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
July 28, 2015 // Updated: July 28, 2015
OK Policy is seeking an experienced and effective policy analyst to lead our work on economic issues affecting low- and moderate-income Oklahomans. Click here to see the full job description and for information on how to apply.
The policy analyst… Read more [More...]
By: David Blatt
July 22, 2015 // Updated: September 15, 2024
Food security is defined as “access by all members of a household at all times to enough food for an active, healthy life” and includes, at a minimum “ready availability of nutritionally adequate and safe foods.” The measure was introduced… Read more [More...]
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as food stamps, is the nation’s largest public food assistance program. Its primary purpose is to increase the food purchasing power of eligible low-income households in order to improve their nutrition and… Read more [More...]
This is an expanded and revised version of an op-ed that ran in The Oklahoman.
The Oklahoma Republican Party recently ignited a local and national firestorm with a Facebook post pointing out a so-called irony of signs in national parks… Read more [More...]
By: David Blatt
July 13, 2015 // Updated: May 2, 2019
An earlier version of this post appeared in the Journal Record
For a long time now, hardworking, middle-class Americans have seen their wages stagnate, while the benefits of economic growth go mostly to the wealthiest. One reason for this trend… Read more [More...]
By: David Blatt
June 30, 2015 // Updated: May 2, 2019
With the start of the new fiscal year tomorrow (July 1), many new laws are set to take effect. Perhaps the most consequential new law is one passed last session, HB 2562, which extended and made permanent tax breaks for… Read more [More...]
By: David Blatt
June 29, 2015 // Updated: June 29, 2015
Oklahoma Policy Institute is very pleased to announce that Shiloh Kantz has been promoted to the position of Director of Operations and Development effective June 1, 2015.
In the newly-created position, Kantz’s responsibilities include financial management, fundraising and development, event… Read more [More...]
By: David Blatt
June 24, 2015 // Updated: May 1, 2019
This past session, as Oklahoma grappled with a $611 million budget shortfall, a lot was heard about off-the-top apportionments, or tax revenues that are allocated directly to various funds without legislative appropriation. In this year’s State of the State address,… Read more [More...]
By: David Blatt
June 15, 2015 // Updated: May 1, 2019
Early in May, former State Representative Mike Reynolds, represented by Oklahoma City attorneys Jerry Fent and Ted Pool, filed a lawsuit against Governor Mary Fallin and other officeholders on behalf of the taxpayers of Oklahoma. The suit challenges how the… Read more [More...]