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
June 6, 2009 // Updated: May 1, 2019
Doc Hoc over at OkieFunk likes our recent recomendations about what to do to help through the fiscal crisis. Oklahomans for Responsible Government, not so much.… Read more [More...]
By: David Blatt
June 5, 2009 // Updated: May 1, 2019
On Thursday, Treasurer Scott Meacham declared a revenue shortfall for the current budget year, FY ’09, and announced that state agencies would be required to take an across-the-board cut in their allocations for June, the final month of the fiscal… Read more [More...]
By: David Blatt
June 4, 2009 // Updated: October 17, 2012
In the heat and passion of the legislative session, the battles that divide the political parties tend to grab the spotlight. This year, for the first time in history, Republicans controlled both chambers of the Oklahoma legislature. The session featured… Read more [More...]
By: David Blatt
June 3, 2009 // Updated: May 2, 2019
A number of papers ran an article over the Memorial Day weekend from the McClatchey Newpapers that analyzed data from the U.S. Census Bureau showing that the poorest Americans are the most generous in giving to charity. By far. When… Read more [More...]
By: David Blatt
June 1, 2009 // Updated: May 2, 2019
Anyone who has worked over the years to support access to health care for low-income children and families will be heartened to learn that the Obama administration has appointed Cindy Mann to lead the Centers for Medicaid and State Operations,… Read more [More...]
By: David Blatt
May 26, 2009 // Updated: May 2, 2019
Last week, I attended a meeting of the State Coverage Initiative (SCI), an effort that has taken shape over the past two years under the leadership of Insurance Commissioner Kim Holland to develop a plan to extend health insurance coverage… Read more [More...]
By: David Blatt
May 22, 2009 // Updated: May 1, 2019
When legislative leaders and the Governor announced the FY ’10 budget deal last Friday, they stated that the agreement “protects the four core functions of government, including education, health care, corrections and transportation.” It may not be that simple. The… Read more [More...]
By: David Blatt
May 21, 2009 // Updated: May 1, 2019
It is clear that the $7.2 billion FY ’10 budget agreement reached by legislative leaders and the Governor will lead to a tough and painful year ahead as agencies struggle to address increased costs and growing caseloads on flat or… Read more [More...]
A new report by our friends at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities shows that the approach Oklahoma policymakers are taking to the current fiscal crisis – implementing budget cuts without drawing down reserves or looking at raising revenues… Read more [More...]
By: David Blatt
May 20, 2009 // Updated: May 2, 2019
The May edition of Numbers You Need, our monthly update of key Oklahoma economic and budget trends, includes some recent data on bankruptcy filings in Oklahoma that provides another indicator of the spread of economic hardship in the state. For… Read more [More...]