Month: December 2012

A Word Map for 2012: Out of the mouths of Legislators

Over the past year, Oklahomans have coped with another year of severe drought, raging wildfires, rising poverty, sluggish job growth, rising health care and insurance costs, and the ongoing large scale deployment and return of National Guard and Army reservist… Read more [More...]

$555

Monthly health benefit allowance for an Okla. state legislator, compared to $395 for the average SoonerCare / Medicaid enrollee, FY 2012 Source: Tulsa World and Oklahoma Health Care Authority… Read more [More...]

Drilling tax credit past its usefulness (The Oklahoman)

by David Blatt, Oklahoma Policy Institute “Tax revenue drop not a reason to end credit” (Our Views, Dec. 18) takes issue with a report by Oklahoma Policy Institute on why Oklahoma’s tax breaks for horizontal drilling have become unnecessary and… Read more [More...]

Weekly Wonk: December 28, 2012

What’s up this week at Oklahoma Policy Institute? The Weekly Wonk is dedicated to this week’s events, publications, and blog posts. This week OK Policy Blog graphically dispelled the common myth that Medicaid is providing health care to adults who… Read more [More...]

In The Know: Hobby Lobby to defy contraception mandate, risk millions in fines

In The Know is a daily synopsis of Oklahoma policy-related news and blogs. Inclusion of a story does not necessarily mean endorsement by the Oklahoma Policy Institute. You can sign up here to receive In The Know by e-mail. Today… Read more [More...]

93 percent

Percentage of SoonerCare/Medicaid enrollees who are children, pregnant women, seniors, or people with disabilities. Source: Oklahoma Policy Institute… Read more [More...]

Graph of the Day: Off Medicaid and ‘back to work’?

Incoming House Speaker T.W. Shannon recently suggested that SoonerCare/Medicaid enrollees in Oklahoma should get “off of Medicaid and back to work.”  The idea that the Medicaid program is providing health care to adults who are choosing not to work is… Read more [More...]

In The Know: Confusion, miscommunication in OSU response to serial sexual assaults

In The Know is a daily synopsis of Oklahoma policy-related news and blogs. Inclusion of a story does not necessarily mean endorsement by the Oklahoma Policy Institute. You can sign up here to receive In The Know by e-mail. Today… Read more [More...]

6,636

Number of personal bankruptcies in Oklahoma attributable to medical debt, 2011 Source: Oklahoma Policy Institute… Read more [More...]

Barry Friedman: The end of the metaphor

Barry Friedman is a regular contributor to the OK Policy Blog. He writes the column, “Barry Friedman At Large” for Tulsa People Magazine, is a  stand-up comedian, and is the author of two books, “Road Comic” and “Funny You Should… Read more [More...]