Source of petition not clear
The petition seeks to put the question before Oklahoma voters in the next general election, which would be November 2020. Supporters would have to gather nearly 178,000 signatures to qualify the question for the ballot.
The petition was filed on behalf of two Oklahoma residents, who say it would help them personally.
The source of the petition, which was filed in April, is not clear. The petition was filed and is being defended by one of the most prominent law firms in the state, Crowe and Dunlevy.
A group called Oklahoma Decides Healthcare announced its existence last week via press release, calling itself a coalition of health care providers and advocates and business executives. No names were given.
England, a consultant and former lobbyist for education causes, said the effort was “funded by Oklahomans who care about” expanding Medicaid to cover more people.
The group is organized as a 501(c)(4), or “social welfare” organization, under the federal tax code, meaning it does not have to disclose its donors. England said the group’s finances would be transparent once the question is on the ballot and state campaign reporting requirements are in effect.
The state’s largest health care provider associations are backing Medicaid expansion and filed a brief with the Supreme Court urging approval of the petition. Those groups say they are not currently backing the petition effort financially.