two years in a row were put on a “needs improvement list”. If schools didn’t make AYP, funding could be removed.
  • Needed database to collect test scores at a minimum
  • 1st slds undertaken in Florida as a pilot project
  • 2002 the Statewide Longitudinal Data Systems (SLDS) Grant Program, authorized under the Educational Technical Assistance Act of 2002 and launched in 2005 by the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences (IES). This program provided grants to states to design, develop, and implement longitudinal data systems, starting with the first round of funding in fiscal year 2005, which awarded $265 million to 41 states and the District of Columbia by 2009.

2006 – Created the Governor’s Council for Workforce and Economic Development (GCWED – codified by Senate Bill 1397 (2006) to comply with federal and state workforce development priorities – especially the WIA (1998)

2007 – National Chamber of Commerce “Leaders and Laggards” report gave Oklahoma an “F” in accountability, academic achievement and data quality

  • Oklahoma received an A for its teaching force
  • Oklahoma had no alignment between educational outcomes and workforce needs

2009 – Barrack Obama – did not reauthorize NCLB, but created a grant process called Race To The Top. States competed for funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds for 4 reforms

  • Including “building data systems that measure student growth and success, and inform teachers and principals about how they can improve instruction”
  • RTT Early Learning Challenge began to collect testing data on infants, toddlers and preschoolers enrolled in preK programs

2009 – Governor Brad Henry, takes State Fiscal Stabilization Funds from the Obama Administration including to create STATEWIDE P–16 EDUCATION DATA SYSTEMS.— (A) ESTABLISHMENT OF SYSTEM.—Each State that receives a grant under subsection (c)(2) shall establish a statewide P–16 education longitudinal data system. https://www.congress.gov/110/plaws/publ69/PLAW-110publ69.pdf

2009 – Educational Accountability Reform Act created by SB111 (Republican legislators) and signed into law by Governor Brad Henry

  • Created in part due to Chamber of Commerce F grades in their “leaders and laggers” report
  • Transferred management of student data, determination of Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP from NCLB), cut scores for tests, and oversight for academic standards and testing to the Office Of Accountability created in 1990
  • Centralized data

2010 – Workforce Data Quality Initiative (WDQI) grant for 1 million dollars from the Department of Labor  to “support the creation of data systems linking workforce and education data to evaluate training and employment outcomes

2012 – Oklahoma applied for an NCLB Waiver under Republican Chief For Change, State Superintendent Janet Barresi and Republican Governor Mary Fallin, Chair of the National Governor’s Association – we did NOT get a waiver

2012 – Oklahoma granted a Statewide Longitudinal Database Grant ($4,997,082) to run from 2012 through 2017

2012 – Oklahoma Office of Educational Quality and Accountability (OEQA) created

  • Governor Mary Fallin signed SB1797 which consolidated the Office of Accountability and Oklahoma Commission for Teacher Preparation into the Oklahoma Office of Educational Quality And Accountability
  • Now under supervision of the State Secretary of Education
  • 7-member Board created to govern the office (Commission For Educational Quality and Accountability
  • Implements the Oklahoma Teacher Preparation Act
  • Develops the measures for the Oklahoma School Report Card to help get an NCLB Waiver https://reclaimoklahomaparentempowerment.blogspot.com/search?q=nclb+waiver&updated-max=2014-05-07T07:18:00-05:00&max-results=20&start=8&by-date=false
  • The OEQA uses the SLDS and National Assessment of Education Progress (NAEP) to create the school report cards

2013 – Governor Mary Fallin, announces through her position as the Chair for the National Governor’s Association, creates the America Works: Education and Training for Tomorrow’s Jobs, which spotlights improving education and workforce training systems and aligning those systems with the needs of individual state economies.

