Health care - more or less government involvement?

The Christian Science Montior reports that, "Starting next week, on July 1, most residents of Massachusetts will be required to carry health insurance, even if their employer doesn't provide it and even if they aren't eligible for a government-subsidized plan."

Mark Trumbull further describes the plan: "The Massachusetts plan outlines a base level of required coverage and encourages competition among insurance providers. A new state-created marketplace, called the Commonwealth Connector, provides the forum for individuals and families to compare health plans online just as they would airline tickets. Gold, silver, and bronze labels give clues about the scope of coverage. The prices also vary by age and occupation."

On the other hand, Lindsay Walle of Edmond recently submitted an idea calling for fewer government mandated-benefit health insurance laws. She wrote, "When government says that insurance policies must cover treatment for this or that condition or disease, it creates a mandated benefit. The costs for those services are passed along to everyone in the insurance pool through higher premiums. These higher costs can contribute to employers dropping or not offering insurance to their employees."

What do you think? Should Oklahoma increase or reduce government mandates regarding health insurance?

Idea for increased school security

The Oklahoman has a story this week about a new security system in five Oklahoma schools. With the help of a grant from the Oklahoma Department of Homeland Security, "School officials have installed a Lobby Guard security system, which checks each visitor's name against a nationwide registry of sex offenders and violent criminals."

"Orvis Risner Principal Paula Carlile said the system keeps her and other employees aware of who's in the building, how long visitors are in the building and who is checking students out.

Is this a good idea to increase school safety? Or is it an example of excessive government intrusion? Let us know what you think!

Transportation ideas from Edmond IdeaRaiser

Since today is the first day of summer and many of you will be traveling across America's highways on vacation with family and friends, here are two transportation ideas from the recent IdeaRaiser in Edmond to consider and comment on.

One idea is to coordinate pike pass with other states that have toll roads. For example, pike pass would work on turnpikes in Oklahoma and Kansas, etc.

Another idea is to have continued driver's education and testing online over recurring intervals, such as every 5 years.

Should Oklahoma ban smoking in public parks?

The Oklahoman reports that the Norman City Council will be voting on a smoking ban for public parks. Jane Glenn Cannon has the story:

Council members have asked Walker to add a section to the updated version of the ordinance, adding a ban on smoking in public parks. The council will vote on the ordinance as a whole in its June 26 council meeting.

Noble recently passed a ban on smoking in city parks, Walker said, "but as far as I can tell no other city in Oklahoma has passed one.”

Read the rest of the story here.

Oklahoma banned smoking in restaurants a few years ago. Do you support extending the ban on smoking to include public parks?

Consolidate State Government?

While attempts to consolidate state entities may not have succeeded during the 2007 legislative session, other efforts may arise if interim studies on the subject prove fruitful.

When Speaker Lance Cargill, R-Harrah, began the 2007 session, his agenda included pursuit of greater state government accountability and efficiency. He succeeded with legislation to eliminate 18 task forces, committees and boards that had completed their work or had remained inactive. However, other attempts were made to consolidate agencies such as the Alcoholic Beverage Laws Enforcement (ABLE) Commission, the Oklahoma Scenic Rivers Commission and the Will Rogers Memorial Commission.

One of those efforts was HB 1277, by Rep. Chris Benge, R-Tulsa, Rep. Kenneth Miller, R-Edmond, Sen. Tom Adelson, D-Tulsa, Sen. Johnnie Crutchfield, D-Ardmore, Sen. Mike Johnson, R-Kingfisher, and Sen. David Myers, R-Ponca City. The bill would have transferred all powers, duties, functions and responsibilities of the Scenic Rivers Commission to the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Commission effective July 1, 2007. The bill passed out of both the House and Senate General Conference Committees on Appropriations, but it was not heard on either floor. It carries over to the next session.

Read the full press release at the okinsider website.

Drug testing?

Clark Tipton, from Tulsa, wants mandatory drug testing for all welfare recipients before they receive state or federal benefits. He posted his idea last week. What do you think of this idea?

Ideas from Enid

Enid IdeaRaiser, June 12, 2007

On Tuesday 100 Ideas travelled to Enid. Over 65 Oklahomans were in attendance, 4 of which were state legislators. We want to know what you think of the ideas they raised. Here are a few:

-Provide state grants for start-up businesses.

