Author: Oklahoma Policy Institute

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...]

Families USA: Health Reform in Oklahoma – Building on a Solid Foundation

On September 22, 2008, the Oklahoma Health Care Reform Task Force heard a presentation from Kathleen Stoll, Deputy Executive Director of Families USA, a non-profit organization based in Washington D.C. that brings the voice of consumers to federal and state… Read more [More...]

Passing the Buck: How Federal Policies are Worsening State Budget Problems

Federal policies have a major and far-ranging impact ont the fiscal situation of state government. Unfortunately, a whole set of federal polies are converging to worsen Oklahoma’s budget problems. This issue brief by OK Policy examines four broad examples of… Read more [More...]

Report cites Oklahoma income tax-cut slash (Oklahoman)

By Ron Jenkins A think-tank that advocates for the poor says Oklahoma lawmakers would have had $400 million to $600 million more to spend on education and other programs the last two years if not for income tax cuts. The… Read more [More...]

Income Tax Cuts Have Dampened Oklahoma Revenues by $400-$600 Million; Top Rate Cut Primarily Benefits Wealthy

(Oklahoma City, Sept. 2, 2008) – Cuts in recent years to the individual income tax have decreased state revenues by several hundred million dollars, with most of the benefits going to the highest-income Oklahomans. These findings are contained in a… Read more [More...]

Fact Sheet: Oklahoma’s Tax Cuts: Who Benefits?

This fact sheet explores the distribution of benefits from the two largest tax cuts enacted in Oklahoma between 2004 and 2006, based on analysis conducted for OK Policy by the Institute for Taxation and Economic Policy. Almost three-quarter of the… Read more [More...]