2014 – Federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) – replaced Workforce Investment Act (WIA) of 1998

  • States required to strengthen their workforce systems by aligning them with economic development goals, emphasizing business-led strategies and improving data-driven decision making

2014 – Governor Mary Fallin creates Oklahoma Works

  • “Under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), the Governor of each State must submit a Unified or Combined State Plan to the U.S. Secretary of Labor that outlines a four-year workforce development strategy for the State’s workforce development system.
  • This linked WDQI and SLDS to track education plus workforce outcomes
  • Provided the framework for a statewide coalition to connect education, training and job opportunities
  • Five goals – one of which was to “enhance data-driven decisions by using longitudinal data systems to track outcomes and evaluate program effectiveness
  • Oklahoma Works influenced education policy, including charter school expansion (moving Oklahoma’s charter law ranking from 37th to 10th nationally) and literacy improvements via the Reading Sufficiency

 Grok

  • The initiative’s data-driven approach informed performance-based budgeting, shifting state funding to programs with proven outcomes Grok
  • The SLDS – which integrated K-12, postsecondary and workforce data gave Oklahoma Works the data to align education programs with employer needs – Grok
  • Oklahoma Works website including current information https://oklahoma.gov/workforce/partners/state-wdb.html
  • Changed the Central Oklahoma Workforce Board (COWB – 1998) to the Central Oklahoma Workforce Investment Board (COWIB) still a non-profit organization covering 9 counties in central Oklahoma
  • Board is composed of business leaders, county commissioners and representatives from education and community organizations
    • Oversees and operations and sets board policy
    • Expanded services
    • Implements Oklahoma Works
  • According to GROK the WDQI and SLDS grants are NOT CONNECTED which is a problem for implantation of its mission
  • GROK also says that the 2014 Common Core data repeal and NCLB waiver revocation “created policy turbulence, potentially disrupting COWIBs alignment with Oklahoma Works’ educational goals. Political resistance to federal mandates may have complicated WIOA implementation”.

2015 – State ‘reaffirmed’ Governors Council for Workforce and Economic Development in order to meet updated Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act federal mandates in order to receive federal workforce grants.

2021 – National Chamber of Commerce calls on states to adopt the America Works Agenda to “address the nations worker shortage”

  • Introduce 4 ‘immediate action’ items
    • Help Americans acquire the skills they need to fill today’s open jobs
    • Improve education and job training opportunities for the jobs of tomorrow
    • Remove barriers to entering the workforce
    • Expand the workforce through immigration reform
  • Under number 2 we are told that every state needs Learning and Employer Records (LERs): In addition to providing a verified and authenticated record of employment history for every American worker, support the ability of education, training, and credentialing providers to produce a digital record of learning that is based on open and available data standards and used to empower learners and workers with information about their skills and qualifications.
  • https://www.uschamber.com/workforce/the-america-works-agenda-policy-solutions-to-address-the-nations-worker-shortage

2022 – Oklahoma’s WIOA State Plan for 22-23 is filed

  • Introduces ICAP: The Individual Career and Academic Plan (ICAP) was recently developed for the state’s PK- 12 system by the Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE) with input from students, families, educators and other partners. The ICAP equips students with the awareness, knowledge and skills to create their own individualized, meaningful exploration of college and career opportunities. In order to reflect students’ changing passions, aptitudes, interests and growth, the ICAP is a flexible, evolving document. The ICAP incorporates labor market data into occupational exploration materials to allow students to make informed decisions about education and training for future career goals.  
  • https://wioaplans.ed.gov/node/330581

2022 – Oklahoma Public Resource Center Commissions the Office Of Educational Quality and Accountability Transformation Proposal

  • Recommendation 2 was to Provide impactful P-20 (SLDS) information
    • Recommends that OEQA become a data hub for student data
    • Recommends using the Oklahoma Data Matrix visualization tool
    • Recommends the use of the Baldrige Excellence Framework for P-20 institutions across Oklahoma
    • Must have access to the data that follows a student throughout and beyond their formal participation in the education system
    • a data hub also helps address another core desired outcome of the stakeholder engagement process by not just knowing where kids are now, but where they are six years after high school or college graduation
  • https://oklahoma.gov/content/dam/ok/en/oeqa/documents/annual-reports/Transformation_Proposal.pdf

2023 – Governor Stitt creates Executive Order 2023-21 to transfer the Oklahoma Office of Workforce Development under the Oklahoma Employment Securities Commission

  • The Oklahoma Employment Securities Commission is designated as the single point of funding and accountability for the WIOA federal Department of Labor workforce grants
  • Aligns with federal grant application rules
  • https://www.sos.ok.gov/documents/executive/2080.pdf

