Recent Articles

New Bills May Provide Relief to Oklahomans in Need

(Oklahoma City – January 29, 2009)  Two new bills introduced for the 2009 legislative session by a bipartisan pair of legislators would provide financial relief from the rising cost of groceries for families in Oklahoma who are struggling. HB 2204,… Read more [More...]

Options for Addressing State Budget Shortfalls

Oklahoma has now joined the vast majority of states that are projecting shortfalls for the upcoming budget year. As Governor Henry prepares to deliver his FY ’10 Executive Budget for the opening of the 2009 legislative session next week, OK… Read more [More...]

Groups urge increase in grocery tax credit (Tulsa World)

Original at http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=11&articleid=20081217_16_A19_OLHMIY987151 OKLAHOMA CITY – Groups that work with low-income families urged lawmakers Tuesday to increase a sales-tax credit to offset the cost of groceries. David Blatt of the Oklahoma Policy Institute, who was joined by about 20 organizations,… Read more [More...]

Organizations Call on Legislators to Increase Grocery Tax Credit

(Oklahoma City, December 16, 2008) – Organizations from across the state are calling on the Oklahoma Legislature to strengthen the Sales Tax Relief Credit, a move that would provide much needed and ongoing benefits to families and individuals struggling to… Read more [More...]

Fact Sheets: The Lottery, Gaming and Tobacco Tax after Four Years

In the fall of 2004 Oklahoma voters approved three controversial revenue-raising measures that offered the promise of increasing state funding for key public services: a state lottery (SQ 705 and SQ 706), gaming compacts (SQ 712), and tobacco tax increases… Read more [More...]

Expanding Access to Affordable Health Insurance

The availability and cost of health insurance rank among the most worrisome issues facing OKlahoma families and among the most pressing challenges confronting Oklahoma policymakers. This fall, the Oklahoma Health Care Task Force has been meeting to examine the crisis… Read more [More...]

New Policy Briefs Explore Options to Increase Tax Credits for Struggling Families

(Oklahoma City, October 6, 2008):  Policymakers looking for opportunities to help struggling Oklahoma families should consider expanding two existing tax credits targeted to low- and moderate-income Oklahomans, according to a pair of policy briefs released today by the Oklahoma Policy… Read more [More...]

Increasing the State Earned Income Tax Credit: Targeting Tax Relief to the Working Poor

The EITC (Earned Income Tax Credit) is a refundable tax credit for working families that has been shown to reduce poverty, encourage work, and help local economies. Oklahoma’s state EITC, enacted in 2001, is set at 5% of the federal… Read more [More...]

Boosting the Grocery Tax Credit – Stand Up for Oklahoma’s Families

In these difficult times, an increasing number of Oklahoma families are struggling every week to make ends up meet and keep food on the table. Oklahoma’s Sales Tax Relief Credit, also known as the grocery tax credit, is intended to… Read more [More...]

Oklahoma’s Uninsured

Data from the U.S. Census Bureau reveals that 641,000 Oklahoman under the age of 65 were without health insurance coverage in 2006-07, which is more than one out of every five non-elderly Oklahomans. This fact sheet from OK Policy looks… Read more [More...]