[ad_1]
The Oklahoma House narrowly and over a largely urban-rural divide passed a bill this week to give the governor power over the health departments of the city of Tulsa and Oklahoma.
House Bill 2504 includes the state health commissioner, who is appointed by the governor, in the process of selecting new directors for the state’s two independent health departments. The measure also forces local directors to align priorities with those of the health commissioner, leaves the health commissioner to seek the removal of a local director, and bars local health departments from implementing regulations more stringent than those of the health commissioner. of State.
House Majority Leader Jon Echols (R-Oklahoma City) told the bill’s mover, Rep. Chris Kannady (R-Oklahoma City), voters told him they didn’t want to changes that the bill would make.
“We give the governor veto-proof authority. It sounds like a massive takeover by the governor – and I know that’s not your intention, I’m not saying you’re doing this – what am I telling them? , why do they pay their additional property taxes if the state takes control of them? “Echols said.
Kannady said a 2018 report by Governor Mary Fallin’s Joint Commission on Public Health called for “joint governance.” Although that phrase is in the report, it does not recommend any of Kannady’s bill proposals, even stating at one point: “ Efforts to improve health outcomes must focus on increasing health outcomes. efficiency, by encouraging autonomous decision-making at the local level to develop the community. specific partnerships and governance structures that best meet the needs. “
Faced with intense questions from Democrats in Tulsa about how the legislation was crafted, Kannady also claimed he had been in contact with mayors GT Bynum and David Holt, as well as a reference person. from the Tulsa Health Department. Kannady said Bynum and Holt discussed the bill with local media.
“You will see that the two mayors have been neutral.” We didn’t necessarily ask for that, but we agree with the language. “So there has to be – proves that there has been some communication in Tulsa,” Kannady said. “But I can’t speak to all the people who want to participate in this bill.”
A spokesperson for Bynum said he had never discussed the legislation with Kannady and opposed the proposal, “an unnecessary interference in the work of the Tulsa health department.”
A THD spokesperson said they were unaware of the bill until it was introduced and directed KWGS to an editorial by the Health Department Chairperson of the Department of Health of Tulsa, Dr Ann Paul, in which she described it as “a blatant attempt to overtake and centralize power, placing control in the hands of politicians with allegiances that could endanger health and safety residents of Tulsa County. “
Gov. Kevin Stitt said on Thursday that actions by local departments during the pandemic had been problematic, saying things had changed after his order for the state’s health department to lead the response expired. .
“They, I’m sure, did their best, but … there was no coordinated approach as two health departments were doing their own work,” Stitt said after a press conference. on Oklahoma’s COVID-19. reply.
State Health Commissioner Dr Lance Frye said something similar.
“When you have different chains of command, it really makes it more difficult,” Frye said.
During debate on the bill, lawmakers in Tulsa defended THD, saying their actions minimized the county’s deaths from COVID-19.
“The officials from the Tulsa County Health Department that I know for a fact worked heroically to save lives. Heroically. And this bill looks like retaliation. It looks like a vote of no confidence. Why can’t we- aren’t we having a collaboration that doesn’t involve changing the way directors are appointed? ”said Rep. John Waldron (D-Tulsa).
HB2504 scored 54–41. Few of the representatives of the metropolitan areas of Tulsa and Oklahoma City voted for the measure.
[ad_2]
Source link