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
September 8, 2014 // Updated: May 1, 2019
For some 12,000 state employees, the long wait for a pay raise has finally ended. Legislation passed this last session provided selected workers a raise of 6.25 percent or more, effective July 1 (or in the case of state troopers,… Read more [More...]
By: David Blatt
September 3, 2014 // Updated: May 2, 2019
Dr. John Cox won a decisive victory in last week’s runoff election for the Democratic Party nomination for State Superintendent of Instruction, gaining 62.9 percent of the vote and beating challenger Dr. Freda Deskin by some 25,000 votes out of… Read more [More...]
By: David Blatt
August 21, 2014 // Updated: May 2, 2019
In the debate over Medicaid, a frequently heard claim is that Medicaid recipients overuse emergency rooms for non-emergency care, and that we need to address this problem if we are to contain Medicaid spending.
This past session, the Legislature approved… Read more [More...]
By: David Blatt
August 13, 2014 // Updated: May 2, 2019
In 2004, Oklahoma voters approved SQ 713, which increased the excise tax on cigarettes and other tobacco products while eliminating the state and local sales tax on these products. The new revenues from the increased taxes were dedicated to a… Read more [More...]
By: David Blatt
August 12, 2014 // Updated: August 12, 2014
OK Policy is pleased to announced two exciting opportunities for Oklahoma college students. We are currently accepting applications for our fall internship and for our 2014-2015 research fellowship. Students working with OK Policy have a wide range of opportunities to… Read more [More...]
By: David Blatt
August 6, 2014 // Updated: May 2, 2019
Is a bill that adjusts the tax rates on production of oil and gas a “revenue bill” under the terms of the Oklahoma Constitution? This is the question for the Oklahoma Supreme Court to decide in a challenge filed by… Read more [More...]
By: David Blatt
July 24, 2014 // Updated: May 2, 2019
Oklahoma Policy Institute will honor Governor Henry Bellmon with the 2014 Good Sense/Good Cents Award, followed by a panel discussion on the Bellmon legacy, on Monday August 4th from 1:00 – 3:00 pm at the Lorton Performance Center on the… Read more [More...]
By: David Blatt
July 16, 2014 // Updated: May 2, 2019
*This post has been updated to correct errors in the original version, noted by *
In September 1990, Oklahoma voters, by an overwhelming margin, approved State Question 632 which limited service in the Oklahoma legislature to no more than twelve… Read more [More...]
By: David Blatt
July 7, 2014 // Updated: May 1, 2019
The state’s new fiscal year began on July 1st with most state agencies funded slightly worse than they had originally expected.
Last month, OK Policy broke the story that this year’s General Appropriations (GA) bill diverted $7.9 million out of… Read more [More...]
By: David Blatt
June 30, 2014 // Updated: May 2, 2019
Over the years, Oklahoma City attorney Jerry Fent has proven a big thorn in the side of Oklahoma policymakers, filing and winning a string of constitutional challenges to legislation. Several of his lawsuits have led the Supreme Court to strike… Read more [More...]
OKPOLICY.ORG
For some 12,000 state employees, the long wait for a pay raise has finally ended. Legislation passed this last session provided selected workers a raise of 6.25 percent or more, effective July 1 (or in the case of state troopers,… Read more [More...]
Dr. John Cox won a decisive victory in last week’s runoff election for the Democratic Party nomination for State Superintendent of Instruction, gaining 62.9 percent of the vote and beating challenger Dr. Freda Deskin by some 25,000 votes out of… Read more [More...]
In the debate over Medicaid, a frequently heard claim is that Medicaid recipients overuse emergency rooms for non-emergency care, and that we need to address this problem if we are to contain Medicaid spending.
This past session, the Legislature approved… Read more [More...]
In 2004, Oklahoma voters approved SQ 713, which increased the excise tax on cigarettes and other tobacco products while eliminating the state and local sales tax on these products. The new revenues from the increased taxes were dedicated to a… Read more [More...]
OK Policy is pleased to announced two exciting opportunities for Oklahoma college students. We are currently accepting applications for our fall internship and for our 2014-2015 research fellowship. Students working with OK Policy have a wide range of opportunities to… Read more [More...]
Is a bill that adjusts the tax rates on production of oil and gas a “revenue bill” under the terms of the Oklahoma Constitution? This is the question for the Oklahoma Supreme Court to decide in a challenge filed by… Read more [More...]
Oklahoma Policy Institute will honor Governor Henry Bellmon with the 2014 Good Sense/Good Cents Award, followed by a panel discussion on the Bellmon legacy, on Monday August 4th from 1:00 – 3:00 pm at the Lorton Performance Center on the… Read more [More...]
*This post has been updated to correct errors in the original version, noted by *
In September 1990, Oklahoma voters, by an overwhelming margin, approved State Question 632 which limited service in the Oklahoma legislature to no more than twelve… Read more [More...]
The state’s new fiscal year began on July 1st with most state agencies funded slightly worse than they had originally expected.
Last month, OK Policy broke the story that this year’s General Appropriations (GA) bill diverted $7.9 million out of… Read more [More...]
Over the years, Oklahoma City attorney Jerry Fent has proven a big thorn in the side of Oklahoma policymakers, filing and winning a string of constitutional challenges to legislation. Several of his lawsuits have led the Supreme Court to strike… Read more [More...]
