Recent Articles

Oppose Expensive Barriers to Health Care – HB 1093

HB 1093 would require the Oklahoma Health Care Authority to subject SoonerCare members to enhanced verification procedures to determine eligibility for benefits. HB 1093 would require intensive quarterly eligibility verification for most Medicaid members and applications, and require new applicants… Read more [More...]

Supreme Court strikes a balance on State Question 640

“The purpose and intent of State Question 640 is now eviscerated…” So declared Oklahoma Chief Justice Douglas Combs in a dissent to last month’s 5-4 Supreme Court decision upholding a new state law that partially removed a tax exemption on… Read more [More...]

Loss of federal prevention funds will lead to more unintended teen pregnancies

If we want to make sure every Oklahoman has the chance to become a productive, healthy adult, then preventing teen pregnancies is one of the most important things we can do. While some teen mothers and their children manage to beat… Read more [More...]

Higher education funding cuts continue to drive up tuition and threaten college access

Another national report is calling attention to Oklahoma’s drastic cuts to funding for colleges and universities in recent years. At a time when a college education has never been more critical for individual prosperity and state economic development, funding decisions… Read more [More...]

With the doomsday clock ticking, how might the state’s budget emergency be solved?

Last week’s Supreme Court’s ruling that struck down a $1.50 per-package smoking cessation fee passed by lawmakers in May has created a genuine state emergency. Without quick and decisive action, Oklahoma faces unimaginable cuts to health care and other protections… Read more [More...]

Back to work for lawmakers? It depends on the Supreme Court’s definition of a revenue bill

NOTE: This post was written prior to the Supreme Court’s decision striking down the smoking cessation fee included in SB 845. Click here for the Court’s decision. Here is the statement from the Save Our State coalition, of which OK… Read more [More...]

Summer Rerun: Sales tax holiday is poor policy

Note: This post originally ran in August 2016. This weekend, many Oklahomans will flock to the stores to take advantage of the state’s annual three-day sales tax holiday weekend. Since 2007, shoppers are allowed to buy clothing items under $100… Read more [More...]

Next year’s budget starts over $400 million in the hole

When Governor Mary Fallin delivered her State of the State address in February, she made a strong call for lawmakers to end the practice of balancing the state budget through the use of one-time revenues, saying: Oklahoma will continue to… Read more [More...]

Proposed budget leaves Oklahoma services massively underfunded

Note: This post was updated May 28th to reflect current information. The General Appropriation bill passed the Legislature and is awaiting action from Gov. Fallin. After months of wrangling and stalled negotiations, legislative leaders finally introduced budget bills late Tuesday… Read more [More...]

Revenue Bills

The Oklahoma Constitution (Article V, Section 33) sets the following conditions on revenue bills: A. All bills for raising revenue shall originate in the House of Representatives. The Senate may propose amendments to revenue bills. B. No revenue bill shall… Read more [More...]