-Waive the state income tax for 2 years for people entering the workforce as either current or new residents of Oklahoma.

-Build a light rail system to connect Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Enid, and Lawton.

Should teacher's pay be merit-based?

The Oklahoma House of Representatives announced on Monday that House education leader Rep. Tad Jones will spearhead an interim study that will look at creating a new merit-based pay system for Oklahoma teachers.

House Speaker Lance Cargill explained, "Over the next few months, the House will intensively study how Oklahoma can develop a comprehensive merit-pay system for teachers that ties academic results to salary levels. The days of across-the-board pay increases for teachers are over. From now on, pay increases must be tied to results."

Cargill said public hearings will take place later this summer. The hearings will include lawmakers and national experts. Cargill said he expects the interim study to develop specific recommendations that can be implemented during the 2008 legislative session.

Read the full press release at the House website.

A statewide biking trail

On Monday, June 11, 100 Ideas traveled to Altus for an IdeaRaiser about rural health care issues affecting our state.

One idea is to create a statewide biking and hiking trail to encourage healthy activities in our state.

This idea is focused on preventing bad health (and the expensive health care costs it creates) by encouraging a healthier lifestyle and having some family-friendly fun along the way. Let us know what you think!

Is a shorter school week better?

In an effort to decrease student absences and increase learning time, a Utah school district adopted a four-day school week. Extracurricular activities like athletics are now limited to Thursday nights, Fridays and Saturdays. The Deseret News has the story.

The idea remains in its trial period, but students, teachers, parents and administrators have all expressed support for the change.

What do you think about the four-day school week? Should we try it in Oklahoma? Sound off in the comments section.

Would more MAPS projects be good for Oklahoma's cities?

Citizens in Norman recently had a meeting to discuss quality of life projects for the city. The meeting was inspired by the success of the MAPS projects in Oklahoma City. The Norman Transcript reports:

One of the projects that has drawn support has been the possibility of a new city library.

“As a strong advocate for the continued improvement in downtown Norman, I’m excited to see the possibility of enhanced transportation alternatives such as Legacy Trail, pedestrian and bike paths and, of course, the hopeful inclusion of Front Street,” Chuck Thompson said.

Visit the Norman Transcript for the story.

Ideas from Ardmore

Ardmore IdeaRaiser, June 5, 2007

Ideas submitted at the recent IdeaRaiser in Ardmore were intriguing and thought-provoking. We want to know what you think about a few of them. So let us know what you think!

The first idea is to consolidate area state-universities (such as Southwestern Oklahoma State University, Northeastern State University, etc.) into satellite campuses of our state's largest schools: the University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University.

The second idea is to create a cabinet level position for a new department: the Department of Aging. This department would bring senior citizen's issues to the forefront of Oklahoma governing affairs.

The third idea is to pass a law banning trans fats from being used in all restaurants and fast-food venues.

State Lawmaker Encourages Citizen Participation in House Research Projects

After the Oklahoma Legislature adjourns each May, state lawmakers conduct interim studies on issues that could be addressed during the next session, which begins the following February. To encourage Oklahomans to become more involved in state government, state Rep. Joe Dorman used the World Wide Web to solicit their input this year. The response was overwhelming.

"I asked people to turn in ideas for issues they thought the Legislature should address during the interim," Dorman said, "and I had a huge response from people all across the state."

The study proposals submitted as a result of Dorman’s online request include a review of animal cruelty laws affecting laboratories, gasoline prices, the legal definition of mental illness, protection of the state’s water supply, driver’s education classes, global warming, state-funded medical research opportunities, the state contracting process, a proposal to install ATMs on toll roads, creation of a NASCAR race track in Oklahoma, encouraging the production of biofuels from switch grass, and more.

Read the full press release at the House website.

Portable Addresses

One creative American had an idea that could transform the postal industry.

"Introduce 'address for life' code numbers to everyone in the country. People could register their current address with the post office such that letters addressed with the code number will be forwarded from the post office. In addition to offering everyone PO Box-style privacy, the system would come into its own when people move houses and need only to notify the post office of their new address."

From www.idea-a-day.com, originally posted by Adam Brown on September 6, 2003