2024 – Oklahoma’s WIOA required long range plan for 24-27 states the following on page 119

  • Improve Access to and Sharing of Data: Oklahoma recognizes the weaknesses it has faced in the past regarding access to and the possession of data critical for the success of the workforce system. We are committed to identifying and acting on opportunities to systematize the sharing of data among partners in the workforce system, to coordinate resources expended on data research and evaluations, and to expand tools available at both the state and local levels to include dashboards and other modern technologies. The main objective of these efforts is to strengthen the aligned efforts of the core, required, and additional workforce system partners for more effective outcomes.
  • https://oklahoma.gov/content/dam/ok/en/workforce/documents/2024%20WIOA%20State%20Plan.pdf

2024 – Oklahoma’s WIOA State Plan for 24-25 is filed

  • Vision includes: Becoming more data-driven, using independent and objective data to drive workforce transformation.
  • Coordinating and “braiding” WIOA funds to drive the state’s workforce strategy
  • Goals include: Preparing an educated and skilled workforce and meeting employers’ skilled workforce needs go hand in hand. Oklahoma will achieve innovation and efficiency through alignment, collaboration, and education. All entities are working together to drive collective and meaningful outcomes.
  • https://wioaplans.ed.gov/node/452081

2024 – Oklahoma Works, Governor’s Council for workforce and Economic Development votes to accept the plan: minutes of meeting January 19th, 2024

  • Discussion & Vote to approve policy informing/establishing publicly OESC’s Authority to administer the WIOA programs including policy and procedure. – this allows OESC as the agency to administer the program to DOL, standing in accordance with the Workforce Act, signed by Governor Stitt, on August 10, 2023. Chair Gray motion for a vote, Stan McCabe move the motion and David Reid seconding the motion, with all voting aye, no opposed. No further discussion.
  • https://oklahoma.gov/content/dam/ok/en/workforce/documents/gcwed/minutes/2024/GCWED-Minutes-2024-01-19.pdf

2024 – Governor Stitt signs Executive Order 2024-24: creating a Task Force on Human Potential for Future Industries to go through 2027

2024 – October meeting of Oklahoma Works, Governor’s Council for Workforce and Economic Development speaker, Chad Warmington from the Oklahoma State Chamber

  • Warmington also addressed House Bill 621, which led to the creation of a new workforce commission, with its priority being the recruitment of a CEO to lead these initiatives. A secondary priority is enhancing workforce data. Warmington stressed the importance of building a strong workforce infrastructure, particularly in preparing K-12 students to be career-ready by the time they graduate. He shared Superintendent of Oklahoma City Public Schools’ vision that students should be ready to “Employ, Enroll, or Enlist” upon graduation, and he talked about the need for schools to align their programs with the state’s workforce requirements.
  • https://oklahoma.gov/content/dam/ok/en/workforce/documents/gcwed/minutes/2024/GCWED-Minutes-2024-10-25.pdf

2024 – OEQA 2024 Annual Report

2024 – December – OMES creates DASH – Data Sharing Hub in conjunction with Google (for analytical tools) and Cloudflare (for security)

  • According to GROK, DASH supports secure data sharing for Oklahoma Works and OLDS, but specific developer names are undisclosed
  • Rolled out to 6 unnamed agencies with plans for more agency use
  • According to GROK, DASH was needed to share data to align education and workforce programs according to Governor Stitt’s EO 2024-24 and Oklahoma Works

2025 – Oklahoma State Chamber of Commerce 2025 Legislative Priorities states:

  • Support improving K-12 Graduation Requirements to include Career Ready,
    Advanced Placement, and concurrent academic credit options.
  • Advocate for partnerships and the integration of workforce system partners,
    resources, and strategies supported by state funding, that utilize data driven
    strategies for skill alignment and credential attainment, ensuring alignment with
    economic development goals and employer needs.
  • https://okstatechamber.com/policy/workforce-and-employment/

2025 – George W. Bush Institute – Education and Workforce Pipeline website which measures state alignment with an integrated SLDS

  • Indicates that Oklahoma is NOT aligned
    • 2 out of 4 for Coordinated Vision
    • 1 out of 4 for Capacity and Resources
    • 2 out of 4 for Data-Driven Policy
    • 3 out of 4 for Transparency and Reporting
  • https://pipeline.bushcenter.org/slds

DATA SHARING

Oklahoma has a data sharing agreement (DSA) among NINE state agencies which are unnamed according to GROK.

