Former Executive Director David Blatt joined OK Policy in 2008 and served as its Executive Director from 2010 to 2019. He previously served as Director of Public Policy for Community Action Project of Tulsa County and as a budget analyst for the Oklahoma State Senate. He has a Ph.D. in political science from Cornell University and a B.A. from the University of Alberta. David has been selected as Political Scientist of the Year by the Oklahoma Political Science Association, Local Social Justice Champion by the Dan Allen Center for Social Justice, and Public Citizen of the Year by the National Association of Social Workers.
By: David Blatt
May 22, 2017 // Updated: September 22, 2024
A special session, also known as an extraordinary session, may be called to address issues that are unresolved during regular legislative sessions, which can run only from the first Monday in February through the last Friday in May of the… Read more [More...]
By: David Blatt
May 15, 2017 // Updated: May 2, 2019
As the budget debate has intensified in recent weeks, legislators and advocates have heard dramatically different estimates of how much additional revenue could be raised by ending or reducing the special tax rate for oil and gas production. Some have… Read more [More...]
By: David Blatt
May 10, 2017 // Updated: May 2, 2019
With less than three weeks left in the legislative session, there is still no overall budget agreement. Facing a budget hole of close to $1 billion, a bipartisan consensus has emerged at the Capitol on the need for substantial new… Read more [More...]
By: David Blatt
April 26, 2017 // Updated: August 2, 2023
A bill that passes out of one chamber is engrossed, and then sent to the other chamber. If the bill passes the second chamber but not in its final form (e.g. it has been amended or has had its title… Read more [More...]
By: David Blatt
April 24, 2017 // Updated: May 2, 2019
Oklahoma is facing a genuine budget crisis. Our schools, care providers, correctional facilities, judicial system, and other critical functions have absorbed year after year of cuts and are losing the ability to fill their basic missions. The loss of these services… Read more [More...]
By: David Blatt
April 16, 2017 // Updated: September 22, 2024
Oklahoma law (Title 26, Sections 12-101 ff.) provides for Special Elections to be held when vacancies arise in the office of a member of Congress, the Legislature, county commissioner, or school board member.
For a member of Congress or the… Read more [More...]
Emergency certification is a process for Oklahoma school districts to fill a position when there is no candidate available who meets the state’s certification requirements. To be approved for emergency certification, a district must go through an application process proving… Read more [More...]
By: David Blatt
April 14, 2017 // Updated: May 9, 2017
HB 1913 (Rep. Kannady/Sen. Leewright), the Oklahoma Small Loan Act, would create a new predatory loan product in Oklahoma, known as a Small Loan. These loans would allow interest to be charged at an annual rate of over 200 percent,… Read more [More...]
By: David Blatt
April 13, 2017 // Updated: September 22, 2023
Atoka Public Schools Schools is a district that serves 996 students in K-12, employing 70 teachers and professional staff and 127 total employees. Since 2009, it has seen its funding decrease by $500,000. This year, it is one of 100… Read more [More...]
A strong and prosperous Oklahoma depends on communities and families that thrive with the help of quality schools with good teachers, well-maintained infrastructure, safe streets and neighborhoods, and public works like state parks, libraries, and arts initiatives.
We can’t wait… Read more [More...]