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
April 14, 2014 // Updated: May 1, 2019
Twice a year, the seven members of the State Board of Equalization – six statewide elected officers and the Secretary of Agriculture – get together to certify how much revenue the legislature will have to appropriate for the upcoming fiscal… Read more [More...]
By: David Blatt
April 9, 2014 // Updated: May 2, 2019
A decade ago, following the overwhelming defeat of a referendum to boost state taxes on motor fuels, supporters of increased transportation funding hit on a new approach. In 2005, the legislature approved HB 1078, creating the Rebuilding Oklahoma Access and… Read more [More...]
By: David Blatt
April 8, 2014 // Updated: May 2, 2019
A new poll finds that Oklahoma voters strongly support eliminating tax breaks for horizontal drilling in order to provide more funding for education, public safety, highways, and other state needs.
Nearly two-thirds of voters (64 percent) oppose providing tax breaks… Read more [More...]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: David Blatt
918-859-8747918-859-8747 (cell)
Poll: Voters Favor Eliminating Tax Break for Horizontal Drilling
(Tulsa, OK: April 8, 2014): A new poll finds that Oklahoma voters strongly support eliminating tax breaks for horizontal drilling in order to … Read more [More...]
By: David Blatt
April 3, 2014 // Updated: May 2, 2019
In making the case against additional funding for public schools, the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs (OCPA) has recently asserted that “Oklahoma’s per-pupil revenues – a whopping $12,206 in fiscal year 2013 – are at record levels.” The… Read more [More...]
By: David Blatt
March 31, 2014 // Updated: May 2, 2019
These are the prepared remarks delivered by David Blatt at the Oklahoma Education Rally on March 31st
It’s amazing to see such a huge crowd standing up for public education and Oklahoma’s children. Thank you all for being here.
My… Read more [More...]
By: David Blatt
March 25, 2014 // Updated: May 1, 2019
The Board of Equalization has certified that legislators will have $188 million less for next year’s budget compared to this year. In her FY 2015 Executive Budget, Governor Fallin proposed an overall cut of 1.9 percent across all of state… Read more [More...]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, March 25, 2014
Contact: David Blatt
(918) 859-8747(918) 859-8747
(TULSA, OK): Despite a drop in revenue certified as available for next year’s budget, a new brief from Oklahoma Policy Institute shows that budget cuts are not… Read more [More...]
Despite a drop in revenue certified as available for next year’s budget, a new report from Oklahoma Policy Institute shows that budget cuts are not inevitable. [More...]
By: David Blatt
March 20, 2014 // Updated: May 2, 2019
In recent years there has been a tremendous growth of horizontal drilling for oil and gas across the United States. In Oklahoma, this has led to growing concern that the state’s tax breaks for horizontal drilling are growing out of… Read more [More...]