Oklahoma also has specific Memoranda Of Understanding (MOU) with

  • Oklahoma State Department of Education
  • Oklahoma Employment Security Commission
  • Oklahoma Department of Commerce and Local Workforce Boards including The Governor’s Council For Workforce and Economic Development
  • Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education
  • Oklahoma State Department of Health
  • Oklahoma Department of Labor
  • The State Data Platform and DASH

DATA PROTECTIONS – listed

Government Transparency Act of 2019

Oklahoma Computer Data Privacy Act

Oklahoma Student Data Accessibility, Transparency and Accountability Act

MOUs are to align with HIPAA, FERPA and Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA)

DATA CONCERNS

GROK was asked “do the Government Transparency Act of 2019, Oklahoma Computer Data Privacy Act, Oklahoma Student Data Accessibility, Transparency and Accountability Act, FERPA, and HIPPA protect individual data in Oklahoma.

The following is copied from the result

Critical Examination

  • Strengths:
    • Robust Framework: The five laws collectively cover diverse data types (student, health, consumer, government), ensuring comprehensive protection in OLDS and DASH, as seen in COWIB’s secure data use.
    • Interagency Coordination: DSA and DASH, supported by the Government Transparency Act, streamline secure data sharing, aligning with Executive Order 2024-22’s focus on personalized learning.
    • Compliance Mechanisms: Audits (Student Data Act), penalties (Computer Data Privacy Act), and public disclosures (Government Transparency Act) enhance accountability, reducing misuse risks.
  • Weaknesses:
    • Re-Identification Risks: FERPA and HIPAA exemptions allow de-identified data sharing, but indirect identifiers (e.g., ZIP code, race) could enable re-identification, especially in small Oklahoma communities.
  • Enforcement Gaps: FERPA’s rare use of funding penalties and HIPAA’s federal oversight may limit state-level accountability, while the Computer Data Privacy Act lacks a private right of action.
  • Transparency Limitations: Sensitive MOUs or audit details may remain non-public to avoid security risks, as allowed by the Student Data Act, reducing full transparency.
  • Narrative Scrutiny:
    • Oklahoma’s narrative of robust data protection is largely accurate, given the layered legal framework, but overstated due to re-identification risks and enforcement weaknesses. The 60% attainment goal’s stagnation (~30%) suggests data protection alone cannot address systemic educational barriers.
    • The business-led focus of Oklahoma Works and GCWED may prioritize employer data needs, potentially straining privacy protections, though FERPA and HIPAA compliance mitigates this.
    • Political controversies, such as Stitt’s Executive Order 2023-31 (anti-DEI) or the 2024 OMES audit citing mismanagement, may erode public trust in data systems, despite legal safeguards.

Sources and Further Inquiry

  • Primary Sources:
    • Oklahoma Statutes, Title 74, § 3122 (Government Transparency Act), Title 70, § 3-168 (Student Data Act), via www.oscn.net.
  • Secondary Sources:
    • Oklahoma Office of Management and Enterprise Services (dash.ok.gov) for DASH and DSA details.
  • Central Oklahoma Workforce Innovation Board (cowib.org) for workforce metrics.
  • CaseGuard on Oklahoma’s Student Data Act (caseguard.com, April 6, 2022).
  • McAfee & Taft on HB 1030 (mcafeetaft.com, March 9, 2023).
  • Contact for Verification:
    • OMES Data Services: 405-521-2141 or data.services@omes.ok.gov (mailto:data.services@omes.ok.gov) for DASH and DSA.
    • OEQA: 405-522-5399 for OLDS and student data policies.
    • OSDH: 405-426-8000 for HIPAA MOUs.
    • Oklahoma Attorney General: 405-521-3921 for HB 1030 enforcement.
  • Accessing Details: Request MOUs or audit reports via the Oklahoma Open Records Act (51 O.S. § 24A.1 et seq.) through OMES or OSDH. Visit oklahoma.gov for transparency policies.

