COVID-19 Update 3/18/2020
As you may have heard, a senate staff member tested positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday. We were already planning to adjourn for an indefinite amount of time, but it was still a sobering moment. Working closely with 100 other representatives when the CDC recommends only gathering in groups of 10 or less does not set a good nor responsible example.
I'll be working from my home office as a safety precaution for now.
Before leaving, we voted on measures that will allow voting by proxy, as well as new rules to allow meetings by teleconferencing (for this session only). This is new territory - never before has it been done.
The work of the State Legislature must and will continue. When it’s safe to gather in numbers larger than 10, we will resume our usual routine. Our main constitutional requirement is to pass a budget. This will be one of the top priorities. I'll be sharing updates regularly.
In the meantime - if you have questions, concerns, or comments: please contact me here or via email/social media:
Melissa.Provenzano@okhouse.gov
@proven4oklahoma
Take care of yourselves and your loved ones. If you experience symptoms, call your doctor or the Hotline number below. Practice social distancing and remember that even if you don't have symptoms, you may be carrying the virus and could pass it to others.
Stay safe out there, my friends. Oh, and WASH THOSE HANDS!
News
Sunday, January 12, 2020 12:00 AMShould the State Superintendent of Education be appointed rather than elected?
"This would be a major shift for our state," Provenzano said. "I think as we continue to make improvements and get ourselves back on the right footing with the budget as well as with (education) policy, this would remove the voice of the people from that process."
Oklahoma's Legislature and governor already have oversight of the state Board of Education, said Provenzano, a former teacher and public school administrator.
Tuesday, December 3, 2019 12:00 AM
Too many Oklahoma students are accumulating too much debt, and it's time to act
On the surface, one might ask, “What did these borrowers expect? Are they trying to get out of paying their debt?” The truth is, most are not. Most of these borrowers have been paying in good faith and on time for years.
The way we finance higher education in this country is broken, and that has led to bad lending practices that take advantage of our students’ desire to pursue a degree, which ultimately impacts our workforce.
Monday, November 25, 2019 12:00 AM
Session Wrap-Up
Dear Neighbor,
The first half
of the 57th Session of the Oklahoma House of Representatives has drawn
to a close. It has been a very productive session with many
pieces of legislation that help everyday Oklahomans. As promised during my
campaign, I focused my work during this session on three main areas: Education, criminal justice reform and health
care. Below are key pieces of
legislation that I am proud to say have now become law.
Friday, November 22, 2019 12:00 AM
Tulsa World editorial: Education forum provided a chance for an authentic discussion
Those were a few takeaways from a forum Monday hosted by the Tulsa Parent Legislative Action Committee, which has become a significant grassroots influence in Oklahoma education policy. Education remains a priority with Oklahomans. But what emerged at Monday’s forum was a common agreement that the state is only beginning to turn around a decade’s worth of erosion from underfunding.
Thursday, November 21, 2019 12:00 AM
More Protections sought for borrowers of student loans
The study was requested by state Reps. Melissa Provenzano and John Waldron, both Democrats from Tulsa. Waldron said it highlighted a need for more consumer education about student loans and for a “Borrower’s Bill of Rights” to help ensure that people aren’t taken advantage of by lenders.
Provenzano said Oklahomans owe a total of about $14.5 billion in student loan debt. They’re behind on payments on about $2.26 billion of it. The average owed by former students in the state is $31,678. She said the debt weighs not only on people but on the state and national economies.
