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 10, 2019 // Updated: July 10, 2019
Tax breaks for seniors cost Oklahoma an estimated $310 million annually and do little to help the seniors most in need, according to a new report from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. [More...]
By: David Blatt
July 8, 2019 // Updated: July 8, 2019
Oklahoma Policy Institute is now accepting applications for an experienced and effective Communications Director to replace Gene Perry, who has accepted a position as manager of government relations for the Cherokee Nation.
Gene has been a valuable member of Oklahoma… Read more [More...]
By: David Blatt
July 3, 2019 // Updated: April 9, 2025
WIC — the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children – is a program that ensures supplemental food, health care referrals, and nutrition education for low-income mothers and children up to age five who are found to be… Read more [More...]
TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) provides time-limited cash assistance to low-income families with minor children who are deprived of parental support because of the absence, death, incapacity, or unemployment of at least one parent. TANF is operated in Oklahoma… Read more [More...]
By: David Blatt
June 26, 2019 // Updated: June 1, 2022
Oklahoma Policy Institute announced today that Ahniwake Rose, an Oklahoma native who is currently serving as Deputy Director and interim Executive Director of the National Congress of American Indians in Washington, D.C., has been chosen to lead the organization as its next Executive Director. She will replace longtime director David Blatt, who earlier this year announced his intention to step down this fall. [More...]
By: David Blatt
June 12, 2019 // Updated: June 19, 2019
Thanks to last year's revenue increases and a strong economy, fueled especially by booming oil and gas revenues, lawmakers entered the 2019 session looking at a large budget surplus It was clear from the start that tax policy would be far less prominent and contentious than in past years. [More...]
By: David Blatt
June 5, 2019 // Updated: February 16, 2022
Strong oil and gas tax collections, due in substantial part to lawmakers’ willingness in 2017 and 2018 to restore the gross production tax to higher rates, are a major contributor to the state’s fiscal health. [More...]
By: David Blatt
May 7, 2019 // Updated: July 31, 2023
A conference committee is a joint committee whose function is to arrive at a single version of a bill which has passed the two legislative chambers in different forms. Bills are assigned to a conference committee if the chamber of… Read more [More...]
By: David Blatt
April 16, 2019 // Updated: July 11, 2019
A new research brief prepared by Dr. Kent Olson, Professor of Economics Emeritus at Oklahoma State University, examines the effect that passage of HB 1010xx and other recent revenue measures will have on the state's long-term fiscal outlook. He finds that these revenue measures reduce the state's budget shortfalls over the next decade, but a significant and growing funding gap will remain in the absence of new revenues. [More...]
By: David Blatt
March 8, 2019 // Updated: March 21, 2019
Budget and tax policy has long been at the core of OK Policy's efforts to advance equitable and fiscally responsible policies that expand opportunity for all Oklahoman. Now we are looking to add a experienced and effective budget and tax policy analyst to lead our work in this area. The deadline to apply is Thursday, April 11, 2019. [More...]
OKPOLICY.ORG
Tax breaks for seniors cost Oklahoma an estimated $310 million annually and do little to help the seniors most in need, according to a new report from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. [More...]
Oklahoma Policy Institute is now accepting applications for an experienced and effective Communications Director to replace Gene Perry, who has accepted a position as manager of government relations for the Cherokee Nation.
Gene has been a valuable member of Oklahoma… Read more [More...]
Oklahoma Policy Institute announced today that Ahniwake Rose, an Oklahoma native who is currently serving as Deputy Director and interim Executive Director of the National Congress of American Indians in Washington, D.C., has been chosen to lead the organization as its next Executive Director. She will replace longtime director David Blatt, who earlier this year announced his intention to step down this fall. [More...]
Thanks to last year's revenue increases and a strong economy, fueled especially by booming oil and gas revenues, lawmakers entered the 2019 session looking at a large budget surplus It was clear from the start that tax policy would be far less prominent and contentious than in past years. [More...]
Strong oil and gas tax collections, due in substantial part to lawmakers’ willingness in 2017 and 2018 to restore the gross production tax to higher rates, are a major contributor to the state’s fiscal health. [More...]
A new research brief prepared by Dr. Kent Olson, Professor of Economics Emeritus at Oklahoma State University, examines the effect that passage of HB 1010xx and other recent revenue measures will have on the state's long-term fiscal outlook. He finds that these revenue measures reduce the state's budget shortfalls over the next decade, but a significant and growing funding gap will remain in the absence of new revenues. [More...]
Budget and tax policy has long been at the core of OK Policy's efforts to advance equitable and fiscally responsible policies that expand opportunity for all Oklahoman. Now we are looking to add a experienced and effective budget and tax policy analyst to lead our work in this area. The deadline to apply is Thursday, April 11, 2019. [More...]