OSDE Data Privacy and Security

https://oklahoma.gov/education/services/student-information/privacy-and-security.html

Connect Safely; Guide to Student Data Privacy

https://connectsafely.org/student-data-privacy

Parent and Student Rights Under State and Federal Student Privacy Laws Governing Student Educational Records and Student Data

Click to access OSDEStudentDataParentNotice.pdf

STATE OF OKLAHOMA INFORMATION SECURITY POLICY, PROCEDURES AND GUIDELINES (PPG)

Click to access InfoSecPPG.pdf

Oklahoma State Department of Education Data Privacy Program Plan December 2022

Click to access Data-Privacy-Program-Plan.pdf

Personally Identifiable Data Disclosure

Click to access OSDE_PII_Disclosure.pdf

OSDE Data Governance Program

https://oklahoma.gov/education/services/data-governance.html

Data Integrity and Secure Stewardship of Personally Identifiable Information (PII) Policy and Procedure

https://cowib.org/knowledge-base/data-integrity-policy-and-procedure

State Data Sharing Initiative

https://www.statedatasharing.org/data-sharing/#toolkit

An Analysis of Recent Education Reforms and The Resulting Impact On Student Privacy

“Our system isn’t tapping into the potential of every student. That’s what we’re setting out to change,” Oklahoma State Secretary of Education, Nellie Sanders said. “Artificial intelligence, virtual reality and other emerging technologies can offer Oklahoma students a learning advantage. We’re going to explore ways to personalize curricula to interest, expand apprenticeship programs and define universal soft skills so our students are ready to lead us into the future.”

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Governor Stitt (R) Warns Trump Not To Dump Green Subsidies.

Governor Stitt wants green energy subsidies

Over and over again, Governor Stitt has touted his “more of everything” energy policy as he welcomes everything from the (possibly very dangerous) carbon capture facility Bantam in Shidler, Oklahoma, to an Italian green energy company (Enel) who’s intent it was to build a one billion dollar solar cell factory around the Port of Catoosa – a project which now looks as though it won’t get off the ground – even with 180 MILLION in legislature-approved tax incentives specifically for the project.

Meanwhile, lots of Oklahomans have had enough.

They’ve had enough of the endless miles of wind turbines that Oklahoma doesn’t need and which send energy out of the state to other destinations while actively working to keep from paying property taxes to help local schools.

They’ve had enough of the endless millions of dollars worth in TAX BREAKS AND GIFTS that are given to ‘green’ companies like Canoo, and NextEra – the latter so they can effectively employ something like 50 workers – many of whom are seasonal, or maintenance workers.

They’ve had enough of the ruination of beautiful Oklahoma sunsets behind waving wheat with a giant metal structure that pours 40 trucks worth of concrete into a hole to hold up a structure as high as 295 feet that can come tumbling down at any moment – especially during a storm – and seed perfectly good farmland with near-impossible-to-retrieve shards of fiberglass.

In fact, Oklahomans have had so much of ‘enough’ of it, that 100’s of them gathered in February on a single-digit temperature day at the state capitol to push back against the green energy agenda.

There’s even a petition signed by THOUSANDS of Oklahomans asking Governor Stitt to declare a MORATORIUM on green energy projects to at least get a handle on the projects going up today – many of which no one seems to know about until the first windmill shows up!

Governor Stitt loves green energy

And yet, here’s our REPUBLICAN governor, giving an interview to the very left-leaning Politico (you know the one that had over 8 million in very expensive subscription fees canceled by DOGE?) where he WARNS PRESIDENT TRUMP not to “break contracts” with green energy companies and continue the subsidies from the IRA pouring in!! How in the world does Governor Kevin Stitt have an R by his name? What does that R stand for? RAPING and RUINING farmland in pursuit of a “all of the above” energy policy?

Okay, maybe not that, but certainly, from the recorded interview with POLITICO our takeaway has to be that Governor Kevin Stitt cannot define the concept of free markets and has no clue what it means when he talks about the government picking winners and losers. Unfortunately, for Oklahoma citizens, this is an enormous problem. Whether we like green energy or not, it will likely be shoved down our throats by a man who thinks he’s somehow doing us a favor.

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