By Senator Jay Paul Gumm, D-Durant

President Kennedy said, “The great enemy of the truth is very often not the lie – deliberate, contrived and dishonest – but the myth, persistent, persuasive, and unrealistic. Belief in myths allows the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought.”

As we fought for health insurance coverage of children with autism, we fought a “persistent, persuasive and unrealistic” myth. The constant refrain from those who oppose helping these families is their opinion insurance mandates like “Nick’s Law” raise premiums and increase the number of people who are uninsured.

The insurance situation in other states unravels the arguments on which the opponents of “Nick’s Law” depend. First, compare the number of legislative mandates among several states. Then, in those states with more legislative mandates, one should look at the percentage of uninsured. Finally, one should examine premium costs in those states compared to Oklahoma. Read more…

Are Republicans learning? The public relations-impaired House GOP may be catching on! After having created a firestorm with their clumsy handling of autism-related issues in the last legislative session, the House is moving forward with an interim study of autism issues. Rep Kris Steele, one of the more skilled communicators in the legislature, is leading the effort. While we know the lazy reporters in the capitol pres corps will always seek to slant public opinion against them, and regardless of the merits of the legislation, today’s announcement is a good sign that the words “tone-deaf” and “Republican” may not show up in so many news reports.

On Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2008, Senator Jay Paul Gumm, D-Durant, conducted a State Capitol news conference on “Nick’s Law.” The proposal would mandate that health insurance cover early diagnosis and treatment of autism. This package is coverage of the news conference aired that day on the Oklahoma News Report – the only statewide news broadcast.